Intercooler Coolant Level

hawk02 · 08-24-2022, 07:20 AM

Yesterday I attempted to purge the intercooler system of air using a Dedicated Motorsports adapter and a 2 Liter pop bottle with the bottom cut off. I put a small amount of distilled water in the pop bottle.

I managed to get some bubbles out of the system. My question is what should the level of coolant be when the engine is cold? When I pop the cap off of the fill port, should I be able to see some coolant? This morning it’s dry as a bone.

Jaxcam02 · 08-24-2022, 08:32 AM

Do yourself a favor and buy the ADM reservoir.

https://lsa-conversion-store.myshopi...sivoir-upgrade

MartinLe · 08-24-2022, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawk02

Yesterday I attempted to purge the intercooler system of air using a Dedicated Motorsports adapter and a 2 Liter pop bottle with the bottom cut off. I put a small amount of distilled water in the pop bottle.

I managed to get some bubbles out of the system. My question is what should the level of coolant be when the engine is cold? When I pop the cap off of the fill port, should I be able to see some coolant? This morning it’s dry as a bone.

There should be coolant in the fill port. How long did you let the car run with the bleed bottle attached?

hawk02 · 08-24-2022, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinLe

There should be coolant in the fill port. How long did you let the car run with the bleed bottle attached?

I let the engine run until it was good and hot - maybe 15 -20 minutes. Then I let all the coolant that entered the bottle drain back into the system. It took about 4 hours for it to all go back in.

MartinLe · 08-24-2022, 12:02 PM

I used the OEM fill port that sits on the driver's side front corner of the SC. Remember, the fill port you are using MUST be higher than the SC or you will never get all the air out.

CW3SF · 08-24-2022, 12:41 PM

Wow that’s along time to bleed it. With the ADM reservoir it only takes a few minutes.

MartinLe · 08-24-2022, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CW3SF

Wow that’s along time to bleed it. With the ADM reservoir it only takes a few minutes.

I drank two beers watching the bubbles flutter to the top.

Vigilante375 · 08-24-2022, 03:09 PM

You're better off installing a reservoir instead of messing with it like you are.

All I do is drive my car and check the fluid level in the reservoir I bought from LSA conversion's website every so often to make sure it's filled properly without having to run through the stuff you are doing and in question of.

RamAir02 · 08-24-2022, 03:17 PM

Another vote for a reservoir

Stephen12ZL1 · 08-24-2022, 03:33 PM

reservoir!

MartinLe · 08-24-2022, 04:06 PM

That does make it very simple. The reservoir sits above the SC. Eazy-peazy after that. Do you still have the OEM fill port? I don't recognize the black bar (LT4) going across the front of the SC. Hoses were in front of mine - are still in front of the 2650 - which the bleed port is still attached.

AZIROC · 08-24-2022, 04:37 PM

As others have said, just get the reservoir. Yeah.... I get it. It's pricey for what it is. But in the long run of never having to purge ur system (or more like it is always purging) that's worth the cost alone.

Vigilante375 · 08-24-2022, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinLe

That does make it very simple. The reservoir sits above the SC. Eazy-peazy after that. Do you still have the OEM fill port? I don't recognize the black bar (LT4) going across the front of the SC. Hoses were in front of mine - are still in front of the 2650 - which the bleed port is still attached.

If you're asking what I think then no. You don't have to touch the OEM fill port ever again once you install an expansion tank. Just keep it filled appropriately.

hawk02 · 08-24-2022, 05:18 PM

First off, I've had my ZL1 for almost six years and this is the first time I've attempted to purge air from the intercooler. And it wasn't because I was having a problem. I was just curious to see if there was any air in the system.

Secondly, I have my engine bay setup just the way I like it and no offense to ADM and everyone who has one installed, but I really don't want another ugly orange reservoir in the engine area. Plus, I never thought the location right above the exhaust manifold was ideal. Seems the best location would be towards the front grill where the coolant won't get heated from the exhaust manifolds.

Ok, with all that out of the way, I jumped the intercooler relay so the pump would run without the engine being on. This seems to be the best method to purge the air because you don't get the expansion of hot coolant. I did manage to get a few more bubbles out and there's now coolant showing when I pop the cap on the fill port.

So for $15 for the Dedicated Motorsports adapter, $.99 for the 2 liter bottle of pop, $4 for the fused bypass wire, and no cutting of any hoses, I'm satisfied what air was in the intercooler is now out.

08-24-2022, 07:20 AM	#1
hawk02 Coupe Newbie Drives: '23 CT5-V BW, '21 Corvette HTC Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 3,463 View My Garage	Intercooler Coolant Level Yesterday I attempted to purge the intercooler system of air using a Dedicated Motorsports adapter and a 2 Liter pop bottle with the bottom cut off. I put a small amount of distilled water in the pop bottle. I managed to get some bubbles out of the system. My question is what should the level of coolant be when the engine is cold? When I pop the cap off of the fill port, should I be able to see some coolant? This morning it’s dry as a bone. __________________

08-24-2022, 08:32 AM	#2
Jaxcam02 Drives: 2017 Silverado/2017 ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Jax/Palatka FL Posts: 1,091	Do yourself a favor and buy the ADM reservoir. https://lsa-conversion-store.myshopi...sivoir-upgrade __________________

