I just want to know how you could not bust out laughing when you stuck the screwdriver into the radiator. My dad and I laughed so hard that our sides were hurting. It was the most entertaining mechanic video I have ever watched on youtube.
The screwdriver is like a gauge for testing how thick the clog is. Then you could blast it out with your science fiction looking air/ water flushing tool...haha
I, for one, prefer those long, unexpected glitch, repair videos. It shows the real life situations, and the solutions to those issues, that arise when making repairs! It's the real life versions that make thing interesting! No one wants to see a rotate the tires video. They want to see the two stripped out nuts, and the three broken off studs, and the wheel won't come off of the hub videos, while doing a tire rotation, that we want to see. Thanks again for another great movie!!
I just want to add something EXTREMELY valuable to this job if you’re going to tackle it yourself- YOU DO NOT NEED TO REMOVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP! Removing it is easy, putting it back on and lining the bolts up is a royal PITA. All you need to do is loosen the two bolts thru the holes on the pulley enough to slide the unit out which is still hanging on the bolts enough to clear the bolt you’re removing on the water pump. Then when you’re done, all you need to do is retighten the power steering pump bolts. They will still be in the threads. Can’t believe this mechanic didn’t catch this. I think he’s too focused on using his power ratchet to notice things such as this. Anyways, this will shorten your job and your neighbors won’t have to hear you curse anymore.
I just did my power steering pump. The trick really was to use a drift pin in one hole and get the other bolt started. Then take out the pin and do the second one. It took minutes to do.
Can't thank you enough. Just changed out the water pump on my 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix . Had overheating problems and no heat and this fixed both. Video made it super easy...well...as easy as as it could be for a guy that's never changed out a water pump before. You've earned another new subscriber. Thanks so much for posting these videos!
This is the first time I saw a mechanic go such extra length to clean that nasty radiator. Any other shop would say radiator is no good and won't even bother, just add extra labor and parts to install a new radiator to the bill. Old school! Subscribed!
I still use Dexcool in the newer GM cars I wrench on. Not really an issue anymore since the newer stuff doesn't use plastic intake gaskets and doesn't route Dexcool through the intake manifold. The old stuff, 5.7, 3100/3400/3800 were pretty bad, and to make matters worse GM used those leak pellets that turned the cooling system into a mud pit like the one showed.
Dexcool in 3rd generation 4Runners causes the pink milkshake since the radiator is shared by the transmission and the engine. As soon as I bought it, I changed the radiator just in case it was on its way out, and filled 'er up with the green Prestone.
Had to replace the water pump in my son’s 2007 Grand Prix (soon to be mine) today. Changing out the pump literally took me a half hour after watching your video. Even taking out the power steering pump and putting it back in wasn’t too hard. It was just getting the cooling system bled out that was a pain in the butt. The belt went out on this thing literally two days before the pump did and there was no play in the bearing. Today when I pulled it out there was a tremendous amount of play and leakage. Thank you for this video
Thanks for taking the time to record and post this. This gave me the confidence that I had diagnosed the problem properly, and that the repair wasn't too unreasonable. You're about to save a single mom some $$$.
My radiator wasn't that bad. The hard mud is Dex Cool sludge when the coolant brakes down. That crud has been in there far to long. Dex Cool was known for this kind of problem. I had a lot of sludge in mine too. Got some coolant flush and flushed my coolant system per directions. Have Fun Now.
I've been in the motor trade a long time and also watch a lot of RUclips Tech's, but I've got to say you are the best I've seen. Nothing phases you, you just get on and do any job without drama. Keep up the great work. We could do with a few like you in the UK.
That is odd, I did not get to experience the dex cool fail. however my 32 yr old Buick park avenue had a small leak in the radiator a few yrs back, we replace it with a new aluminum one, no problems since. I am happy some folks think a particular brand of car is more job security than another, when in fact they all need proper maintenance! Sometimes one area is saturated with a higher number of one brand more than another. Think about it. thank you for another top-notch video!
The GM 3.8L Series II and III 3800 V6 engine might be one the best engines GM has ever made. As long as you changed the oil and didn't let them overheat, they would keep on running.
Thanks for uploading this, I'm just a poor boy who can't afford many tools let alone take my car in, I feel a lot better about doing this repair myself now
I just want to say "Gracias Amigo", Thank you my friend. Your video helped me replace the water pump on my mother's 06 Grand Prix with ease. It was not as bad once I got in to it. Coolant and Radiator in her car were not as bad as this car. Did have a little bit but not crazy like the one used on this video.
How could that car still run at all with the radiator completely plugged like that. The heater still worked? I find that hard to believe. Best coolant system video I've seen.
I had my water pump off twice this week looking for a leak thinking it was the gasket before remembering I saw this comment about the elbows. Guess what? It wasn't the water pump that was bad it was the crappy plastic elbows
thanks for this video, it was very helpful. I kinda laughed when you saw the bolt under the power steering pulley cause it happened to me. thought I had to remove the pulley, but learned about the two bolts through the pulley on this video. Thank you. -Gabe
Steve Price Nothing to do with maintenance?? My personal opinion it has everything to do with just that. GM's wise choice to use DEX will do exactly what this vehicle is showing. I do not know you and I will not click the link you provided. Thank you for the input.
+scrimmy6969 It's all good. I'm a confident and capable person, so I'll click on links. I can handle anything a machine throws at me. Computers are a little more complicated for some, I can understand that.
That was great! That was for all the people who say it doesn't matter about the coolant colour, just chuck anything in! I suspect it was a combination of that a about 14 gallons of leak stop. I am surprised they didn't bring the car back complaining that the temperature needle had never sat so low before. Great job as usual Mr.O. I love to see how you work with your tools, I always learn something. You have to be commercially viable but you always try to be consciencous and proffesional. All I would have added was the classic, "Well there's your problem!" When you took off the radiator cap. I think you where in so much shock it escaped you.
It was so good I watched it again and I’m running out of SMA videos. I customer would never lie about hearing or adding liquid wrench to fix a leak never.
