KOPBET
Well-known member
Can someone tell me the difference between GM Dex-cool and Prestone GM Dex-cool approved?
thanks.
thanks.
Anti-freeze experts please.
- Thread starter KOPBET
- Start date
LT4man
Well-known member
No difference.
GM Dex-Cool is manufactured by Havoline.
Prestone is manufactured by .............Prestone!
Both comply with GM Specifications for long-life antifreeze.
5 years or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
Save The Wave!
GM Dex-Cool is manufactured by Havoline.
Prestone is manufactured by .............Prestone!
Both comply with GM Specifications for long-life antifreeze.
5 years or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
Save The Wave!
- Thread starter
- #3
KOPBET
Well-known member
Thanks Gregory! 
M
MBDiagMan
Guest
Yes, they are the same crap and I do mean CRAP! Dex Cool has been responsibile for NUMEROUS ruined cooling system components. It has also gelled up and ruined engines before.
If it were my car I would flush the system real well with water, put in plain old Prestone and run it no longer than two years between changes.
My $0.02,
Doc
If it were my car I would flush the system real well with water, put in plain old Prestone and run it no longer than two years between changes.
My $0.02,
Doc
LT4man
Well-known member
I have run Dex Cool in my Vette since 1996. I ordered the car new. It came with it installed.
When I went to flush the system in 2001, the Dex Cool that came out was so clean, I could have left it in. But, I didn't. They do recommend replacing it every 5 years.
In March of 2005, I replaced the radiator for the first time. 80,000 miles. The radiator was not leaking, but my engine temps had been rising a little. Aluminum does lose some of its cooling properties with time.
The Dex Cool I drained was as clean as in 2001. I, of course, put new Dex Cool in with the new radiator.
I would like to meet the owners whose Dex Cool ruined their engines. Maybe the Dex Cool was not to blame. I happen to change my oil regularly on my LT4 and have had absolutely NO mechanical problems. My water pump is the only item I have replaced and that was due to the seal leaking.
I happen to think that my Vette is an incredible car. Visually and physically. Maybe I am the exception to the rule. I think not!
Save The Wave!
When I went to flush the system in 2001, the Dex Cool that came out was so clean, I could have left it in. But, I didn't. They do recommend replacing it every 5 years.
In March of 2005, I replaced the radiator for the first time. 80,000 miles. The radiator was not leaking, but my engine temps had been rising a little. Aluminum does lose some of its cooling properties with time.
The Dex Cool I drained was as clean as in 2001. I, of course, put new Dex Cool in with the new radiator.
I would like to meet the owners whose Dex Cool ruined their engines. Maybe the Dex Cool was not to blame. I happen to change my oil regularly on my LT4 and have had absolutely NO mechanical problems. My water pump is the only item I have replaced and that was due to the seal leaking.
I happen to think that my Vette is an incredible car. Visually and physically. Maybe I am the exception to the rule. I think not!
Save The Wave!
T
tnovot
Guest
MBDiagMan said:
What evidence and/or experience do you have to support this claim (allegation)? Are you just repeating what you have heard or have you actually experienced these problems? Even if it were true that Dexcool (caused by other factors such as poor radiator cap sealing etc) could cause problems with the cooling system, the statement that it has gelled up and ruined engines implies that it somehow has damaged engine internals. That doesn't seem to be credible.
I switched my '84 over to Dexcool in 2000 and just drained it to flush and refill for this winter's storage. It came out bright and clean with NO evidence of slime, gelling, or thickening. As lt4man said, I also thought I could leave it in longer but drained it anyway.
For those who have heard the warnings about Dexcool and are hesitant to use it, Peak now has a conventional antifreeze with a 5 year or 50K mileage useage. It is called Peak Long Life and I think it is a reformulation and improved version of ethelyne glycol. It is NOT Dexcool.
M
markone
Guest
I have owned three GM cars over the last seven years (two purchased new) all three used Dex-Cool and all three never had a cooling problem at all. One was sold after it reached 168K (coolant flused once in 6 years), the other has 42K on it and one with 22K on it. For what it's worth.
M
MBDiagMan
Guest
Well, I have not personally had trouble with my own cars with Dex Cool for only one reason and that is because I will not use it. I have seen several engines and cooling systems with my own eyes that have gelled.
For those who don't understand how gelling can kill an engine, stop and think about it. A gelled coolant will not flow, a coolant that will not flow can not carry away heat, heat that is not carried away destroys engines.
For those of you who have had good service from Dex Cool I am very happy for you. There are also many people who smoke cigarettes for 50 years who never get cancer. Is that evidence enough that smoking is safe.
For those of you who think that I am making this up just check out a few of these:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/gm_dexcool.html
www.imcool.com/articles/antifreeze-coolant/ CPM-52-DEXArticle-Excerpt.pdf
www.cwcd.com/CM/MassTorts/MassTorts5.asp
https://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/case/dexcool
forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread. php?goto=newpost&t=1221242
Good luck,
Doc
For those who don't understand how gelling can kill an engine, stop and think about it. A gelled coolant will not flow, a coolant that will not flow can not carry away heat, heat that is not carried away destroys engines.
For those of you who have had good service from Dex Cool I am very happy for you. There are also many people who smoke cigarettes for 50 years who never get cancer. Is that evidence enough that smoking is safe.
