Which Coolant to use in a new L31, and which intake gasket?

[msg]

The search Ive found shows GM uses Dex Cool but does it matter which brand? Prestone, AC Delco? This will not be a hot rod racer vehicle just normal weekend crusing around town for fun if it matters on coolant. I saw this at Walmart and nearly made a purchase.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/PRESTONE-...-1gal/16889200


Also on the intake manifold, I was going to buy felpro and called the GM Performance tech line and the guy I spoke with said that GM Makes an intake gasket for the vortec that would work best.


Then after a search I saw this guys video and he said the felpro kit was the ticket due to blow outs he was having with the GM set.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30M4_hFUpN8

Before I put the wrong stuff into and on this engine I thought I would ask the gurus here.

[The Rocknrod]

I purchased that intake gasket for my vortec head intake.

[sweetk30]

used the edelbock gaskets with my pro flo 4 efi kit and std green coolant in my L31 and copper / brass radiator . no problems 1.5 years now .

[Tom]

Brand never matters.

Use whatever coolant you want. Dexcool or regular. Most people prefer regular. Again brand doesn't matter.

Felpro's newest intake gasket is the best choice.

[truckster]

Coolant type doesn't matter as long as you don't mix the red stuff with the green stuff.

Fel-pro gaskets are the ones I use. The GM ones are known to fail.

[msg]

Thanks so much guys, I bought the fel pro and a some permatex right stuff rtv just in case that little tube in the kit doesnt cover it. Ive been told not to goop it on or else it could potentially get on the inside of the engine one its tightened up. But to add a little extra dab in the corners of that wall where it meets the heads.

[geezer#99]

Are you gonna use the end (china wall) gaskets or lay a bead of permatex on them?
The end gaskets can easily squeeze out.

[sweetk30]

end china wall gaskets get tossed out first step .

second step good black form a gasket RTV 3/8" thick for new china wall seal and yes just up the edges a little to lock in to the gasket on both faces .

let cure and should be good to go .

[msg]

Definitely plan to rtv the china wall, bought this stuff to do it with. The kit doesnt come with that china wall gasket anyway, just a little tube of rtv.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...B&gclsrc=aw.ds


I bought extra just in case

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...m_content=ITEM

[geezer#99]

When you lay that bead down you need to wait until it surface dries before putting the manifold on.
Too soon and the bead easily squishes out of place.
Usually takes 10-15 minutes. To known when you simply lightly touch the bead with a finger tip and if the bead doesn’t stick to your finger it’s good to go.
Try a test bead somewhere to see how it works. Lay a 2 inch long bead on a piece of cardboard.

[Tom]

Its always just squished and dried for me, never waited. I do wait to start engine after installing the intake though for the rtv to fully cure in place so usually the next day.

[truckster]

The way I do it to make sure I don't get leaks: I lay a small bead across the china wall where the head meets the block on all four corners. Then I lay my bead along the china wall. I like the little extra bit of insurance that the RTV is squeezing down into the corners.

[cadillac_al]

I use universal yellow coolant in almost everything now. I finally gave up on the old silica green stuff. My Caddy still has the red Dexcool and I have been debating changing to universal but that red stuff is so clean and has kept everything in the cooling system nice and clean. I may stay with it on this car. If I was swapping engines and starting fresh I would probably go with the universal yellow. The universal yellow says it can be used with Dexcool and HOAT coolants and anything else under the sun.

[msg]

Got a question on the intake gasket install. I bought that felpro set that was recommended and had an install question.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...m_content=ITEM

From the Edelbrock instructions the intake gasket says to "Apply Edelbrock Gasgacinch sealant PN 9300 to both the cylinder head flanges and the cylinder head side of the gaskets, allow to air dry, and attach the intake gasket."

You guys do this step with that Felpro set from the kit I ordered?

[msg]

Love the can!

[msg]

Ive found a fel pro video that gives me the answer, no adhesive no RTV anywhere but at the corner of the intake gasket. Its at the 1:20 time stamp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfqZ_lwk2j0

[truckster]

Most experienced engine builders will throw away what the FelPro video calls the "end seal" - we call it the China wall gasket. They tend to blow out on the SBC, so RTV is a better bet.

[truckdude239]

Problem with dex cool is dex cool loves an air tight system lit5le bit of air gets in dex fool will gel up

[toolboxchev]

Prestone, and flush annually.

[msg]

I installed the intake manifold this weekend. I had to order the bolt kit since it wasnt included with the manifold so it took a while to get here. I had called Edelbrock and asked what the bolt part dimensions were and they did tell me they had a kit, but also told me the dimensions. The tech said if I were to buy my own parts at a hardware store to make sure the washers were hardened steel since they would have a galling issue on aluminum if they werent hardened steel. I decided to just get their kit and not second guess things. I didn not use anti seize though on the bolts and wondered if I should, do you guys use anti seize on intakes and exhaust?

The gaskets in the fel pro kit have an alignment nub that pops into place and keeps the gasket from moving so I didnt add any RTV there. I did do the 4 spots where the gasket meets the china wall and then a bead along the china wall.

[msg]

China wall bead, I did this to the rear wall also. I allowed about 8 min to firm a bit then placed the intake and torqued to 11 ft lb as the instructions said and in the correct order of bolts to tighten.

[toolboxchev]

That is how its done!

If you have problems and have to lift it off again, one of the tricks I do is place a small amount of permatex around the coolant ports on both sides and wiped it smooth before torquing into place. Also a small dab on the underside of intake gasket where it meets the china wall.

I do like overkill yet sometimes its really unnecessary.

[derotoreut]

Heard nothing but bad about Dex Cool. Don't have any experience with it though. Never heard any bad about the old green. I used standard Prestone in my 5.3L swap.

[The Rocknrod]

Glad you didn't go cheap on the intake gasket, that's the best out there. They call it their trouble shooter gasket. Perfect install for that gasket.

[msg]

Happy the gaskets done and the manifold is on, as for the coolant I ended up going with conventional Prestone although now its called Prime. I had my radiator redone/rodded and all and the shop that did it told me not to use anything but Conventional green coolant like prestone.

I thought the yellow containers were the original green but I couldnt find a Prestone yellow bottle without the All Vehicle formula which has that OAT stuff vs Ethylene Glycol original conventional type .

Looks like Pretsone went to a black container for that original type, confusing.