I absolutely LOVE your vids, man!! I watch them very day!!! I wish we could clone u and put u in every shop in america!!! A good, knowledgeable, honest mechanic that can assess the problem, fix it or recommend the best course of action!!! A lot of dealerships cant even do that!!!!! Keep up the great work!! @SouthMainAutoRepairLLC
I've heard of a case like this somebody mixed the wrong antifreeze with dex-cool and it turned to mud and looked exactly like this, I saw the old parts. They flushed the block much like you did replace the water pump, radiator and I think they ended up replacing the heater core too. They also chemical flushed it several times after assembly until it ran clear. It was a costly job but the mechanic showed the people that owned the car what it looked like and told them this was the only way he recommended to help prevent another breakdown or more damage that would keep costing them money.
@@evanst72The “ auto parts store guy “ Is probably the one who sold him the wrong crap any way . Literally they hire anyone as long as you are able to work a computer and educated enough to learn to change out windshield wipers
It takes long time for that coolant to 'go to clay'. "Clay" (at various states of solidification) kept that guys engine from overheating and seizing. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am impressed!!
Hey Eric O, just this last week started watchin’ your channel, nice to witness another real ‘motor engineer’ at work. You mentioned a chemical solution to the flush issue on that cooling system. Over here in Scotland I remember using just that 45 years ago. I worked in a military workshop but as a civilian and at that time we had Bedford 4 Ton trucks powered with a 300 cubic inch straight 6 petrol engine (it was quite possibly of GM origin). Well they were really bad for the cooling system gunging up similar to your Pontiac. Our method was to add a good handful of ‘Citric Acid BP’ crystals to the top of the radiator, top up with water and run for 10 minutes after reaching the normal working temperature. On reverse flushing with clean water until the water ran clean from the radiator top, we then neutralised any residual citric acid solution in the system by adding Lisipol (dunno what the modern equivalent of that product would be but anyhow it was a mild alkaline soap) and running for a further 10 minutes after reaching normal working temperature. Anyway, that process worked really well the inside of the radiator shone like they were brand new brass tanks. Sorry for the very tardy post, as I said I’ve just started watching your channel. Really enjoying it, will take me a wee while to catch up to your current offerings but I’ll get there🙂. Thanks, keep on turning those spanners, oh and watch your fingers👍🏻. Wullie
another great job and video eric . it's amazing that pig didn't overheat. i'm not a mechanic but i sure love your videos.some of the best on youtube. keep up the good work.
HAHA!! My 1st Sergeant had that same concept, except his car had a throwout bearing that was going bad, his fix, turn the radio up louder, not sure why he was 1/2 deaf anyhow, just found it funny, and that squealing from that throwout bearing wasn't exactly quiet either.
I got a grand prix that recently, within the last few minutes, had a water pump spray all I've rmy belt and engine. Firstz thanks for the video! 😅 That looks like a stop leak in that radiator. I did a coolant flush about a year ago and found out my car had some stop leak running through my car, except my looks like tapioca pearls... 🤦🏻♂️
Honestly, I think that you are the most patient and merciful auto mechanic alife. Anyone else would charge this guy extra $$$$$ for a new radiator and extra labor. Dude you are amazing!!!!
Dex-Cool and cavitation.. Flush your cooling systems ppl. Go with the good stuff, go green. Also that flush tool, and vacuum tool I need that in my life. I have 2 grand prixs an 01 GTP and an 06 GT both supercharged, I did both intake manifolds, water pump, plugs and wires on these and they're pretty simple. BTW you should have took out the thermostat. In this vid ur only flushing the lower rad hose pretty much.
I learned one thing, don't let your car go to long between the time it needs to get serviced or your radiator will turn into a rock hard mess. With that said, I'm glad I found your page because I've got a huge job ahead of me, good luck on your other videos, I'm subscribing to your channel, you have a new fan peace out ✌️✌️👍
I LOVE this video! Thanks Eric for bringing us along for the ride. I have major envy of those air ratchets you have. I don’t do enough work on the family cars to “justify” the price but keep wishing for one at Christmas. I can relate to getting wet and messy doing coolant flushes. Thanks again.
I have a cabin in Northern Georgia, we are on a well,I regularly change the pump filter every 30 days and the filter looks like the crud in this Pontiac, also I am originally from Upstate NY and worked for NY Telephone in 1972 I was assigned to Elmira NY after Hurricane Irene. The mud in this Grand Prix looks like it came from the Chemung River....Love your Vids and sense of humor ,reminds me of Home!!!!.
It's not stop leak, it's just what happens when Dex-Cool is expired and/or exposed to air. Dex sludge is classic. I've seen it so many times. It's atrocious.
Fortunately the 3.8 V6 in the 4th gen Camaro doesn't require you to move the power steering pump as their is adequate room. You are one of the few doing this job that mention using thread sealant on the long bolts which is important, but it really is a pain to remove them later/next time.
Well that is either a complete lower intake failure or a dex/ethylene glycol mix. Sludge happens when DEXKILL ( Dexcool oops ) gets mixed with glycol coolant. Those coolants have a bunch of dissolved silicates ( sand) that basically turns to concrete when it gets hot and sludged. I have owned 4 3.8L motors and that is the first job I do. New lower intake gaskets and flush and swap the dex for green. Also, you and your wife are just like me and mine. Our relationship revolves around lovingly giving each other a ton of crap. Made me smile. Thanks for the vids! Where can we get some South Main T-shirts??
That is the dirtiest internal radiator/cooling system that I have EVER seen in my years of wrenching! I sure hope you showed the owner and they let you do a flush and fill. If it were mine I would have the radiator rodded out. Great job, as usual!
99 camaro with 3800 in it, 220k miles and going strong, once you do intake gasket upgrade there pretty bullet proof. i did change to universal coolant tho, not a fan of dex cool
Mine has had a pretty bad coolant leak for a while. I just found it was in the lower intake gaskets. It would run right at the middle of the temp guage with the radiator half empty. I'm in the middle of fixing all of this.
@@corysturgis6660 Well, it turns out that there was preignition damage on one if the pistons. It scratched up the cylinder liner pretty bad and getting it machined was nearly the cost of a refurbished engine I found, so the current one is done for now.
