How to Change Coolant on an LS1 Camaro/Firebird., by LSx MOTORSPORTS on YouTube. 3 min 19 s.
- Video length
- 3 min 19 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Park the car on a level surface and let the engine cool completely. Never open the radiator cap or drain plug on a hot engine.
Put a drain pan under the radiator. On the LS1 F-body, the drain plug sits at the bottom of the radiator on the passenger side.
Open the radiator cap to let air in, then loosen the drain plug with a wrench and let the coolant run into the pan.
Close the drain plug once the flow stops. If the coolant looks dirty, flush with clean water, run the engine to temperature, drain again and repeat.
Fill the radiator through the cap with 50/50 premixed coolant until it reaches the neck. Use a funnel to avoid spills.
Start the engine with the cap off and let it idle. Add coolant as the level drops and watch for bubbles until the thermostat opens.
Turn on the heater to full hot so coolant flows through the heater core and pushes out trapped air.
Top up the radiator, fit the cap, then fill the overflow bottle to the cold line. Take the old coolant to a recycling centre.
Tips and common mistakes
Old coolant is toxic and sweet tasting, so keep it away from pets and children and never pour it down a drain.
Air pockets can cause overheating, so run the engine with the cap off until the level stays steady before you close it.
Check the level in the overflow bottle after the first few drives and top up as needed.
Questions
How much coolant does an LS1 Camaro take?
A full drain and refill usually takes around 11 to 12 litres, but the exact amount depends on how much old coolant you get out. Buy premixed 50/50 so you do not have to mix it yourself.
Can I use plain water instead of coolant?
Only in an emergency. Plain water does not protect against freezing or corrosion, so drain it and refill with the correct 50/50 mix as soon as you can.
Do I need to bleed the cooling system afterwards?
Yes. Running the engine with the cap off and the heater on full hot lets trapped air escape. Top up until the level stops dropping.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
