nge coolant types, you should do a chemical flush.
Regular coolant and Dex-cool coolant
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Claremont Ca
Regular coolant and Dex-cool coolant
I was wondering why later model GM cars used Dex-Cool coolant. The reason i ask is because i just purchased a alluminum radiator and i have alluminum heads and wondered if i should switch to dex-cool. Thanks in advance
Danny
Danny
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
In California, hot most of the time with rare freezing temps...I would suggest a 75% distilled water with 25% Prestone Yellow.
Dex is known for causing problems with cooling systems and while they may have things worked out better now, you HAVE to flush every year or it will cause problems.
Flushing every year is a good idea anyway, but I have seen a cooling system and some parts of the block literally eaten from the inside because of Dex.
Distilled water and Prestone Yellow.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,867
Likes: 195
From: Maryland
Dex Cool is a GM anti freeze with an organic acid corrosion package.
Lots of controversy on its use. The newest and
the recommended anti freeze for aluminum radiators is one with a HOAT package. (Hybrid organic acid tech) HOAT has a little silica in the formula and helps in protecting the lead solder joints in the cooling system. Dex Cool does not have silca in it and is suspect in its protection of solder joints.HOAT anti freeze has been used by Mercedes Benz for a while. Zerex G05 is an example of HOAT anti freeze.
Lots of controversy on its use. The newest and
the recommended anti freeze for aluminum radiators is one with a HOAT package. (Hybrid organic acid tech) HOAT has a little silica in the formula and helps in protecting the lead solder joints in the cooling system. Dex Cool does not have silca in it and is suspect in its protection of solder joints.HOAT anti freeze has been used by Mercedes Benz for a while. Zerex G05 is an example of HOAT anti freeze.
Last edited by Donald #31176; Sep 7, 2007 at 08:19 PM.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 599
Likes: 16
From: vista CA
Sounds like someone opened pandoras box - seems to be lots of controversy on this topic.
I am running dexcool in my vettes (both ls1) but think next flush I might try the zerex HOAT type or something other than dexcool. I have heard really bad things about mixing, I assume the HOAT is orange type or compatiable with dexcool?
I would like to move away from dexcool but have heard really bad things about switching over and some of the old and new not liking each other. Are the newer antifreezes that say they are compatiable with dex cool/orange really compatiable?
I am running dexcool in my vettes (both ls1) but think next flush I might try the zerex HOAT type or something other than dexcool. I have heard really bad things about mixing, I assume the HOAT is orange type or compatiable with dexcool?
I would like to move away from dexcool but have heard really bad things about switching over and some of the old and new not liking each other. Are the newer antifreezes that say they are compatiable with dex cool/orange really compatiable?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,708
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From: indy indiana
mixing the old dex-cool with another type of anti-freeze results in a brown ,sludge like nightmare , in the cooling system. When that happens, its a bi@#h to get out and clean. Been there,done that,have the T shirt.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
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From: Columbia Missouri
I can't even tell you how many Malibus, Impalas, and various small engine Oldsmobiles and Buicks I worked on that had destroyed cooling systems.I'm talking freeze plugs that rotted away from the inside with the structural integrity of aluminum foil. Water pumps that had their gasket faces eaten off, T-stats that crumbled or folded like paper, radiators, heater cores...you name it, it was all trash. Thanks DexCool, for all the business.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,708
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From: indy indiana
Durango_boy;1561831931] I can't even tell you how many Malibus, Impalas, and various small engine Oldsmobiles and Buicks I worked on that had destroyed cooling systems.
I'm talking freeze plugs that rotted away from the inside with the structural integrity of aluminum foil. Water pumps that had their gasket faces eaten off, T-stats that crumbled or folded like paper, radiators, heater cores...you name it, it was all trash. Thanks DexCool, for all the business.[/QUOTE]
---------------------------------------------------------------
I can't even tell you how many Malibus, Impalas, and various small engine Oldsmobiles and Buicks I worked on that had destroyed cooling systems.I'm talking freeze plugs that rotted away from the inside with the structural integrity of aluminum foil. Water pumps that had their gasket faces eaten off, T-stats that crumbled or folded like paper, radiators, heater cores...you name it, it was all trash. Thanks DexCool, for all the business.
[/QUOTE]---------------------------------------------------------------
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Hopefully your OLD rad is still in car ... if so, first do a complete flush with a STRONG system cleaner to clean out the block, intake heads etc ... best Cleaner there is can be hard to find ... some old stock still on GM parts dept shelf ... GM p/n 12346500 (aka prestone heavy duty cooling system cleaner p/n AS100) ... it's a dry powder to pre-mix w/ water. Most liquid "flushes" found on shelf today are weak & wimpy. Do a search here ... you should find my previous posts about flushing vs cleaning. Hopefully, you'll install NEW rad AFTER you do a good system CLEANING.
Do Not use Dexcool nor its equivalents ... too many documented problems.
That Zerex GO5 that was suggested ... mixed w/ deionized/distilled water is a good safe bet.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I use good old cheeeeep ethelyn glycol, green stuff....works every time....
CASECLOSED......
gee green is not cool, lets make it yellow, orange, purple or burgundy,
nitwits, reinventing the freeking wheel.....I would think there be other chemical problems better addressed than wasting engineering time on something that WORKS.....
CASECLOSED......
gee green is not cool, lets make it yellow, orange, purple or burgundy,
nitwits, reinventing the freeking wheel.....I would think there be other chemical problems better addressed than wasting engineering time on something that WORKS.....
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
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From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
My original Harrison Aluminum radiator finally bit the dust. I had it boiled out and pressure tested and it had a couple pinholes, rotted from the inside. I will be getting a New Harrison original style from DeWitts. It will be filled with Zerex GO5. The original aluminum lasted 45 years, wasn't changed regularly and sat, full for over 15 years. I asked my radiator guy about Dexcool and he recommended against it. He said he has had many newer, high mileage cars running Dexcool that need radiator replacement after 4 or 5 years, rotted from the inside. just like my 45 year old Harrison.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
It didn't work out well, it attacked some plastics and deteriorated gaskets too.
The G-05 is a hybrid of Dexcool, with silicates added like the old conventional American green.
Coolant Colors
Blue GM, Daewoo, silicatized
Gold Prestone silicatized (same as old standard green)
Yellow Zerex G.05 low silicatized hybrid, organic acid
Dyed orange for OM Chrysler
Dyed yellow for OEM Mercedes
Red High phosphate, silicate free, Toyota, Pontiac
Sold only at dealer
Dark Green Silicate free, Chevy, Suzuki, most *** cars
Pink Audi/VW, organic acid, close to Dexcool
Confused yet????
I stick with the texaco original green, after a major chemical flush and flush with wat yearly and replace with fresh antifreeze.
If you run aluminum then it won't hurt to use this. http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/html/anode.html
Last edited by noonie; Sep 8, 2007 at 02:34 PM.