Have seen similar (not like clay but strong fine foam) before the headgasket went bye-bye. That, or the repair shop put something else in as coolant. Also happened quite fast - little low on coolant before scheduled maintenance (checked, still OK) and about 150km after, that was all it took. Got cleaned out and seemed OK for 1500km or so, then started missing first cyl and finally hydrolocked. There is more to this story but jumping ahead I think I found out why this trouble came to be. Apparently, one hole for the head bolts had less threads than others. The bolts being identical, one of them reached the specified torque faster but was actually not holding as thight. Sometimes it is good idea to check if the bolts can go deep enough.
Hahaha! Wow that's solid! That system hasn't been flushed since 1902. I'm only 1/3 of the way in this video, but looking forward to see how this ends...
Well to be fair, that's the 5 year 150,000 mile coolant. It was probably years off with an additional stacked 50,000 miles on top of that. I don't think it mattered what type of coolant it was going to be in the first place.
G’day Eric and Mrs “ O “ and greetings from Tasmania Australia, I was subscribed a long time ago and I don’t really know why I stopped it must be my age 63. I couldn’t believe it when you took that radiator cap off, unbelievable how some people treat there cars it’s surprising that the bloody thing didn’t overheat and I can’t understand the engineering that went into that motor, what a pain the ass I hope that you charge them for all the other work you put into it. Anyway It’s great to watch your videos they are very interesting and with your sense of humour makes. It great to watch, I can’t work on my car anymore as I have rheumatoid and osteoarthritis and two bloody new knees so it’s great to watch you I have subscribed and look forward to your next videos, kind regards John
John I am waiting for a knee replacement on my right knee. I quess they don't make knees like they use to, after the woman decided to run over me on the sidewalk it seems , likes, the old saying goes, anytime a pedestrian takes on a car the car is generally good to resume its day? Serves me right for standing on the sidewalk AFTER MY CHRYSLER TRUCK DECIDED IT WANTED THE DAY OFF FROM WORK. This was in 1999 so the surgeon did a pretty good job, haven't owned a Chrysler anything since, trouble is at my age ,the warranty has definitely run out on the knees, with my luck the truck wound up being a classic truck!!!!!! Hello from Winterpeg our motto is, Yeah its forty below, so get a touque,eh.
People will still say dex sludge is a myth. A Oxalic Acid flush and switching to green will solve all issues. The Dex Cool does not like non pressurized overflow coolant tanks.
And here I am .. afraid of using water to clean my engine.. 😅 Great work! As usual! I bought a fixer upper Ford transit connect and thought I’d learn how to work on it.. and been addicted to your channel from then on! Thanks for sharing you and your family! If you’re ever in Norway let me know! I’d love to buy you a beer! 😎🍻
Dex-Cool is a wonderful sealant, now that you flushed it out the radiator tanks will leak next! I tried this method 15 years ago and gave up, too many come backs...for other coolant leaks! GM did pay for my Tech 2, and my custom house on the Guadalupe River in Texas thanks to so many repairs, on GM cars and trucks, my favorite car brand to work on...PS, Eric, I now own 3 Jeeps, a 1999 Cherokee, a 2002 Wrangler and a 2010 Grand Cherokee hemi. All run like new with no dealer service, ever! Thank you, GM!
That’s what happens when you never top off a dex cool system or flush it out ever. I own a 2001 trans am and a 2002 grand am both have over 200k miles both have used dex cool their entire lives never had an issue.
I can honestly say that in 30+ years as a licensed mechanic, I have never ever seen anything like that. I've seen some pretty strange things in my time but never a cooling systgem that crudded up. Good thing it was you. I would have thanked them very much for stopping by, made an appointment with the next repair shop up the road and sent them on their way. I wouldn't have taken a chance on something like that. That is absolutely ridiculous. I had to watch right to the end. I had to know if the thermostat was working. Totally amazed that it must have been. Just one suggestion. Next time....put on your rain gear first. Awesome vid. Take care and be safe.
I'm totally with you. What a nightmare. The only other option would be `yes sir, I'll do your neglected piece of junk, BUT I'm fitting a new rad/stat/etc. as I think fit. It's time and material and it'll be a week. Have a wonderful day'.
@@jameslovitt994 Most definitely I have. Just not to that extent. I drive a Pontiac myself. I got rid of the coolant as soon as I bought it and used real coolant. However I did check with the previous owner and he had the coolant replaced as soon as the warranty was off the car so he beat me to it. LOL
I didn’t look at the length of the video. Just the title. Thought it’d be a quick water pump.... then I saw you pull off the radiator cap. Now I know it’s gonna be a good long one. 👍🏼
It's a good thing you bought a tripod. If Mrs O had to hold the camera for this job, I don't think she would have been happy if you splashed her with that mud stuff.
Just watch this video the other day to see how hard it would be. Right after the video I replaced a water pump on a 04 grand pix and with your video it was pretty easy. Thanks for the good information
Love my 3800, nothing can kill it. Yeah, that one bolt that's behind the power steering pump is a PITA. Really isn't so bad since you don't have to disconnect the pump you simple have to move it out of the way so no hoses are involved. Welcome to the world of DEX-COOL. I was really hoping you'd change the radiator. I'd love to see a Grand Prix radiator change video. Question, couldn't you have installed a Prestone reverse flushing tee into the heater hose and done the reverse flush that way. Would have been a lot less DRAMA.
Didn't say anything about p/s pump. No need to touch that. In the Montes and grand prix it is a pretty tight fit though you are right. My Buick has a bit more room in there. Just stating I didn't have to remove anything to get to my water pump. When I do them on other models different story.
I've watched a great many of your videos and seen some wacky stuff, but so far, nothing compares to this. How does a cooling system get so packed full of goo?
-- Ya know, I was on round 3 of watching this video and realized that around 18:50 or so minutes in, you were giving her the gas and saying "Ah Man, this is extreme" followed by "this is insane" as water was flying everywhere and you were trying to stop it and then it hit me... you were the one squeezing go pedal. Back I went to laughing my dumb butt off. So much that my dog, Toby was beginning to freak out probably thinking he needed to do CPR. That woke me quick.Did a search on Amazon and they still sell that flushing tool (OTC 6043 @ $53) and the vacuum fluid transfer tool (FJC 43610 @ $56)
It looks like they just filled the whole thing with stop leak. That's completely insane. You should do a "best of" video. Put stuff like this, and that nasty mouse infested blower on there.
