Prior to the release of the Venture, Chevrolet tested the minivan market with the Lumina APV, which is not to be confused with the Lumina sedan. The Lumina APV, however, was a shade on the extreme style with its door-stop-like shape. After the APV’s removal from the company's lineup in 1997, Chevy launched the more conventional Venture. The 2000 Venture’s 3.4-liter V-6 uses General Motors' proprietary Dex-Cool coolant to keep its temperature within specification. Occasionally, especially after repair, air can infiltrate the cooling system, causing overheating or an incorrectly operating heater. Bleeding the cooling system can remove the air and rectify these problems.
Trace the upper radiator hose toward the engine until you reach the metal housing connecting the hose to the engine; this is the thermostat housing.
Look on the top of the thermostat housing and find the bleeder valve -- the small valve protruding from the thermostat housing, with a slotted screw in the center.
Slide a drain pan under the Venture, directly beneath the thermostat housing. Loosen the bleeder screw about two turns with a flat-head screwdriver.
Unscrew the cap from the radiator and slowly add 50-50 premixed Dex-Cool coolant to the radiator until it reaches the base of the radiator’s filler neck.
Wait about two minutes and recheck the coolant level. If the coolant level has fallen below the base of the filler neck, add 50-50 premixed Dex-Cool until the level reaches the filler neck and repeat this step. If the coolant level remains at the base of the filler neck, tighten the cap onto the radiator and tighten the bleeder screw.
Start the engine and allow it to run until the cooling fan cycles on-and-off three times. Shut the engine off and allow the Venture to set until the engine is cool to the touch. Open the radiator and recheck that the coolant level is at the base of the filler neck.
Repeat Steps 3 through 6 if the coolant level is below the base of radiator filler neck. If the coolant is at the base of the filler neck, close the radiator cap and close the hood.
