My information system flashed low coolant just for a split second on Friday (09/22/06) on my way home from work. I checked the fill level on the fill tube and there is nothing there. Has this ever happened to any of you? Some one was telling me that the SS/SC took a special coolant that you could only get from GM. Does any one know if this is true? I need to fill my system.

 

Your car (actually, all new GM cars) uses Dexcool coolant. You can get it from the dealer, or at any parts store. Its available full strength, meaning it has to be diluted 50% with water, or pre-diluted. I would buy the full-strength kind, and mix it with water myself, if it was my car. I would stay away from the "universal" stuff that claims to be compatible with all coolant types - seems too risky in my opinion.


Why was the coolant low? You should check for a leak somewhere; the system shouldn't need to be topped off very often.

 

You can get it at Advanced Auto. Prestone sells it jugs already mixed. It's not universal or off, it's exactly what GM calls for. I have already bought a jug of it and used some of it.

 

it happened to me but i didnt get the light. I caught it before it was empty. My guess was when i took it to a dealership they might have opened it and didnt tighten it. I dont know why but when i checked cover was loose. I never touched it so i presumed it was the dealership. Well, no harm done so it was all good. just makes sure everything's tight. check your underhood before you leave home. and with the coolant just refer to ^^ post. thanks

 

It's ok to buy that predeluted stuff cause they mix in Reverse Osmosis water. Usually that's better than the stuff you buy from a grocery store for $5 a gallon or whatever.

 

Am I the only one that caught this? Just want to make sure you're not basing this off the tube on the front of your car - that's for the intercooler, and the fluid level in that will vary. The overflow tank is toward the rear-driver side of your engine bay. I've had my low coolant light flash for a second under hard throttle, but upon checking, it was just fine.

 

Yes, it is in the front. There is a fill mark on that tube. So if it is the intercooler, should there not be coolant up to that full line? Is it the same type of coolant?

 

Intercooler uses Dexcool also, hence the general answer.

I'm curious - Does the intercooler have its own reservoir, or does it share a common supply with the radiator? I haven't studied the SC engine bay that close.

 

the ic uses its own seperate system. no real reservoir except the overflow tube.

 

Makes sense to me.