I've been driving cars and vehicles in general since about 1972. And I started helping my dad work on his car is about 1962. In all that time I have never had to use stop leak or black pepper. Knock on wood. I did see my dad once with the pinhole in a radiator. And he couldn't quite get to it to solder it. So you ended up just pinching It Off. That's what you could do with a brass radiator. I wouldn't even begin to think of it with today's aluminum junk.
@@SouthMainAuto We have an 05 that had the same problem....just not lack of maintenance, I foolishly read the warning in those great big letters "Do Not Use Water Only In The Coolant System"..and decided not to take heed. Talk about a mess. Wound up replacing the entire thing including radiator and fans. Works great, now the AC is out. Gave it to the kids and bout a 30yo Pathfinder..yes everything works surprisingly.
You can use water in the summer months, and an additive such as water wetter by redline, as long as it has an additive package. Ethyl glycol is a poor fluid for heat transfer, but we need it for its other properties.
Chilton manual says 16 ft-lbs for short and 25 ft-lbs for long, but many videos and other repair sources have suggested 11ft-lbs for short and 15 ft-lbs for long. Just broke the heads on two short ones trying to torque to 16.
Hi, Mr. O. Your 2015 self doesn't know me, but your 2022 self does, so that's something. The main thing is your daughter is/was still as cute as ever. It is still a mystery to me how that clay got into the water. Maybe the guy fills it with water from a creek on his farm. Good job! I'm sorry you cut your finger. Oh yeah, if you do have a way to do anything back in 2015, Buy Apple stock. Just sayin'. Thanks for sharing! Stay Healthy!
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I just want to know how you could not bust out laughing when you stuck the screwdriver into the radiator. My dad and I laughed so hard that our sides were hurting. It was the most entertaining mechanic video I have ever watched on youtube.
+Vincent Neri Haha pretty impressive trick with the screwdriver huh?
The screwdriver is like a gauge for testing how thick the clog is. Then you could blast it out with your science fiction looking air/ water flushing tool...haha
Wish I had your tool Eric I can't afford it they proud of that thing
I, for one, prefer those long, unexpected glitch, repair videos. It shows the real life situations, and the solutions to those issues, that arise when making repairs! It's the real life versions that make thing interesting! No one wants to see a rotate the tires video. They want to see the two stripped out nuts, and the three broken off studs, and the wheel won't come off of the hub videos, while doing a tire rotation, that we want to see. Thanks again for another great movie!!
+roadkill5333 Hahah yep that is real life for sure and how it usually goes lol :)
South Main Auto Repair
I just want to add something EXTREMELY valuable to this job if you’re going to tackle it yourself- YOU DO NOT NEED TO REMOVE THE POWER STEERING PUMP! Removing it is easy, putting it back on and lining the bolts up is a royal PITA. All you need to do is loosen the two bolts thru the holes on the pulley enough to slide the unit out which is still hanging on the bolts enough to clear the bolt you’re removing on the water pump. Then when you’re done, all you need to do is retighten the power steering pump bolts. They will still be in the threads. Can’t believe this mechanic didn’t catch this. I think he’s too focused on using his power ratchet to notice things such as this. Anyways, this will shorten your job and your neighbors won’t have to hear you curse anymore.
I just did my power steering pump. The trick really was to use a drift pin in one hole and get the other bolt started. Then take out the pin and do the second one. It took minutes to do.
Thats what another youtuber did with an 08 Lucerne.
Can't thank you enough. Just changed out the water pump on my 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix . Had overheating problems and no heat and this fixed both. Video made it super easy...well...as easy as as it could be for a guy that's never changed out a water pump before. You've earned another new subscriber. Thanks so much for posting these videos!
This is the first time I saw a mechanic go such extra length to clean that nasty radiator. Any other shop would say radiator is no good and won't even bother, just add extra labor and parts to install a new radiator to the bill. Old school! Subscribed!
I've seen many cars go over 200k but never one as neglected as this one. I have to say I'm impressed at its ability to keep going. Kudos to Pontiac.
+Pook Atim Yeah that proves it... one heck of a car :)
It's that 3.8 v6. One of the best engines ever made
3.8 is Buick.
Amen to that brother, on Wards Top 10 Engines list many times
you got that right !
This is by FAR my favorite video. The look on your face Eric when you first start blasting the radiator is priceless !
My favorite episode too..
Because of Dex-cool I was able to buy a house and most the tools in my box. Thank you GM for job security!
+Discretesignals I second that!
I’m a ford guy, is Dexcool what caused that? Looks like some added a gallon jug of bars stop leak, wow!
I use dex-cool. But change the coolant every 5 years. 2008 Buick w/171.000 miles
I still use Dexcool in the newer GM cars I wrench on. Not really an issue anymore since the newer stuff doesn't use plastic intake gaskets and doesn't route Dexcool through the intake manifold. The old stuff, 5.7, 3100/3400/3800 were pretty bad, and to make matters worse GM used those leak pellets that turned the cooling system into a mud pit like the one showed.
Dexcool in 3rd generation 4Runners causes the pink milkshake since the radiator is shared by the transmission and the engine. As soon as I bought it, I changed the radiator just in case it was on its way out, and filled 'er up with the green Prestone.
I watch your smooth skills,your no joke im 63 and just a street machanic and I watch your vidios as much as possible, thank you SAM
Had to replace the water pump in my son’s 2007 Grand Prix (soon to be mine) today. Changing out the pump literally took me a half hour after watching your video. Even taking out the power steering pump and putting it back in wasn’t too hard. It was just getting the cooling system bled out that was a pain in the butt. The belt went out on this thing literally two days before the pump did and there was no play in the bearing. Today when I pulled it out there was a tremendous amount of play and leakage. Thank you for this video
Chicago
this is literally the best tutorial ive seen for this yet.
Thanks for taking the time to record and post this. This gave me the confidence that I had diagnosed the problem properly, and that the repair wasn't too unreasonable. You're about to save a single mom some $$$.
My radiator wasn't that bad. The hard mud is Dex Cool sludge when the coolant brakes down. That crud has been in there far to long. Dex Cool was known for this kind of problem. I had a lot of sludge in mine too. Got some coolant flush and flushed my coolant system per directions. Have Fun Now.
