Dex Cool Anyone?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 3
From: belle plaine ks
Dex Cool Anyone?
I was talking to a friend out at work the other day, and his car has overheated and blown some gaskets. He was wanting to trade it off and he told me that this dex cool that he had in the car may have ruined his engine, [Buick Lesabre v-6 2000 vintage.] He said there are consumer alerts and lawsuits against GM about this anti- freeze. Anyone have the skinny on this? Is this the only thing available now? I am considering flushing my vette and don't want something in there that is going to cause more trouble than it is worth.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 3
From: belle plaine ks
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...m_dexcool.html
http://www.noln.net/features/feature3.html
http://www.cmht.com/cases_dexcool.php
Ther are dozen more articles on google search
http://www.noln.net/features/feature3.html
http://www.cmht.com/cases_dexcool.php
Ther are dozen more articles on google search
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Interesting. I just switched to Dex cool in my new motor. I ran Prestone for years. I have had 2 GM vehicles that went 90K miles with never changing the anti squeeze for 3 years. Never had a cooling issue. What have others experienced?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 1
From: Ft. Walton Beach, Fl USA
Originally Posted by zwede
BS. I've been running Dex-Cool in my 71 for 7 years now with no problems.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
Likes: 382
From: Plano TX
Originally Posted by tigers123
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...m_dexcool.html
http://www.noln.net/features/feature3.html
http://www.cmht.com/cases_dexcool.php
Ther are dozen more articles on google search
http://www.noln.net/features/feature3.html
http://www.cmht.com/cases_dexcool.php
Ther are dozen more articles on google search
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
It just cost me $900 for a 2001 Impala 3.4L with 45,000 miles.
http://www.ottawasun.com/Money/2006/...50528-sun.html
http://www.ottawasun.com/Money/2006/...50528-sun.html
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 2
From: Moro IL
There's lots of issues with GM trucks and dexcool, ask your local chevy dealer about the intake manifold problems they are having with them. Also try and find a 3.1L or 3.4L gm engine running dexcool that doesn't have an intake manifold leak (internal or external) and is over 5 years old. I probably change out a dozen of these a year, compared to maybe one or two with the old green stuff. I'm not nescessarily saying that dexcool is at fault in all these cases but it's has become far more prevelant since GM changed to it. Enough so that the gaskets have all been revised here in the last two years to combat it. I think a lot has to do with the change interval they are recommending, I think by the time it makes it to 5 years the stuff is already eating through the gaskets, I recommend to all my customers to change it every 3 years. I don't see much advantage changing to it over the old green stuff given that it's far more likely to gum up in the presence of oxygen and cause more problems then it's worth. I think changing the old green stuff every other year is a far safer way to go, albeit requiring more maintenance.
Pat Kunz
Pat Kunz
Last edited by 73 LS-4; Apr 29, 2006 at 09:47 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
From: Marietta ga
Originally Posted by 73 LS-4
There's lots of issues with GM trucks and dexcool, ask your local chevy dealer about the intake manifold problems they are having with them. Also try and find a 3.1L or 3.4L gm engine running dexcool that doesn't have an intake manifold leak (internal or external) and is over 5 years old. I probably change out a dozen of these a year, compared to maybe one or two with the old green stuff. I'm not nescessarily saying that dexcool is at fault in all these cases but it's has become far more prevelant since GM changed to it. Enough so that the gaskets have all been revised here in the last two years to combat it. I think a lot has to do with the change interval they are recommending, I think by the time it makes it to 5 years the stuff is already eating through the gaskets, I recommend to all my customers to change it every 3 years. I don't see much advantage changing to it over the old green stuff given that it's far more likely to gum up in the presence of oxygen and cause more problems then it's worth. I think changing the old green stuff every other year is a far safer way to go, albeit requiring more maintenance.
Pat Kunz
Pat Kunz
Been changing out bad dex cool gaskets for a while. I mostly change gaskets in trucks, 3.1 and 3.4's. I don't know if it is the dex cool or the set up, but I take dex cool out of every motor I can just to be sure. I have only worked as a tech for a year, but I have already seen the problem many times over.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
In my service shop, I see no failure problems associated with Dex-Cool vehicles. Most of the intake leaks (gaskets and intake erosion) we see the coolant is green (the older stuff). All late C-4's and all C-5's we see using Dex-cool have very clean cooling systems. No evidence of Dex-cool failures as far as I can tell.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN
There's lots of issues with GM trucks and dexcool, ask your local chevy dealer about the intake manifold problems they are having with them.
Thanks!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Ocean City MD
In my shop we get at least 4 3.1/3.4 intakes a week along with the 5 or so 5.7 Vortecs. Apparently dexcool hates air and can get corrosive when exposed. I am not opposed to Dex-cool but I would not run it in my car. There are some new coolants out there than will mix with anything and do not have the corrosive properties that Dex-cool does. I see too many GM vehicles needing major work way too soon.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,798
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From: Pine Bluff Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21
I have a buddy that owns a rad. shop. He says "no way"...... that's good enought for me. I use the green stuff. Larry
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
My mother in law has a little Malibu that needs to have the anti-freeze flushed and changed out. I told her to bring it to me and I would change it for her. Any suggestions on what to look for when it comes time for me to start dinking with the car as far as problems. Also what should I put back in the car as far as coolant goes? I am afraid of working on other folks cars because of opening a can of worms.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Ocean City MD
eddie 70 look for a few things if it is the 3.1/3.4. Sludge in the tank caused by oil getting into the coolant. A leak on the driverside of the intake on the trans bell(90% will have this leak from my expirence)may be light. Also remove the oil cap and look for cream.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
Likes: 382
From: Plano TX
Originally Posted by C371
Does Dex Cool require a expansion tank to insure no air gets into the system?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
Likes: 382
From: Plano TX
Originally Posted by windsoreight
In my shop we get at least 4 3.1/3.4 intakes a week along with the 5 or so 5.7 Vortecs. Apparently dexcool hates air and can get corrosive when exposed. I am not opposed to Dex-cool but I would not run it in my car. There are some new coolants out there than will mix with anything and do not have the corrosive properties that Dex-cool does. I see too many GM vehicles needing major work way too soon.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
You may be interested in a class-action suit here in Canada.
http://autos.canada.com/news/story.h...9-610c81f0a914
http://autos.canada.com/news/story.h...9-610c81f0a914