F-Body Europe

Hm... tried to check the antifreeze von my 'vert - how the §$(/§% can I get to the radiator fluid??? The main cap is closed (and according to the cap on top of it not to be opened), and the overflow container is somewhere with only a small pipe going to it ... how do they expect anybody to check that stuff????

Help appreciated ...

drain and refill WITH antifreeze and let it run for a while.
flush and renew will not hurt.
...that cap is not to be opened when it is HOT.

Garry, that's just it, they don't expect you to do it. They make is so difficult so the majority will not want to attempt it. That's how they make money!

So what do I do? I don't trust the Opel place to have checked it decently, it survived last winter's -25 Celsius (guess that must have been something like -15F), the windshield washer liquid was like slush puppy, but ... just want to make sure I don't need a new block next year ...
I'll check the cap again, still don't think it's made to open (without special tools - got to check by daylight tomorrow ...)
Guess I probably got to get some kind of rubber thingy and suck some out ...

That would work. I really don't know much about changing the fluid, but maybe someone else has done it. Do you ever go to any other fbody-related sites? You would surely get an answer at CamaroZ28.com

Did not check/change antifreeze at a new Fbody yet, just on some german and japanese cars, should not be too different.

on your COLD car just twist the lid, maybe a little hard due to vacuum, but
the writing 'Do Not Open' is because on a hot engine you will get the steam in your face as you open it. So that is for Safety only.

Then check the quality, if you hope it is good and do not want to change it.
It is good to occasionally not just fill antifreeze up, but also drain the old
and put new in. You can even flush it with a running waterhose while running the engine.
To drain the antifreeze, get a flat bucket to fit under the car or jack up a
little bit. There is a big hose going in on top and on bottom to the radiator.
Next to the bottom one somewhere underneath should be a screw. Maybe you just see/feel a little piece of metal sticking out, then that screw is on the side right next to it. On the radiators I drained it was a wing-type screw, could open by hand without tools.
Don't forget close the screw before refill. And let the engine run for a while, since the antifreeze is all around the engine so the lines through the engine fill up with good antifreeze, which is the important part. Leave the lids on top open while doing that, gets the airbubbles out. Fill up until the level in the radiator stays on top.

It is the better during the winter when you let your car run for about 15 minutes every week.

Now if anybody with more camaro experience know any better, please let me know also, and correct me.

OK, checking in daylight helps ... cap did go off, just got to know the trick ... antifreeze seems to be good to -30C on the 'vert, -25 on the Jeep ... that should be enough I hope ... Guess I will try to hook up the battery both every week or two during the winter and let 'em run a while ...

Doh! I didn't know you meant that cap.

Doing some work outside on the cars today. Sun is out!