I've been in the motor trade a long time and also watch a lot of RUclips Tech's, but I've got to say you are the best I've seen. Nothing phases you, you just get on and do any job without drama. Keep up the great work. We could do with a few like you in the UK.
+kevin forde Well drama never got any thing fix to quick right !?
OMY...you found the pomtiac video that made me fall in love with your channel and made me almost go to the hospital from LAUGHING so hard.. Thank You
I have a 2008 that did that! Old mechanic said it was the coolant from factory mixing with air(leak) in system!
"Aw, man, this is so extreme!" Wow! Best video ever! I want more 'extreme flushing' videos!
I'm sure there are plenty of fetish sites that do "extreme flushing"
Impressive! I have to do the same thing on my 07 Grand Prix (minus the extreme flushing!). 207k miles on mine. Thanks a million!
2022 : do you still own that 07 Grand Prix ?
@@RS-cd9cf Nope. Sold it at around 250k miles.
For whatever strange reason this is probably one of your most satisfying videos to watch. Great job!
+shamfrod Haha it seems to be pretty popular so far:)
Yeah absolutely loved watching this video!!!
im satisfied
I'm impressed you did this without a single swear word.
That is odd, I did not get to experience the dex cool fail. however my 32 yr old Buick park avenue had a small leak in the radiator a few yrs back, we replace it with a new aluminum one, no problems since. I am happy some folks think a particular brand of car is more job security than another, when in fact they all need proper maintenance! Sometimes one area is saturated with a higher number of one brand more than another. Think about it. thank you for another top-notch video!
The GM 3.8L Series II and III 3800 V6 engine might be one the best engines GM has ever made. As long as you changed the oil and didn't let them overheat, they would keep on running.
+stchman This one proves that!
South Main Auto Repair
How many engines are still running with several pounds of goo in the radiator. Neglected and the engine still goes.
and run pretty well lol
stchman agree and change the coolant of course haha
Not even overheating them kills them. They are Iron Blocks on Iron heads. No easily warpable aluminum.
Thanks for uploading this, I'm just a poor boy who can't afford many tools let alone take my car in, I feel a lot better about doing this repair myself now
How about flushing the heater core?
Auto repair and comedy channel all in one!
I just want to say "Gracias Amigo", Thank you my friend. Your video helped me replace the water pump on my mother's 06 Grand Prix with ease. It was not as bad once I got in to it. Coolant and Radiator in her car were not as bad as this car. Did have a little bit but not crazy like the one used on this video.
How could that car still run at all with the radiator completely plugged like that. The heater still worked? I find that hard to believe. Best coolant system video I've seen.
Always replace the 2 plastic elbows in the alternator bracket when doing this job.
buy the Dorman (amazingly they are your best option) metal ones.
do it
I had my water pump off twice this week looking for a leak thinking it was the gasket before remembering I saw this comment about the elbows. Guess what? It wasn't the water pump that was bad it was the crappy plastic elbows
Yup had this issue too on that heater core bypass elbows. They fall apart incredibly easy so I changed mine with the metal ones, too.
Did they still use those silly plastic elbows in 2007?
I know the '04's did.
thanks for this video, it was very helpful. I kinda laughed when you saw the bolt under the power steering pulley cause it happened to me. thought I had to remove the pulley, but learned about the two bolts through the pulley on this video. Thank you.
-Gabe
TRY REINSTALL GOOD LUCK
I have seen some unmaintained vehicles in my day but dam. That takes the cake. Another great video. Thank you again sir. Jim
+scrimmy6969 I don't think it has anything to do with maintenance. Look at these pictures. www.sancarlosradiator.com/dex-cool_pics.htm
Steve Price Nothing to do with maintenance?? My personal opinion it has everything to do with just that. GM's wise choice to use DEX will do exactly what this vehicle is showing. I do not know you and I will not click the link you provided. Thank you for the input.
+scrimmy6969 It's all good. I'm a confident and capable person, so I'll click on links. I can handle anything a machine throws at me. Computers are a little more complicated for some, I can understand that.
+Dick Fageroni I think I should submit my pic with the screwdriver standing up in it lol
or a sweet ash tray then learn how to smoke...
That was great!
That was for all the people who say it doesn't matter about the coolant colour, just chuck anything in! I suspect it was a combination of that a about 14 gallons of leak stop.
I am surprised they didn't bring the car back complaining that the temperature needle had never sat so low before.
Great job as usual Mr.O. I love to see how you work with your tools, I always learn something.
You have to be commercially viable but you always try to be consciencous and proffesional.
All I would have added was the classic, "Well there's your problem!" When you took off the radiator cap. I think you where in so much shock it escaped you.
Got to get me one of those DeWalt lights that you used as I have the 20V battery packs for other DeWalt tools.
It was so good I watched it again and I’m running out of SMA videos. I customer would never lie about hearing or adding liquid wrench to fix a leak never.
I absolutely LOVE your vids, man!! I watch them very day!!! I wish we could clone u and put u in every shop in america!!! A good, knowledgeable, honest mechanic that can assess the problem, fix it or recommend the best course of action!!! A lot of dealerships cant even do that!!!!! Keep up the great work!! @SouthMainAutoRepairLLC
I've heard of a case like this somebody mixed the wrong antifreeze with dex-cool and it turned to mud and looked exactly like this, I saw the old parts. They flushed the block much like you did replace the water pump, radiator and I think they ended up replacing the heater core too. They also chemical flushed it several times after assembly until it ran clear. It was a costly job but the mechanic showed the people that owned the car what it looked like and told them this was the only way he recommended to help prevent another breakdown or more damage that would keep costing them money.
@@evanst72The “ auto parts store guy “
Is probably the one who sold him the wrong crap any way . Literally they hire anyone as long as you are able to work a computer and educated enough to learn to change out windshield wipers
I just bought a 04 grandprix gt with 212 and I'm in love with it that engine is dam near bullet proof
It takes long time for that coolant to 'go to clay'. "Clay" (at various states of solidification) kept that guys engine from overheating and seizing. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am impressed!!
That being said it's 3800 series engine. So, yeah, good luck killing it!
