Maybe we're talking about 2 different engine models then, mine was quiet easy to get to.

 

Lol im so confused and don't really know/understand what/how your telling me to do things lol im a nurse, not a mechanic :P

 

This is the closest Image I could find, this is on the Driver side near the bottom towards the back. (Image is from an HHR, the housing has an extra outlet, the cobalt does not have this extra outlet.)

Look in the area in the below image, follw the Large Radiator hose to the Engine Block This is the thermostat housing, unscrew the 2 bolts remove the thermostat, clean the old gasket material and replace.

 

Ohhh boyyyyyy.

 

After the flush, di I have to fill it with anything or just put the new stat on?

 

When my T-stat went, I began to notice a puddle of coolant on the ground. Through further inspection, I found where the coolant was leaking from, and decided to replace the T-stat. When I pulled the T-stat out the rubber gasket was torn and deformed. It's a tedious replacment due to the amount of room you have, but it is straight forward. I recommend having a second person to help out. Fyi, my car has always run between 175ish and 181ish on average. No issues what so ever.

 

Thats what mine runs and I dont ever see a pudddle under mine. So should I replace it or no?

 

The puddle on my car was due to the warped gasket around the T-stat.

My T-stat never actually went bad, but I figured while I had everything apart I should install a new one. On warmer days my car runs around 180*. On cooler days it is closer to 175*. Both are perfectly fine.

If you were down in the 150's or always running above 200* than I would def suggest a new t-stat.

 

I usually install the new thermostat, then do the flush, but if you did the flush 1st its ok, drain it again install the thermostat, then seal everything up then add the coolant, 50/50 pre-diluted is easier than mixing your own, if you live in a very hot or very cold area, I recommend getting non pre-diluted and make a 70/30 mix, even in those climates 50/50 should be fine, but freeze and boil over protection is better in 70/30 mix.

 

Quick question about the coolant flush...is it better to do the flush buy buying radiator flush and doing it the way it was suggested earlier in this thread or could I just drain the old coolant and put new coolant in without flushing it out?

 

Highest mibe has ran is 206, lowest is prob 168

 

It depends, if the coolant looks nice and orange when you drain it, you many not need a flush, but I would recommend it anyway, it means draining it twice if you want a good job.

You car can get as high as 220, this is the time the fans come on to cool it down, it can be low as your outside ambient temperature (lower than 60 degrees, what ever the weather forecast says), after about 5-10 minutes you should be at about 180 - 190 degrees.

 

Im an 07 with only 27k miles. Coolant looks nice yet but every 5 years we are supposed to change it out. So you think flush or just drain and replace with dexcool? GM service manual basically says to just drain and replace...

 

Yeah it does. So do you think its okay just to leave it?