nicolade1976

Hi All. I am new to the Forum but I am trying get all my maintenance caught up on my 2006 Chevrolet HHR (2.2 L). I recently flushed by cooling system (took Thermostat out first) with distilled water. I have done a lot of reading and found that my HHR holds 7.4 quarts of coolant total. I have not done the final fill yet but each time I dump my coolant and add new distilled water, I notice that only about 0.9 of gallon fits in the system. Basically since all that is in my system is distilled water, do you think after I dump the system again, I can just fill with straight dex cool concentrate? I think somehow, even though I am opening the radiator plug, the water pump drain plug and emptying the overflow tank, only about 0.9 of a gallon of the system contents are coming out. If my calculations are correct, that should give me an almost perfect 50/50 Dex cool/water mix.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,

Nic

RJ_RS_SS_350

Hi Nic, to the forums!

There is a plug on the backside of the water pump, that will allow more fluid to drain from the cooling system.

donbrew

If you are filling with the t-stat installed there is a vapor lock preventing a full fill.
I have found that the DaxCool and water don't necessarily mix by themselves, premixing is better. No need for distilled water, GM says "drinkable" water is okay. Don't use chemical flushes, they don't get along with aluminum alloy.

PulpFriction

True, you don’t need distilled water, but it’s still better. (Pun intended, wouldn’t have bothered with the trivial comment without it.)

Free of chlorine, and only about $1.19/gallon around here.

RJ_RS_SS_350

I don't see a pun...

Oldblue

Distilled water, from a still , like for white lightening!

nicolade1976

Thank you all for your wonderful replies. I have a follow up question as a result of my obsessive paranoia.
So I didn't like the looks of the original Thermostat as it had a rubber gasket that appeared to be peeling back. I ordered a brand new AC Delco and installed it. I just ran my engine and let it get up to about 195 degrees and finally shut off. I kept reaching down at the lower radiator hose expecting the hose to get hot when the thermostat opens. I was expecting to feel the lower radiator hose get hot at about 185 degrees as the thermostat is set to open at 180 degrees. What temperature should the lower hose get hot? Is it possible I have defective Thermostat that isn't opening properly?

donbrew

Did you get ACD 131-158 or the cheap one?
T-stats generally get stuck open because the inner rubber gasket rolls up and blocks the gate. The 131-158 doesn't have that rubber gasket.
You might have a bubble. Burp the system.

nicolade1976

Hi Donbrew. Yes, I got the AC Delco 131-158. I am trying to burp the car right now. I have the front passenger side slightly elevated (about 3 inches above resting position) with a jack stand and the car is cooling. After a couple hours, I will open the pressure cap and fill to the top again. Then I will run it again. Am I on the right track? What operating temperature would you let the vehicle get up to before stopping and burping again?

Thanks

RJ_RS_SS_350

Tanks!