Hey Eric O, just this last week started watchin’ your channel, nice to witness another real ‘motor engineer’ at work. You mentioned a chemical solution to the flush issue on that cooling system. Over here in Scotland I remember using just that 45 years ago. I worked in a military workshop but as a civilian and at that time we had Bedford 4 Ton trucks powered with a 300 cubic inch straight 6 petrol engine (it was quite possibly of GM origin). Well they were really bad for the cooling system gunging up similar to your Pontiac. Our method was to add a good handful of ‘Citric Acid BP’ crystals to the top of the radiator, top up with water and run for 10 minutes after reaching the normal working temperature. On reverse flushing with clean water until the water ran clean from the radiator top, we then neutralised any residual citric acid solution in the system by adding Lisipol (dunno what the modern equivalent of that product would be but anyhow it was a mild alkaline soap) and running for a further 10 minutes after reaching normal working temperature. Anyway, that process worked really well the inside of the radiator shone like they were brand new brass tanks. Sorry for the very tardy post, as I said I’ve just started watching your channel. Really enjoying it, will take me a wee while to catch up to your current offerings but I’ll get there🙂. Thanks, keep on turning those spanners, oh and watch your fingers👍🏻. Wullie
was this steel radiators or aluminum?
@@ozzykrahn806 Brass and solder, 47 years ago, not many, if any, aluminium radiators👍🏻
another great job and video eric . it's amazing that pig didn't overheat. i'm not a mechanic but i sure love
your videos.some of the best on youtube. keep up the good work.
The water pump doesn't make any noise no matter how bad the bearing is if the radio is louder than the pump !!!!!
DELCO radios rock.
HAHA!! My 1st Sergeant had that same concept, except his car had a throwout bearing that was going bad, his fix, turn the radio up louder, not sure why he was 1/2 deaf anyhow, just found it funny, and that squealing from that throwout bearing wasn't exactly quiet either.
I got a grand prix that recently, within the last few minutes, had a water pump spray all I've rmy belt and engine.
Firstz thanks for the video! 😅 That looks like a stop leak in that radiator. I did a coolant flush about a year ago and found out my car had some stop leak running through my car, except my looks like tapioca pearls... 🤦🏻♂️
Honestly, I think that you are the most patient and merciful auto mechanic alife. Anyone else would charge this guy extra $$$$$ for a new radiator and extra labor. Dude you are amazing!!!!
Kudos to you Eric O. Great video! If these customers only knew the half of it!
This one is my favorite video. I'm all about maintaining my cars
Dex-Cool and cavitation.. Flush your cooling systems ppl. Go with the good stuff, go green. Also that flush tool, and vacuum tool I need that in my life. I have 2 grand prixs an 01 GTP and an 06 GT both supercharged, I did both intake manifolds, water pump, plugs and wires on these and they're pretty simple. BTW you should have took out the thermostat. In this vid ur only flushing the lower rad hose pretty much.
I learned one thing, don't let your car go to long between the time it needs to get serviced or your radiator will turn into a rock hard mess. With that said, I'm glad I found your page because I've got a huge job ahead of me, good luck on your other videos, I'm subscribing to your channel, you have a new fan peace out ✌️✌️👍
You do a great job as always.
People that drive cars to this point without maintenance don't deserve a car.
Tell the owner , yeah, I said it.
What would Eric do for money then?
That look on your face from the initial blast is priceless!
It's a Kodak moment. 😏
Or Flush Gun 90
Sludge on the face priceless 👍🤣
Great video, man! It made me want to go out and hug my vehicle for having a clean cooling system. :)
+TheTexasCoder Haha
When I bought my 3.8 Bonneville the first thing I did was flush the dex cool out and filled it with green..no sludge yet at 230K
I LOVE this video! Thanks Eric for bringing us along for the ride. I have major envy of those air ratchets you have. I don’t do enough work on the family cars to “justify” the price but keep wishing for one at Christmas. I can relate to getting wet and messy doing coolant flushes. Thanks again.
I have a cabin in Northern Georgia, we are on a well,I regularly change the pump filter every 30 days and the filter looks like the crud in this Pontiac, also I am originally from Upstate NY and worked for NY Telephone in 1972 I was assigned to Elmira NY after Hurricane Irene. The mud in this Grand Prix looks like it came from the Chemung River....Love your Vids and sense of humor ,reminds me of Home!!!!.
If the first can of stop-leak don't work, put in a case!
+Aaron Kimmins Hahah
You should have saved that GM clay, next leak you could slap some on, cover it with a couple of hose clamps and the car is good to go.
It's not stop leak, it's just what happens when Dex-Cool is expired and/or exposed to air. Dex sludge is classic. I've seen it so many times. It's atrocious.
That's Bars Leak all day long.
M R Research Dex-Cool mud and you'll see. Not stop leak.
Fortunately the 3.8 V6 in the 4th gen Camaro doesn't require you to move the power steering pump as their is adequate room. You are one of the few doing this job that mention using thread sealant on the long bolts which is important, but it really is a pain to remove them later/next time.
Well that is either a complete lower intake failure or a dex/ethylene glycol mix. Sludge happens when DEXKILL ( Dexcool oops ) gets mixed with glycol coolant. Those coolants have a bunch of dissolved silicates ( sand) that basically turns to concrete when it gets hot and sludged. I have owned 4 3.8L motors and that is the first job I do. New lower intake gaskets and flush and swap the dex for green. Also, you and your wife are just like me and mine. Our relationship revolves around lovingly giving each other a ton of crap. Made me smile. Thanks for the vids! Where can we get some South Main T-shirts??
+Dave M Vanessa actually called to check on our order today so they should be coming soon :)
Nice save Eric, Mrs. O got you on the ropes and the classic ragout. Lol.
That is the dirtiest internal radiator/cooling system that I have EVER seen in my years of wrenching! I sure hope you showed the owner and they let you do a flush and fill. If it were mine I would have the radiator rodded out. Great job, as usual!
New technology! Solid coolant.
+Garth Goldberg Air cooled!
AHH!!!! Its dehydrated coolant, you just have to add water ;).
Hey Eric O, is that GM 3.8 bullet proof or what!!?? "Play-Doh" in the coolant lines and not have that engine overheat and seize up? I am dumbfounded!
99 camaro with 3800 in it, 220k miles and going strong, once you do intake gasket upgrade there pretty bullet proof. i did change to universal coolant tho, not a fan of dex cool
3.8s are bulletproof, yes.
