Refilling and Bleeding/Burping the Coolant on a 2003-2014 Chevy Express/GMC Savana 

Thank you so much! I knew my system hadn't received all the coolant required, but every attempt to refill resulted in boiling overflow and temp. spiking. This did the trick!

Words can't describe how happy I am after watching this video. I would like to say thank you sir. I had a mechanic here and he was unable to figure out problems after replacing my water pump. 7 hours later, I ended up with a van that was running hot 🔥 and with no heat. Because of this wonderful video 📹 I be able to go to work tomorrow.🤑

5 years later and you still are a life saver bro thanks

I will try this tomorrow. My Xpress van overheats after I replaced EVERYTHING in the system. I was about to lose my mind until I seen your video.

You represent what is good about the internet. After replacing water pump, thermostat, and fan clutch, I was still overheating. After your methods, everything’s good. Also of note in case anyone is wondering, the engine should not be running during this procedure.

Another satisfied customer. You’ve made my dad a believer In RU-vid and he now swears by it. After a water pump install that kept overheating we drained and filled the correct way. Thank you so much!

What a fantastic simple explanation. No drama or humor or commentary-just the information I was seeking..thank you.......keep making videos

Great video! Add one more satisfied customer to the list:) I watched a lot of videos on replacing water pumps and thermostats, but nobody talked about how to bleed the system properly. I did watch one video that said to disconnect the hose from the water pump and fill the radiator up until it came out the water pump, then transfer the hose to the water pump and continue filling. That did NOT work! And I think if you just remove the radiator cap, there really isn't any need to remove the smaller hose. In my case when the level was correct it started coming out of the hose, not the radiator, but the coolant also starts coming out of the larger radiator hose Inlet too. The last little bit of coolant goes in through the radiator inlet itself. I was really shocked at how much hair gets trapped in the system just trying to fill the radiator. I think I put close to a gallon of extra fluid in, so it's really substantial. And then after running the engine and allowing it to cool I still had to add an extra 16 oz or so. There is a huge amount of air that gets trapped!! This technique solved the issues though, and works!! Thanks so much for posting.

Thank goodness I found this video! I have a 2008 GMC Savana 3500 with the 6 liter engine. I had installed a new water pump and could not get the thermostat to open up after installation....therefore the van was running hot and I could not drive it any distance. I disconnected all hoses (including heater core hoses) as the video states, let everything drain out, hooked all hoses back up except for the top radiator hose and SLOWLY filled from that hose. My fluid started coming out where the top hose connected instead of over by the radiator cap when it started getting full. I then hooked the hose back up and cranked it up and initially the temp started to raise over normal.....however, I started gunning the gas in short bursts and after about 30 seconds the thermostat opened. I topped off the fluids and continued to do the short burst gas pedal thing and would go top off the fluids....I did this about 8 or 9 times until the radiator was topped off. Thank you so much for this video.....saved me about $600 doing the water pump swap out myself. Jay

I did this and it worked. READ THIS IF YOU TRIED AND ITS NOT WORKING. My dumbass filled it wrong the first time too. There was a ton of air trapped in the system. I drained it, then refilled like in the video and afterwards I turned the truck on, opened the reservoir and let it bleed, there was mad bubbles. The truck would get hot quick so we just shut it off let it cool a bit, then did it till we stopped seeing bubbles. We also turned the heater on, the hotter it got the more confirmation we had!

This video has been a life savor, thank you so much for posting . All other videos that I saw. Say nothing about the proper bleed process! Best wishes and many blessings to you and your family.

I changed out my leaking radiator in my 07 Express 2500 today and can confirm this also works on the 4.8l engine. One thing to note. Make sure you are watching that small hose so you will see when the coolant is coming out. Mine had dropped down and I forgot about it until I noticed a puddle forming under the van. Oops! Other than that, it was a very easy job. Thanks!

Great video with one piece of advice no need to disconnect the small hose when you have it full enough it will simply flow out of the end of radiator where the upper hose connects to it that you're using to fill the engine

Right on the money! We couldn't figure out why it was still overheating after changing radiator and thermostat... Water pump was next but this took care of it. Thanks 👍

Thank you very much i changed my radiator today then i saw the sticker on the overfill tank so i made a search on youtbe and saw your video. Short and sweet. I did as you say and everything is fine. Thanks again

I have a 2003 1500HD and after replacing thermostat, ECT, and refilling with coolant, my temp gauge is normal but I have hot spots all over the engine, upwards of 285°, I definitely think this will help as it's basically the same setup as any other truck with the LQ4. Thanks for the video and the document brother 👍

I just replaced water pump, refilled radiator and heater wouldnt work, watched your video, took off upper hose, filled with 2 jugs.of antifreeze.. warmed right up.. Thanks so much

Hey dude, this got me going again. Had some kind of vapor lock and watched this video. Added another 2 gallons of fluid. Worked perfect after this. What a stupid design. Thanks again for making this video.

Worked Perfect..... I Changed My water pump and had this problem with over heating /No heat. Thanks for the Good Video and it worked like a charm. I thought My burping day's were over now that My kid's are all grown up. Learned something New .... Still have to burp that old Chevy.