For those of you who think that I am making this up just check out a few of these:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/gm_dexcool.html
www.imcool.com/articles/antifreeze-coolant/ CPM-52-DEXArticle-Excerpt.pdf
www.cwcd.com/CM/MassTorts/MassTorts5.asp
https://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/case/dexcool
forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread. php?goto=newpost&t=1221242
Good luck,
Doc
LT4man
Well-known member
I read through every one of the items posted in the first website. Every car was at least 5 years old. I would like to know if the coolant had been replaced before they started experiencing problems. Also, I would like to know if the engine oil had been replaced at regular intervals as recommended by GM.
I owned an auto and truck repair facility for over 20 years. When coolant needed to be changed at two year intervals, the only time it was changed was if I suggested it to my customer.
Jiffy Lube has actually helped the consumer by stressing 3,000 mile oil change intervals. This is the life blood of EVERY engine.
When customers do not have oil and/or antifreeze changed on a regular basis, they should expect their engines to seize up or blow up.
Funny isn't it: I have NEVER had a serious engine problem in 36 years of driving over 1/2 a million miles. And some of my cars had over 100,000 miles when I acquired them.
Regular maintenance (which seems to be done by Vette owners) is the path to years of enjoying our vehicles!
Save The Wave!
I owned an auto and truck repair facility for over 20 years. When coolant needed to be changed at two year intervals, the only time it was changed was if I suggested it to my customer.
Jiffy Lube has actually helped the consumer by stressing 3,000 mile oil change intervals. This is the life blood of EVERY engine.
When customers do not have oil and/or antifreeze changed on a regular basis, they should expect their engines to seize up or blow up.
Funny isn't it: I have NEVER had a serious engine problem in 36 years of driving over 1/2 a million miles. And some of my cars had over 100,000 miles when I acquired them.
Regular maintenance (which seems to be done by Vette owners) is the path to years of enjoying our vehicles!
Save The Wave!
M
MBDiagMan
Guest
lt4man said:I read through every one of the items posted in the first website. Every car was at least 5 years old. I would like to know if the coolant had been replaced before they started experiencing problems. Also, I would like to know if the engine oil had been replaced at regular intervals as recommended by GM.
I owned an auto and truck repair facility for over 20 years. When coolant needed to be changed at two year intervals, the only time it was changed was if I suggested it to my customer.
Jiffy Lube has actually helped the consumer by stressing 3,000 mile oil change intervals. This is the life blood of EVERY engine.
When customers do not have oil and/or antifreeze changed on a regular basis, they should expect their engines to seize up or blow up.
Funny isn't it: I have NEVER had a serious engine problem in 36 years of driving over 1/2 a million miles. And some of my cars had over 100,000 miles when I acquired them.
Regular maintenance (which seems to be done by Vette owners) is the path to years of enjoying our vehicles!
Save The Wave!
I agree with you totally regarding preventive maintenance. I have driven for 42 years and about a million and a half miles. I am also an avid fluid changer and a believer in preventive maintenance extremist. I have indeed had failures but at VERY high mileages. For example one engine went 380,000 miles.
I have, with my own eyes, however, seen problems with Dex Cool in vehicles that had the stuff changed at maximum recommended intervals.
I don't think there is a problem with Dex Cool in and of itself. I believe that the problem is trying to run it to the maximum recommended change interval. For those who are frequent fluid changers, they will most likely never see a problem with it.
If I were to run the stuff in my personal vehicles I can guarantee you it would be in there no longer than a few years or about 36,000 miles. With those intervals I think it would be safe, but at those intervals regular Prestone is probably safe.
Have a great day,
LT4man
Well-known member
To add to what you have already said, which I agree with wholeheartedly.
Starting in the 80's and continuing to now, all the manufacturers have been experimenting and using all kinds of alloys. They have not had time to test exactly how these alloys react with different antifreezes. My LT4 has a cast iron block and aluminum cylinder heads. So far, so good.
By using dissimilar metals in an engine, there are all sorts of variables. These variables can certainly cause problems. The antifreeze makers are trying to come up with a formula that works with EVERYTHING! Sort of the "one size of sock fits all men" mentality. Obviously, this is not working to the satisfaction of all.
I would definitely err on the side of too often 'changes' as opposed to lengthening the 'intervals'.
Save The Wave!
Starting in the 80's and continuing to now, all the manufacturers have been experimenting and using all kinds of alloys. They have not had time to test exactly how these alloys react with different antifreezes. My LT4 has a cast iron block and aluminum cylinder heads. So far, so good.
By using dissimilar metals in an engine, there are all sorts of variables. These variables can certainly cause problems. The antifreeze makers are trying to come up with a formula that works with EVERYTHING! Sort of the "one size of sock fits all men" mentality. Obviously, this is not working to the satisfaction of all.
I would definitely err on the side of too often 'changes' as opposed to lengthening the 'intervals'.
Save The Wave!
M
mike t
Guest
I have a 95 and Gm changed the fluid last year. Its green. Is this dex cool or some other antifreese. Thank you
jmccloud
Well-known member
Green or DexCool
Mike T,
GM changed from 'Green' to Dex Cool (Orange) in mid '95. Your car had a sticker if it was a Dex Cool car (the sticker may still be there). My '95 was built in April if I read the serial numbers correctly and it was a 'Green' antifreeze car.
Hope this helps
Mike T,
GM changed from 'Green' to Dex Cool (Orange) in mid '95. Your car had a sticker if it was a Dex Cool car (the sticker may still be there). My '95 was built in April if I read the serial numbers correctly and it was a 'Green' antifreeze car.
Hope this helps
vee93
Well-known member
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KOPBET said:
PRICE!
M
mike t
Guest
Great mine is an early 95 so I am a green one. Will stick with that. Thank you
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