Mine has had a pretty bad coolant leak for a while. I just found it was in the lower intake gaskets. It would run right at the middle of the temp guage with the radiator half empty.
I'm in the middle of fixing all of this.
@@dangerouspie0319 did you get it done. I did mine a few weeks ago and I notice coolant leaking from the water pump I replaced last year.
@@corysturgis6660 Well, it turns out that there was preignition damage on one if the pistons. It scratched up the cylinder liner pretty bad and getting it machined was nearly the cost of a refurbished engine I found, so the current one is done for now.
Something tells me that you just flushed out the only stuff holding that engine together...🤔...😂😂😂
Have seen similar (not like clay but strong fine foam) before the headgasket went bye-bye. That, or the repair shop put something else in as coolant. Also happened quite fast - little low on coolant before scheduled maintenance (checked, still OK) and about 150km after, that was all it took. Got cleaned out and seemed OK for 1500km or so, then started missing first cyl and finally hydrolocked.
There is more to this story but jumping ahead I think I found out why this trouble came to be. Apparently, one hole for the head bolts had less threads than others. The bolts being identical, one of them reached the specified torque faster but was actually not holding as thight. Sometimes it is good idea to check if the bolts can go deep enough.
ha ha. that's probably true.
it is a hot mess
Maybe they pissed someone off and they filled it with sand or something
Wow at the clay in the radiator behind the cap
Hahaha! Wow that's solid! That system hasn't been flushed since 1902. I'm only 1/3 of the way in this video, but looking forward to see how this ends...
Great show, from beginning to end. I'm surprised at how well that OTC flush gun worked. Did heck of a job!
That’s the best laugh I’ve had while watching you doing your best with that a car like that.....Wow
Love your channel, keep up the good work!!!
My favorite channel.
Video was great and very informative. Thanks for taking the time to make it.
I would have loved to have seen the conversation you had with that customer when he came to pick up his car.
yeah i wish i could have seen the look on their face when they were shown the video
Dexcool always does that. I always flush out my GM's and use the green. Works every time.
Well to be fair, that's the 5 year 150,000 mile coolant. It was probably years off with an additional stacked 50,000 miles on top of that. I don't think it mattered what type of coolant it was going to be in the first place.
@@BeautifulMan4015 that is right
G’day Eric and Mrs “ O “ and greetings from Tasmania Australia, I was subscribed a long time ago and I don’t really know why I stopped it must be my age 63. I couldn’t believe it when you took that radiator cap off, unbelievable how some people treat there cars it’s surprising that the bloody thing didn’t overheat and I can’t understand the engineering that went into that motor, what a pain the ass I hope that you charge them for all the other work you put into it. Anyway It’s great to watch your videos they are very interesting and with your sense of humour makes. It great to watch, I can’t work on my car anymore as I have rheumatoid and osteoarthritis and two bloody new knees so it’s great to watch you I have subscribed and look forward to your next videos, kind regards John
John
I am waiting for a knee replacement on my right knee. I quess they don't make knees like they use to, after the woman decided to run over me on the sidewalk it seems , likes, the old saying goes, anytime a pedestrian takes on a car the car is generally good to resume its day? Serves me right for standing on the sidewalk AFTER MY CHRYSLER TRUCK DECIDED IT WANTED THE DAY OFF FROM WORK. This was in 1999 so the surgeon did a pretty good job, haven't owned a Chrysler anything since, trouble is at my age ,the warranty has definitely run out on the knees, with my luck the truck wound up being a classic truck!!!!!! Hello from Winterpeg our motto is, Yeah its forty below, so get a touque,eh.
Thank you for uploading so that when I go to do the job on my 08 Lucerne, I don't have to go through the aggravation you went through!
I hate watching your videos because I always end up buying new awesome tools for my arsenal 🤣
Keep up the good work, bud. Love the channel.
People will still say dex sludge is a myth. A Oxalic Acid flush and switching to green will solve all issues. The Dex Cool does not like non pressurized overflow coolant tanks.
I'm surprised that car didn't overheat! P.S. That was a 1000 USD Flush and agreed, 2000 for the finger cut!
Gives new meaning to the phrase "Blow chunks".
And here I am .. afraid of using water to clean my engine.. 😅
Great work! As usual!
I bought a fixer upper Ford transit connect and thought I’d learn how to work on it.. and been addicted to your channel from then on!
Thanks for sharing you and your family! If you’re ever in Norway let me know! I’d love to buy you a beer! 😎🍻
Dex-Cool is a wonderful sealant, now that you flushed it out the radiator tanks will leak next! I tried this method 15 years ago and gave up, too many come backs...for other coolant leaks! GM did pay for my Tech 2, and my custom house on the Guadalupe River in Texas thanks to so many repairs, on GM cars and trucks, my favorite car brand to work on...PS, Eric, I now own 3 Jeeps, a 1999 Cherokee, a 2002 Wrangler and a 2010 Grand Cherokee hemi. All run like new with no dealer service, ever! Thank you, GM!
Man, your eatin lunch like every day
That's what happens to Dex Cool, it turns to acidic sludge.
That is right Dex Cool not good, so I used regular antifreeze and it runs better
I had this happen to my 96 s10 blazer. There was a recall on it
That’s what happens when you never top off a dex cool system or flush it out ever. I own a 2001 trans am and a 2002 grand am both have over 200k miles both have used dex cool their entire lives never had an issue.
That is exactly what I have...
"YUKE"
intake leaking -> "MY HEADGASKETS!!" -> sealer tabs + dexcool = welcome to the new death
I can honestly say that in 30+ years as a licensed mechanic, I have never ever seen anything like that. I've seen some pretty strange things in my time but never a cooling systgem that crudded up. Good thing it was you. I would have thanked them very much for stopping by, made an appointment with the next repair shop up the road and sent them on their way. I wouldn't have taken a chance on something like that. That is absolutely ridiculous. I had to watch right to the end. I had to know if the thermostat was working. Totally amazed that it must have been. Just one suggestion. Next time....put on your rain gear first. Awesome vid. Take care and be safe.
I'm totally with you. What a nightmare. The only other option would be `yes sir, I'll do your neglected piece of junk, BUT I'm fitting a new rad/stat/etc. as I think fit. It's time and material and it'll be a week. Have a wonderful day'.
