Dex-Cool

[muddywaters]

I know this topic was mentioned before, but I'll bring it up again. While at one of the local, larger repair shops w/my sons Boy Scout troop, the manager giving the tour was adamant about getting Dex-Cool out of your vehicle and replacing it with the Green coolant. I recently bought a 99 coupe w/6600mi. on it and was considering changing the coolant because I heard horror stories about Dex-Cool. Any Input? Thanks

 

[ToolGuy]

I have had 4 vehicles with it and no issues... When I got my C5 it had 53,000 miles on it. I wanted to changed out the thermostat based off the mileage and I did a coolant change too. No issues!

I have heard if the cooling system runs low on coolant then you can get a sludge issue...

 

[gmjunkie]

I have had 4 vehicles with it and no issues... When I got my C5 it had 53,000 miles on it. I wanted to changed out the thermostat based off the mileage and I did a coolnat change too. No issues!

I have heard if the cooling system runs low on coolant then you can get a sludge issue...

You don't have to run it Low!!! Over time there will be a residue of Reddish white crystals that will plug radiator and heater core!! I have noticed that aluminum gets pits (And sometimes holes)in that Looks like Electrolysis on a aluminum boat motor thats been in salt water!!!! I have replaced thermostat housings and even 1 head because of aluminum deterioration!!!! I wont run any anti freeze longer than 2 years!! Red or Green!!

 

[Tuna]

I've been running Dex-Cool for years now without problem. I converted my old '92 to Dex-Cool also as I had 2 newer cars in the garage that came with Dex-Cool and I didn't want to keep 2 types of antifreeze in the garage. When I took the motor apart in 2003 with 103K miles on it, the inside was almost perfect.
All my current cars came with Dex-Cool and that's okay with me.

 

[MMM]

Go to Google and search "Dex-Cool Problems. What you see will scare you. I personally have been involved with at least 5 intake manifold gasket replacements caused by Dex Cool eating the gaskets. There was also a problem with a 4.3's in the late 90's/ early 00's supposedly caused by the GM installing the wrong radiator cap. The cars were recalled and the caps changed, but many also required new radiators and heater cores. It seems that contact with air causes Dex Cool to degrade and create precipitates.
I perfer to use the Hybrid OAT coolant (yellow) which I believe to have the advantages of Dex Cool without the inheret problems.
This is another one of my complaints about GM. Dex Cool may seem advantageous on the surface, but it requires greater attention and maintenance than does the old green anti freeze. And the consequences of not maintaining a Dex Cool system are much worse than that from neglect to a system with the green stuff. The average person DOES NOT maintain their car as per the factory recommendations. If it is not giving them problems then it is forgotten. This philosophy does not work with Dex Cool; maintain the cooling system religiously or else. And after all of the other Class Action suits GM has seen due to a large part by poor customer maintainance, you would think they would learn their lesson.
Mike

 

[LT4man]

My LT4 came with Dex-Cool in 1996. I have changed out the fluid every 5 years. No issues whatsoever. I installed a new radiator two years ago. Fluid I removed was perfect. I did flush system per GM's instructions and fluid is still perfect.

These cars need to be maintained. They will not take care of themselves! Kinda like 6 year olds! :L

SAVE THE WAVE!

 

[ToolGuy]

Take care of for sure!

And if you think about it a radiator hose and t-stat do not last for 100,000 like the coolant. I always disagreed with the 100K interval.

At any rate I always take those extended life intervals and cut them on half, that is when I do the maintenance. Just like plugs, 50,000 and I change them out. At 100K on plugs you will most likely start getting misfire codes!

:bang

 

[sailronin]

I am new to Chevy's (got my C5 early this month) and this is the first I've heard of DexCool or the related problems. Did the Google search and it sounded like if the radiator cap was in good shape and the expansion tank kept full the problem was mitigated.
I run a large yacht for a living, each oil change (every 250 hours) the oil and coolants are tested. If the coolant is outside of specific parameters there are additives that are used to bring it back in line (each engine holds 35 gallons of coolant so we try to condition rather than replace it if possible).

My question is, is there a test kit we can get for our cars that will let us know when the coolant is getting near the end of it's usable life?

Thanks
Dave

 

[ToolGuy]

My question is, is there a test kit we can get for our cars that will let us know when the coolant is getting near the end of it's usable life?

Thanks
Dave

No necessarily a kit but there is a tool... It is called a Refractometer and it accurately checks coolant and even battery acid for specific gravity. It can be used on all types of coolant letting you know how strong or weak the coolant actually is. We sell them, so does Snap On Tools. I do not think the local auto store carries them, they carry more of the cheapo floating ball types. A Refractometer uses a drop of coolant, sandwiched in a window, you then hold it up to a light source and look through the site. It is far better a tool then the floating ball type.

:J :blue:

 

[c4c5specialist]

Allthebest, c4c5

 

[LT4man]

Allthebest, c4c5

OK, I'll bite! What's with your head bashing?

SAVE THE WAVE!

 

[BugMan]

You don't have to run it Low!!! Over time there will be a residue of Reddish white crystals that will plug radiator and heater core!! I have noticed that aluminum gets pits (And sometimes holes)in that Looks like Electrolysis on a aluminum boat motor thats been in salt water!!!! I have replaced thermostat housings and even 1 head because of aluminum deterioration!!!! I wont run any anti freeze longer than 2 years!! Red or Green!!

I am glad I read your post. I have a 2004 Vette with 12,500 miles. Tomorrow (7/11/06) it goes to the dealer to have the coolant system flushed and the coolant replaced. Since I hardly drive the car and it has been 2 years since its initial delivery I figure go ahead and do it while they are doing the oil/filter change. By the way I change my oil/filter every 6 months even though I am only putting about 1,000 miles every 6 months.

Finaly the brake system is going to be flushed and the DOT 3 brake fluid replaced as well.

 

[vett boy]

OK, I'll bite! What's with your head bashing?

SAVE THE WAVE!

Yah, come on give us a hint specialist.Otherwise i'm in with Junk.

 

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
Its very simple.
There is so much BS about Dexcool and fact are far outweighed by the speculation that runs rampant about the Dexcool.
A search about Dexcool on this forum, will give the fact based reality of Dexcool.
Fact is, when Dexcool was originally introduced in mid 1995, it was a propylene glycol base.
Overtime, the base was changed to ethylene glycol, although i do NOT know when exactly it was changed in formulation.
Using electrolysis and a refractometer to determine quality of the coolant/antifreeze mix, you can tell if it needs to be changed.
If you run more than a 60/40 mix, and allow coolant leaks to happen over a long term, gelling and contamination will occur.
If you have a head gasket leak, combustion gases can also create this type of contamination, as the gases react with coolant.
There are many different theories about problems with Dexcool, factually, there are actually very little problems since 2001.
Allthebest, c4c5