Anti Freeze ?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 34
From: Ontario
Anti Freeze ?
Hi All . I would like opinions on which anti freeze is best suited for the long run in a GM engine. Green, Red or Zerox . I ask the this with the gaskets in mind after having had intake gasket problems on a Chev 3.1 in the past .
Please back up your opinion .
Regards Bill
Please back up your opinion .
Regards Bill
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 4
From: Springfield VA
I use the "long life" storebrand/prestone/etc... I doubt it will even be in 30k as much as I play with my cars and trucks. But even if so should still be fine.
I use to use the LL store brand, but prestone has a $15 rebate if you buy 2 gallons right now.
I use to use the LL store brand, but prestone has a $15 rebate if you buy 2 gallons right now.
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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I use Ethelyn Glycol based (the green stuff) anti freeze in all my old Corvettes, mixed 50/50 with distilled water. I get it locally at Car Quest. It's the store brand in the black bottles. Stay away from Dex-Cool unless you are talking about a C5/C6 that came with it. Any mixing of Dex-Cool with Ethelynn Glycol based anti freeze will result in a nasty sludge in your motor/cooling system.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
No need to change coolant yearly, if you use distilled water. And, if you keep it out of the cold weather (garaged) and only drive it 2-3000 miles per year, 3-5 years is more like it. Check the condition of the coolant every year; use a hydrometer to measure specific gravity and, if low, drain some coolant and top off with 100% antifreeze. As long as the sp. gr. is OK and the coolant looks and smells OK, run it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
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2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
The pink crap is more environmentally friendly but will hasten the demise of your entire cooling system...especially the aluminum. The auto makers don't mind being forced to put it in the new cars, they just end up selling more parts later. Keeps the service departments at the dealerships going strong, allowing them to stay in business as well. Another job well done by our federal government, just like catalytic converters and reduced zinc/phosphorous in the oil.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Chapel Hill NC
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Green every two years in old cars, dexcool every 5 years in new cars. Been doing this for a while and never had any problems.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 441
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
What ever type you use, be sure to mix the pure stuff (vs. pre-mixed) with distilled water. Your radiator will thank you by providing more years of service.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,202
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From: cincinnati ohio
St. Jude Donor '09
No need to change coolant yearly, if you use distilled water. And, if you keep it out of the cold weather (garaged) and only drive it 2-3000 miles per year, 3-5 years is more like it. Check the condition of the coolant every year; use a hydrometer to measure specific gravity and, if low, drain some coolant and top off with 100% antifreeze. As long as the sp. gr. is OK and the coolant looks and smells OK, run it.
X two. On a side note about Dex-cool, last spring I put a crank kit in a 1996 Chevy Blazer 4x4 with a 194,000 mile 3.4 V6. Obviously this thing has run this type of coolant since it was new. Now I've been playing with cars a looong time and of all the engines and cooling systems I've had the 'good fortune' of peering into, this was by far one of the cleanest I have ever seen.
FWIW
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
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From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
I believe the Dex-Cool problem was fixed several years ago. GM has made many mistakes but I don't think they are insane enough to continue the old Dex-Cool formula after the class action law suit costing them millions.
http://www.leftlanenews.com/old-gm-s...ol-owners.html
http://www.leftlanenews.com/old-gm-s...ol-owners.html
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Too many colors these days.
GREEN, ORANGE, RED, PURPLE, PINK, YELLOW and they also come in different shades of green.
http://www.aa1car.com/library/coolantchart1.jpg
http://www.aa1car.com/library/coolantchart2.jpg
I just flush initially, use the universal stuff and change between 1 and 2 years.
GREEN, ORANGE, RED, PURPLE, PINK, YELLOW and they also come in different shades of green.
http://www.aa1car.com/library/coolantchart1.jpg
http://www.aa1car.com/library/coolantchart2.jpg
I just flush initially, use the universal stuff and change between 1 and 2 years.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
Likes: 19
Dont underestimate GM, they never paid a dime for all the 96-99 4L60 PWM TCC solenoid issues that killed just about every trans at 100k miles. Check out their latest failure, Castech 5.3 cylinder heads, again, on your dime.
They have a habit of not fixing stuff that doesn't break under warantee.
They have a habit of not fixing stuff that doesn't break under warantee.
I believe the Dex-Cool problem was fixed several years ago. GM has made many mistakes but I don't think they are insane enough to continue the old Dex-Cool formula after the class action law suit costing them millions.
http://www.leftlanenews.com/old-gm-s...ol-owners.html
http://www.leftlanenews.com/old-gm-s...ol-owners.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 6
From: www.Z16.org North/West Pennsylvania
Back in the 80s I filled my 72 Corvette with Toyota Red antifreeze just because I had a few gallons sitting around for the Toyotas I owned. Well after checking it year after year I finally changed it after 5 years, just because I figured I should. It still looked like new and tested good. I refilled with it again and went 8 years the next time...Still looked and tested good, the system looked really clean with no deposits anywhere. So I filled it with it again...went 10 years this time... it still looked good but my hydrometer was dead so I didn't check it, I was changing it anyway. I always flushed with distilled water and filled with a 50/50 mix of distilled water and Toyota red antifreeze. I decided I better change my hoses this summer because they were 20+ years old and was surprised by their good condition. I'm still running the original radiator and water pump. My heater hosed are 28+ years old and look like new, they are still flexible, not stiff or mushy. Fill with ever you like, but I'm going to continue with the old Toyota red. 
