I replaced my old radiator with a Be cool aluminum for my BB. Are there any benefits to run Dexacool instead of standard coolant?

Al

 

Al,
Can't tell you as to whether or not there is a benefit to Dexcool, but I'd like to pass on my impression of it at this point. I have a 98 Chevy pickup and my wife has a 99 Chevy Suburban. Both came from the factory with Dexcool in the systems.

Both of them seem to use this stuff like candy. I've never ever experience the burn off/evaporation of antifreeze as I have with the Dexcool. Maybe that's why this stuff lasts so long without replacing. You end up burnin the stuff off and adding new that you've basically replaced it all.

BTW, I don't have leaks in either of them. I did have to replace the intake manifold gasket on my pickup at 37K since it was leaking coolant. Yeah great, $600 bill 1000 miles out of warranty..

My $.02

 

I read somewhere (maybe on this forum) that Dexcool is engineered solely for aluminum and does not provide chemical protection for the lead solder used in copper or brass cooling systems. Remember, your heater core is still brass.


[Modified by korvettekev, 5:52 PM 1/11/2002]

 

I switched all my cars (Chev. Mercedes, Toyota) to Dexcool beginning when it first came out in 1996. I have had no cooling system problems that I can attribute to Dexcool since then, but I replace it every two years as the five year life does not apply if the car has ever had conventional coolant according to Texaco.

I made the switch after doing considerable reseach including talking to the Texaco R&D people in Houstan and became convinced that the inorganic inhibitor package in Dexcool provides superior corrosion protection for ALL engine metals, especially aluminum.

GM has seen cooling system problems and attributes it to running with low coolant levels for extended periods. They published a tech bulletin on it in about 1999.

Duke

 

Hi Al
I just flushed the Dexcool out of my 98 S10 Blazer. I noticed a muddy residue forming in the radiator and with all the negative posts I have seen around the internet, I decided it was time to dump this junk.
Dexcool is suppose to provide extended fluid life and lower operating temps but has been a disaster in some cases. Any introduction of air into the system results in rock hard formations in the eng block cooling passages,clogged heater cores and plugged radiators.
There have been cases of engines having to be replaced because they were so badly plugged that even with numerous 6 hour flushes they could not be saved and numerous radiators and heater cores trashed. The S10 Blazers have had more problems than most because the radiator sits higher than the block and easily traps air.
Also, once an engine block has been exposed to regular glycol there is no cooling advantge to be gained with Dexcool, unless the block is removed and hot tanked to remove any glycol residue in the pores of the metal.
So considering that you won't pick up any of the cooling benefits because of your prior glycol use, I'd say the risk outways any advantage in your case.
Just to be fair,I have to admitt there have been people who have had complete success with this product and have driven hundreds of thousands of miles with no problems but be aware there is the potential for severe damage. LOL
Bob

 

QUOTE]
Also, once an engine block has been exposed to regular glycol there is no cooling advantge to be gained with Dexcool, unless the block is removed and hot tanked to remove any glycol residue in the pores of the metal.
So considering that you won't pick up any of the cooling benefits because of your prior glycol use, I'd say the risk outways any advantage in your case.
[/QUOTE]

This is misinformation.

Both Dexcool and conventional antifreeze are ethylene glycol based. The issue is not "glycol", it's the corrosion inhibitor package. The ORGANIC inhibitor package in Dexcool lasts longer and provides better corrosion protection for all metals. Conventional inhibitor packages are INORGANIC and rely on silicates, phosphates, and other salts.

That's why it's important to thoroughly flush a system when you switch to Dexcool. The inorganic packages leave behind precipitated salts (that have clogged up one radiator for me), which will slowly redissolve and reduce the effectiveness of the organic inhibitor package more quickly, so, according to Texaco, you should stay with a two-year change interval if the system has ever had a conventional inorganic inhibitor anti-freeze in it.

Duke

 

I also have had bad (expensive ) experience with Dexcool to the tune of about $1000.00 Fortunately I had purchased an extended warranty on the vehicle and it covered most of the expense. As noted by a previous poster, the coolant turned to sludge blamed on an intake manifold air leak. Car always ran fine but GM says they've had a lot of problems in this regard. To make a long story short, required an extensive flushing operation (all day) and replacement of the completely plugged heater core. Apparently aeration of the coolant causes it to congeal. I'll not take that risk as I've never had any problems whatsoever with the green. :seeya