I am getting ready to fire up my big block on Sunday, I have a BeCool radiator set up with the motor at my garage. My question is should I use the new dex-cool in my motor or the regular green stuff, Preston or similar? Is one better than the other. Thanks for the input!

 

Dexcool and distilled water.

 

Just my $.02 dex-cool has a problem w/ getting all gummy and blocking radiators. I work at Troutman's chevrolet as a mechanic and have seen at least 20-30 brand new Blazers needing a new radiator because the dex-cool has gotten gummy and all weird and clogged everything up. I wish i could show you a pic of what will happen. And the worst part is GM insist that it is not the dex-cool.

 

Sounds like regular Prestone or Zerex with distilled water is the best to go with. I don't want to clog my BeCool radiator and brand new motor. I have spent way to much time and money to screw it up!

 

The problem with Dexcool is it cannot be combined with any normal antifreeze. If you wanted to safely run dexcool I would wait until you replaced everything and rebuilt the motor. There is so efficient way to flush all the old fluid out to prevent it reacting with the dexcool. The gumming up and clogs are cause mainly by combining the dexcool and orginal antifreeze. They have a weird chemical reaction with each other. I would just use the distilled water with extended life prestone (red stuff), and some water wetter does not hurt.

Mark B.

 

The Green Glycol style coolant and demineralized water.If it a new build,fire it up with water only incase you have an internal coolant leak"like intake manifold gaket leaking into the valley" the coolant won't kill the bearings
Prestone is great.

 

First let me explain that the reason that GM went to dexcool is because of longivity. It is rated at 5 years or over 100000 miles. I read that someone posted that it gumes up radiators this is not the whole story. GM had two problems with cooling systems over the past few years the first being the additive that they were putting in at the factory it is a kinda of sealer and is supposed to be in there. The problem was that the guys at the plant were getting carried away with adding this stuff to the cooling system. For those of us who work at Gm there was a service bullitin on this. The other was bad grounds on the cars . This was more prevalent with the older cars that developed electrical problems. The Dex would become a much better ground as the electrical problem in the vehicle got worce and it would inter act with the heatercores and evaporators causing this gel like brown substance and also clogging things up in severe cases. There is one more matter and that is leaks of any kind in the coolant system this also leads to inter action and cause the same afore mentioned problems. What I am saying is that dex was made for perfect conditions and is not and would not be a good choise for an older car. I believe that the regular green anti freeze is more robust and absolutely more forgiving when problems arise. :yesnod: :yesnod: :cool: :seeya

 

OGMAT, I followed most of what you said, now for a new question. I have a 1996 Impala SS, once or twice a year I must flush the heater core to stay cozy inside. I've replaced the dex several times now, one time all at once thanks to the Generals cheesy spring clamps. Buts thats another story. Are you saying it's electrolisses issue? The system is in perfect condition and tight.

 

yes for a lot of cars it absolutely is fnd out easy if that is the problem. volt meter Ngeative end to positve batt an positive lead in the rad fluid what does the meter read gotta go will talk to you later e mail me for more on this subject orlandosfedup@hotmail.com
:seeya