You've never seen GM's infamous Dex-cool "mud"?!
@@jameslovitt994 Most definitely I have. Just not to that extent. I drive a Pontiac myself. I got rid of the coolant as soon as I bought it and used real coolant. However I did check with the previous owner and he had the coolant replaced as soon as the warranty was off the car so he beat me to it. LOL
I didn’t look at the length of the video. Just the title. Thought it’d be a quick water pump.... then I saw you pull off the radiator cap. Now I know it’s gonna be a good long one. 👍🏼
It's a good thing you bought a tripod. If Mrs O had to hold the camera for this job, I don't think she would have been happy if you splashed her with that mud stuff.
+emtfarva Haha I think we did the right thing lol
You are a great person you save them a lot off money
Oh how I hate yuk coolant. I just flush the heck out of it and tell them to come back in a month and do it again...they never do. Nice video buddy.
+The Car Doctor Thanks Tim... so do you do extreme flushing in AK too?
+South Main Auto Repair every morning.
+The Car Doctor Don't they stammer and say don't you mean 10 years (and not a month)! :) I thought that was the special clay to rub-up baseballs!
Just watch this video the other day to see how hard it would be. Right after the video I replaced a water pump on a 04 grand pix and with your video it was pretty easy. Thanks for the good information
Wow, crazy, by far best mechanic on youtube, thanks, learn so much form your channel.
...and the nicest one too ...
informative, thank you...
Love my 3800, nothing can kill it. Yeah, that one bolt that's behind the power steering pump is a PITA. Really isn't so bad since you don't have to disconnect the pump you simple have to move it out of the way so no hoses are involved. Welcome to the world of DEX-COOL. I was really hoping you'd change the radiator. I'd love to see a Grand Prix radiator change video. Question, couldn't you have installed a Prestone reverse flushing tee into the heater hose and done the reverse flush that way. Would have been a lot less DRAMA.
+SATAMAN Schmidt Ha! Where is the fun in that?
I just did mine and didn't have that problem. On a lesabre though.
@@willgeorgiadis6472 Series 2 had the power steering pump in no mans land so no need to remove it.
Didn't say anything about p/s pump. No need to touch that. In the Montes and grand prix it is a pretty tight fit though you are right. My Buick has a bit more room in there. Just stating I didn't have to remove anything to get to my water pump. When I do them on other models different story.
@@willgeorgiadis6472 Lucky, on my 98 Riviera I need to remove a motor mount to replace the belt or water pump.
I've watched a great many of your videos and seen some wacky stuff, but so far, nothing compares to this. How does a cooling system get so packed full of goo?
that 3.8 l is a beauty engine i had 2 olds with the 3.8 series 3 ,
Great video and your little daughter is just precious!
It's old Dexcool exposed to heat and air. Makes mud like that. Usually coats the surge tank.
change every 3 years
Omg omg!!! I'm doing a coolant flush this weekend!!! I dont care if I need it....I'm just gunna do it...bleg!!!
-- Ya know, I was on round 3 of watching this video and realized that around 18:50 or so minutes in, you were giving her the gas and saying "Ah Man, this is extreme" followed by "this is insane" as water was flying everywhere and you were trying to stop it and then it hit me... you were the one squeezing go pedal. Back I went to laughing my dumb butt off. So much that my dog, Toby was beginning to freak out probably thinking he needed to do CPR. That woke me quick.Did a search on Amazon and they still sell that flushing tool (OTC 6043 @ $53) and the vacuum fluid transfer tool (FJC 43610 @ $56)
+Hawaiian F150 Haha glad I can provide hours of entertainment for you and Toby :)
+South Main Auto Repair -- Sure did. I was crying cause my sides hurt and he was barking like he found chicken strips.
+Hawaiian F150 Got me my own AZ Store now :) astore.amazon.com/httpswwwy0837-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=8 check it out!
+South Main Auto Repair. Now that's the way to get 'r done. Great idea Bruddah.
I know this is an old video but thank you for sharing this and not skipping anything important I was able to get mine finished in my driveway.
That heater core cleaner device you have is insanely nifty! I definitely have to pick one of those up
It looks like they just filled the whole thing with stop leak. That's completely insane. You should do a "best of" video. Put stuff like this, and that nasty mouse infested blower on there.
I've been driving cars and vehicles in general since about 1972. And I started helping my dad work on his car is about 1962. In all that time I have never had to use stop leak or black pepper. Knock on wood. I did see my dad once with the pinhole in a radiator. And he couldn't quite get to it to solder it. So you ended up just pinching It Off. That's what you could do with a brass radiator. I wouldn't even begin to think of it with today's aluminum junk.
Absolutely!!!
I hope you made the owner of the car watch this video.
+Nutz4Gunz45 Nah they just want it back lol
@@SouthMainAuto We have an 05 that had the same problem....just not lack of maintenance, I foolishly read the warning in those great big letters "Do Not Use Water Only In The Coolant System"..and decided not to take heed. Talk about a mess. Wound up replacing the entire thing including radiator and fans. Works great, now the AC is out. Gave it to the kids and bout a 30yo Pathfinder..yes everything works surprisingly.
Nutz4Gunz45 ... Twice!! lol
Valenza@sbcglobal.net
You can use water in the summer months, and an additive such as water wetter by redline, as long as it has an additive package. Ethyl glycol is a poor fluid for heat transfer, but we need it for its other properties.
The owner must be a computer enthusiast because he filled his engine with thermal paste.
What silver content?
66
😃😃😃😃😃
Chilton manual says 16 ft-lbs for short and 25 ft-lbs for long, but many videos and other repair sources have suggested 11ft-lbs for short and 15 ft-lbs for long. Just broke the heads on two short ones trying to torque to 16.
Hi, Mr. O. Your 2015 self doesn't know me, but your 2022 self does, so that's something. The main thing is your daughter is/was still as cute as ever. It is still a mystery to me how that clay got into the water. Maybe the guy fills it with water from a creek on his farm. Good job! I'm sorry you cut your finger. Oh yeah, if you do have a way to do anything back in 2015, Buy Apple stock. Just sayin'. Thanks for sharing! Stay Healthy!
I wonder what other issues this car has, if the coolant looked like that. I'm afraid to think about oil, brake fluid and other stuff...