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 1/3 to 1/2 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.

Differential
Remove the allen key plug on the drivers side of the differential.  Fill with 1 quart of 70w80 non synthectic gear oil and one bottle of Redline Friction Modifier.  Mix the friction modifier with the gear lube before putting it in. It is easiest to fill the differential and transmission using a 1/2" clear nylone hose (from a home depot or lowes). Simply cut the taper cap on the 1 qt gear lube container and slip the hose over it.

Transmission
Remove the 3/8" square drive plug on the side of transmision (use a 3/8" socket extension). On the T56 it is located on the drivers side near the front. On the T5 it is in the middle on passenger side.
Fill transmission with Automatic Transmisssion Fluid untill it comes out of the hole. On the T56 it is around 3.5 quarts. On the T5 it is around 3.

Brakes

Fill up your brake resevior with a quality brake fluid such as synthetic Valvoline. Crack open all the bleeders on top of the calipers. The 6 piston calipers have one per caliper, the 4 piston have 2 per caliper. Wait and let gravity do most of the work. Place a paper towel or container under each caliper. Watch all the calipers closely and make the sure the resevior does not run dry. When fluid starts to come out of a bleeder, close it off. Do this on all four wheels. You are now ready to do a proper bleed job.
Bleeding the brakes. There are special tools to do this by your self, but the most sure way is to get a helper to push on the pedal. Grab a bleeder kit from a auto parts store or online. It should consist of a cup, hose, and different size fittings. Starting on the front left (if you have 4 piston, do the inside bleeder, then outside bleeder) Fit the hose from the cup to the bleeder screw. It is best to have the cup held up above the bleeder. Open the bleeder with a wrech about 3/4 turn. This will open up the fluid to the hose, you will see fluid with bubbles start to come through. The bleeder open, have your helper push in on the brake pedal. With the pedal help in, close the bleeder, then release the pedal. Repeat this process untill no more bubbles are coming out. KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR FLUID LEVEL AND KEEP IT FULL. Repeat this process for the rest of the wheels, and do it once more for all of them just to make sure. It may to helpful to pump the pedal a few time while all bleeders are closed to help build pressure.

Clutch. The clutch also uses Brake Fluid. Fill the resevior. Crack open the bleed screw on the master cylinder until fluid comes out with no bubbles, then close. Take your brake bleeder cup and put a small amount of fluid in the bottom. Remove the bleeder screw from the clutch line and submerge it into the fluid in the cup. Pump the pedal several times untill bubbles are almost gone. Pull the line out of fluid and instal the screw. Repeat the same bleeding process as the brakes with a helper on the pedal into the bleed cup. It should only take a few pumps of the pedal at this point.

Engine oil. The LS3 corvette pan used on these engines takes 5 quarts of Mobil 1 5w30.

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