You saved my day, genius!!

You are my hero!! Was coming out of a remote bush camp and had a rear heater line blow out. I was able to stop the leak by clamping off the rear heater hoses with a couple of vise grips. And found that I had 5 gallons of water in my trailer so was able to refill the rad. But the crazy thing kept overheating. I was able to make it far enough to get a cell signal and watched your video. 10 minutes later I was up and running and back on the road. Thanks so much for posting this.

Thank you my van was overheating after i changed water pump i watched your video and did wat u said and it stopped overheating thanks for uploading this video ot totally helped out

Thanks for sharing that info man, greatly appreciated !

Thanks you saved another chevy express engine. Perfect 👌 video 📹

One way to tell if the system isn't burped or filled fully is to feel the upper radiator hose. When not burped It will remain cold while the temp gauge will keep climbing past 210 degrees.. When fully filled the temp gauge will hit 210, thermostat should open, needle drop to 180 and the upper radiator hose will be very hot. Another test is with radiator cap removed, squeezes of the upper hose should move the coolant up and down at the filler hole. If no coolant movement then there is still air in the upper hose.

Man you just now save my life just now

Thanks for sharing this. I found the same bulletin with a google search but didn't know which hose was the air bleed hose.

Thanks ! Replacing themostat ..but this was VERY HELPFUL!

Niiiice!!!!! Big thanks from Canada 🇨🇦

Worked for me! Thanks a lot!

How in the hell do you drain this radiator and the block? Do you just have to disconnect the lower hose and dump coolant everywhere?

Do you fill it with the vehicle on or off

Thank you man...

Thank you for the video very helpful!!!

thank you for the video ichanged out my wayer pump and filled and it overheated i was fixen to go buy a 3 hundred radiator but found yor video and problem solved thanks again

so if there is not leak or anything wrong just need to add coolant to the radiator I still need to follow this steps? can I just add coolant to the reservoir tank and radiator like in a normal way wich is removing the cap in both (reservoir and radiator) add dex coolant then replace the cap?

Just replaced the Rad and will try this method of getting rid of possible air lock. Thanks

Really great video 👍

Thx… Should there be coolant in your/ our overflow reservoir?

Thanks so much !!! My 2016 Express 6.0 liter has been overheating and the heater still produces no heat....I deduced that air is trapped in the system. Due to a service done by the used car dealerships mechanics. GRRRR. Your video is short and sweet and a perfect explanation for solving a simple problem I had much trouble finding info on. 👍👍👍👍👍

Not sure if anyone can answer my question, but I need to know where does the two of the hoses on the reservoir tank run to?

so, the manual is wrong?... to clarify, We DO NOT remove the radiator cap and fill the radiator reservoir to the "brim"? (those are chevy's instructions) I want what chevy is smoking.

How are you i am trying to figure out where does the second hose on the top left of the radiator connects to.

I did exactly as your described and it worked perfect! My buddy and I tried his usual method after changing my heater control valve, and we struggled for a couple hours without progress. The next morning, I followed your method and have had no issues since. Much appreciated!

The hose that you point out where does it connect to

Thanks my brother

Hey man great video, quick question I'm on a bind maybe you could help where does the small hose connect to on the opposite end?

So you pour the coolant directly into the upper rad hose right?

Take things off and show how u did it I'm having the same problem with my express van

fix my car to thanks man good video

Did this and it just comes back out of the fitting on the rad that I removed the big upper rad hose from, nothing comes out the small one you said to remove...

Do you have the engine running as you fill it up??

Same same same man. Thank u

My 2003 GMC Savanna had it’s expansion tank kind of cracked and it kind of got a bit bigger and was spraying coolant which caused the gauge to overheat. I already purchased another tank, should I follow the same process of refilling coolant after I swap the tanks? Thanks

Start poring it in that whay? Means from that side really put the funnel on the upper radiatior hole and pour it in thru there?

Thanku God bless you

Yo quiero ver cómo van conectadas las mangueras del radiador al motor

Does the car has to be runing or no ?

GOT DAM - THANK YOU

Thank you for the info. Gives me another avenue to pursue on my G4500 overheating issue.

Keep rad cap on or take off while filling?

You just stopped a minor heart attack. Love you Brother. Thank you. Thought I was losing my mind just now. Happy New Year to you. #Trump2024 :)

Man just replaced a water pump, and radiator and the same vehicle with 6.0 and I almost went and got a thermostat because I cannot get it to not run hot, I’m letting it cool down now and I’m going to try this I so desperately hope this is the fix!

No drain plug by Chevy. "Genius". smh Had to add 3 feet of extensions just to get the bottom hose clamp loosened. Time to invest in a 90 degree attachment. My water pump starting squeaking so I used CLR and Awesome cleaner as a flush. No more squeaks. It might have bought me some time.

SO the radiator cap is just there for laughs ?

Do you top it off through resovoir or radiador cap?

what is teh Point of this video ?

Haha, 2002 and earlier have a normal radiator cap. Sorry for you guys with a sealed cap. That's just so fing stupid. That's just so GM.