What Coolant For a 215?

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by OddfireV6, Nov 17, 2019.

  1. OddfireV6

    OddfireV6 Active Member

    There is a 1962 Cutlass with a 215 V8 in my shop for service right now. No, not a Jetfire, but still the four barrel, high compression version. I'm SUPER STOKED to have it in my shop, because I think the GM Y-bodies were some of the coolest and most innovative cars built in the 1960's. I love it.

    The coolant in the radiator has a milky white appearance. I think (and hope) it's just some corrosion going on and it just needs a drain/flush/refill. I could use plain green coolant, but I doubt the owners will change it every year, or even every two. Is there a recommended extended life coolant that I could use, after a proper flushing of course, that may last longer while doing a better job of preventing corrosion to this all-Aluminum engine?

    Thanks.
     
  2. GSX 554

    GSX 554 Gold Level Contributor

    If the coolant in it now has , " Milky White Appearance " , there is oil in it now.
    If you said it was like a Strawberry color I would say it was coming from the trans cooler in the radiator . But being you said it was White colored its definitely oil . Possibly head gasket or cracked block or head . Those motors were well know for disasters like this after overheating .

    You need to figure out where its coming from . Flush completely and run it with plain water to see if it turns milky again .
     
  3. woody1640

    woody1640 Well-Known Member

    You need to do a leak down test, sounds like you have antifreeze in the oil. My guess is that the head gasket is bad.

    A member of our 61-63 Y body group did some major research on antifreeze a few years ago and came up with the conclusion that the Zerex G-05 is the best antifreeze to use in the 215 motor.

    Zerex G-05 is the only antifreeze specifically designed for all aluminum motors and will give far more protection than any other antifreeze.

    FYI those 2 speed dynaglide (dynajunk I call them) tranny's are air cooled, not liquid cooled.



    Keith
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2019
  4. OddfireV6

    OddfireV6 Active Member

    Yeah, I'll need to do some diagnosis.

    The owner said the coolant has never been changed since they've owned the car...….which I know for a fact is at least five years, probably closer to ten.

    G-05 it is then.
     
  5. Schurkey

    Schurkey Silver Level contributor

    Huh? Aluminum block and head engines have never been more common, and produced in more countries. ONE anti-freeze is "specifically designed for all aluminum motors"?

    I'm not saying G-05 isn't good stuff. I just think any "extended life" antifreeze will be entirely adequate.

    "Milky white" could mean that someone dumped a can--or two--of "water pump lube" (water-soluable oil) into the radiator.

    Dynaglide? Dynajunk? Dynaflow, or Powerglide, or Turboglide. Dynaflow, the first couple of years of Powerglide, and all the Turboglides were strongly related in concept (but with no parts interchange.)

    Do you mean the Dual-Path Turbine Drive? Buick's first "automatic" transmission, because Buick's previous transmissions (Dynaflow variations) did not shift gears automatically--they had no speed-sensing governor to activate an "upshift" or "downshift", they relied on torque-converter trickery to direct power through the geartrain.
    https://ateupwithmotor.com/terms-technology-definitions/hydramatic-history-part-2/6/
     
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2019
  6. woody1640

    woody1640 Well-Known Member


    Well I guess next time I will just keep my mouth shut, cause obviously I'm dumb.

    You and the rest of your smart aleck friends can stuff it where the sun don't shine.


    Keith
     
  7. OddfireV6

    OddfireV6 Active Member

    It's an Oldsmobile, so it has the Roto-Hydramatic and not the Dual Path Turbine Drive. Oldsmobile 215 V8 instead of the Buick 215 too.

    I'll qualify what I said about the coolant looking milky white. It wasn't foamy or frothy like coolant with oil in it gets. It was clean and clear, but lighter green in color like it had been tinted whiter. In any case, I know it had not been changed in at least five years so it was time and I was interested in upgrading to an extended life coolant better suited to aluminum engines than traditional green coolant.

    It's delivered. Happy customer.
     
  8. Schurkey

    Schurkey Silver Level contributor

    Obviously I'm dumb, too. I read "Cutlass" and then went off on a Buick bender.
     

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