Step 14: Fluids

Fluids

LS V8 Fill procedure.
First coooling system fill.

Fill the system through the expansion tank. After your first start of the engine, the level will go down. After that fill until the tank is about 1/2 to 3/4 full. You can do this while the engine is running but while it is still cool.

Next, crack the steem vent tubes loose from the block with a 10mm socket and extension. Just crack them loose enough until coolant comes out then tighten them. This will get rid of any bubbles that may be blocking the port.

Coming off the radiator cap is the overflow tube. This tube should run into the bottom of your overflow tank. Out of the top of the overflow tank is a valve and a pin hole. Close the pin hole with a screw. Leave the valve open and loop a line off the top running down toward the ground. If the coolant gets hot enough to expand out of the expansion tank it will go into the overflow maintaining the pressure on the cap (around 18 psi) in the system. As the pressure drops when cooling it will suck the coolant back into the system. The overflow tank should only be about 1/3 full.