08-24-2022, 12:02 PM	#5
MartinLe Drives: 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 M6 Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: OR Posts: 479	I used the OEM fill port that sits on the driver's side front corner of the SC. Remember, the fill port you are using MUST be higher than the SC or you will never get all the air out. __________________ JRE Terminator Rough Idle Cam Magnuson 2650 - 15% lower, 90mm upper FIC+30% DSX Flex fuel/Low side NW 103mm TB/Roto-Fab CAI Monster S Series Elite E2-X 2" TSP LT's BMR:BK063, BK060,TCA061, UTCA060, UTCA063 Weld Beadlocks/17" NT5R2

08-24-2022, 03:17 PM	#9
RamAir02 Shadow Gray '19 ZLE M6 Drives: '19 ZL1 1LE M6 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 1,458 View My Garage	Another vote for a reservoir __________________ 2019 ZL1 1LE \| M6 \| SGM \| PDR \| CF Dash \| Nav \| Wheel Locks PPF \| Paint Correction \| ZL1 Addons Rock Guards \| ZL1 Addons Lift Pads \| ZL1 Addons Feather Lite Tow Hook \| JWM Smoked Sidemarkers \| Wildhammer Smoked Rear Reflectors \| JWM License Plate LEDs \| RotoFab CAI \| ADM IC Reservoir v2 \| BC Forged RZ05 \| SPL Toe Arms \| BW Brake Deflectors \| CMS Roll Bar \| Schroth Profi II ASM Harnesses . Sold: '99 Trans Am (bolt-ons & cam) \| '00 WS6 (bolt-ons, heads, cam, 12 bolt) \| '05 CTS-V (bolt-ons, short throw) \| '10 SS/RS M6 (short throw, CAI, coilovers, LTs, catback, JRE tune) \| '01 WS6 YouTube

08-24-2022, 03:33 PM	#10
Stephen12ZL1 Drives: '21 ZLE A10 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mechanicsville, VA Posts: 6,824	reservoir! __________________ '21 ZLE A10 Wild Cherry PDR 2:00.78 VIR Full 10.68@131.69 1.68 60' '17 ZL1 A10 Mosaic Black PDR/Nav 2:03.08 VIR Full 11.003@129.2 1.75 (sold) '15 Z/28 #325 Black a/c & stereo. 2:10.1 VIR Full (sold) '12 ZL1 A6 Black 10.52@131 1.55 60' 2:13 VIR Full (sold)

08-24-2022, 12:41 PM	#6
CW3SF Drives: 2019 Chevy Camaro ZL1 M6 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Sea level Posts: 1,276 View My Garage	Wow that’s along time to bleed it. With the ADM reservoir it only takes a few minutes.

08-24-2022, 03:09 PM	#8
Vigilante375 Drives: 2018 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,419	You're better off installing a reservoir instead of messing with it like you are. All I do is drive my car and check the fluid level in the reservoir I bought from LSA conversion's website every so often to make sure it's filled properly without having to run through the stuff you are doing and in question of.

08-24-2022, 04:06 PM	#11
MartinLe Drives: 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 M6 Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: OR Posts: 479	That does make it very simple. The reservoir sits above the SC. Eazy-peazy after that. Do you still have the OEM fill port? I don't recognize the black bar (LT4) going across the front of the SC. Hoses were in front of mine - are still in front of the 2650 - which the bleed port is still attached. __________________ JRE Terminator Rough Idle Cam Magnuson 2650 - 15% lower, 90mm upper FIC+30% DSX Flex fuel/Low side NW 103mm TB/Roto-Fab CAI Monster S Series Elite E2-X 2" TSP LT's BMR:BK063, BK060,TCA061, UTCA060, UTCA063 Weld Beadlocks/17" NT5R2

08-24-2022, 04:37 PM	#12
AZIROC Drives: '86 IROC-Z '18 ZL1 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Arizona Posts: 927	As others have said, just get the reservoir. Yeah.... I get it. It's pricey for what it is. But in the long run of never having to purge ur system (or more like it is always purging) that's worth the cost alone.

08-24-2022, 05:18 PM	#14
hawk02 Coupe Newbie Drives: '23 CT5-V BW, '21 Corvette HTC Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 3,463 View My Garage	First off, I've had my ZL1 for almost six years and this is the first time I've attempted to purge air from the intercooler. And it wasn't because I was having a problem. I was just curious to see if there was any air in the system. Secondly, I have my engine bay setup just the way I like it and no offense to ADM and everyone who has one installed, but I really don't want another ugly orange reservoir in the engine area. Plus, I never thought the location right above the exhaust manifold was ideal. Seems the best location would be towards the front grill where the coolant won't get heated from the exhaust manifolds. Ok, with all that out of the way, I jumped the intercooler relay so the pump would run without the engine being on. This seems to be the best method to purge the air because you don't get the expansion of hot coolant. I did manage to get a few more bubbles out and there's now coolant showing when I pop the cap on the fill port. So for $15 for the Dedicated Motorsports adapter, $.99 for the 2 liter bottle of pop, $4 for the fused bypass wire, and no cutting of any hoses, I'm satisfied what air was in the intercooler is now out. Attached Images __________________

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