re: dexacool, coolant?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,349
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Ironic that I just finished reading a piece on antifreeze in a past issue of Car and Driver magazine not an hour ago. 
Here is some free opinion:
First, if GM calls for a certain type of antifreeze in a vehicle, your best bet is to use that type antifreeze...forever!!
Two, the article said sticking thermostats is the first sign of a coolant that needs changing! "The stuff turned into brown sludge,which i thought was common rust flakes.so ignored it." Well, then, shame on you, ghoast!!
Three, "after a couple of years, it (Dex) tends to thicken up." ??
After a couple of years, it NEEDS TO BE CHANGED!!! Get a new mechanic, ebisko. The Dex in my C4 is the same stuff that was in it when I bought it three years ago (shame on ME!). It ain't thick. But, you can be sure I'll be flushing the system and putting in fresh Dex and distilled water (from the article) this weekend.
Four, anyone can initiate a lawsuit, class-action or otherwise. That doesn't mean there is any merit to it. That lawsuit, to me, isn't proof that Dexcool is faulty. It's only proof that someone wants some money.
Most of this comes from CandD, but I have to agree.
Larry
code5coupe
Here is some free opinion:
First, if GM calls for a certain type of antifreeze in a vehicle, your best bet is to use that type antifreeze...forever!!
Two, the article said sticking thermostats is the first sign of a coolant that needs changing! "The stuff turned into brown sludge,which i thought was common rust flakes.so ignored it." Well, then, shame on you, ghoast!!
Three, "after a couple of years, it (Dex) tends to thicken up." ??
After a couple of years, it NEEDS TO BE CHANGED!!! Get a new mechanic, ebisko. The Dex in my C4 is the same stuff that was in it when I bought it three years ago (shame on ME!). It ain't thick. But, you can be sure I'll be flushing the system and putting in fresh Dex and distilled water (from the article) this weekend.Four, anyone can initiate a lawsuit, class-action or otherwise. That doesn't mean there is any merit to it. That lawsuit, to me, isn't proof that Dexcool is faulty. It's only proof that someone wants some money.
Most of this comes from CandD, but I have to agree.
Larry
code5coupe
Last edited by rocco16; Sep 19, 2006 at 12:29 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 22,310
Likes: 216
From: Sussex,Wi
2023 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C3 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
I have Dexcool in my '97 Blazer that I bought in Oct '96.
Changed it in '01 at the recommended interval, 5yrs or 100,000 miles.
Replaced the T-stat at the same time.
I'll be changing it again in a month or so. And I'll probably throw in another new T-stat.
The only reason for this stuff to gunk up is if an excess of air gets into the system.
By the way, I went onto the Havoline/Texaco web site a few years back and looked up data on Dexcool. Their web site says that Dexcool can be mixed with ordinary Green coolant, but they do not endorse doing so.
As Larry said above, this stuff was put in the system for a reason. Different alloys and metals require special additives, so that is good enough for me to keep using the recommended stuff.
Changed it in '01 at the recommended interval, 5yrs or 100,000 miles.
Replaced the T-stat at the same time.
I'll be changing it again in a month or so. And I'll probably throw in another new T-stat.
The only reason for this stuff to gunk up is if an excess of air gets into the system.
By the way, I went onto the Havoline/Texaco web site a few years back and looked up data on Dexcool. Their web site says that Dexcool can be mixed with ordinary Green coolant, but they do not endorse doing so.
As Larry said above, this stuff was put in the system for a reason. Different alloys and metals require special additives, so that is good enough for me to keep using the recommended stuff.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 805
Likes: 11
From: Hickory Flat Ga
Dexcool was introduced as extended life coolant 5 years or 100,000 miles. The formulation was inert on the alloys in aluminum blocks, around 1996.
Since then the service interval has been shortened to that of 'green' coolant so the advantage is nil. The class action suits are smoke and so there must be fire. The numerous problems with GM cars linked to its use are undeniable.
The very small benefit of corrosion resistance and water pump lubrication is negated by Water Wetter in my case. The same service interval meant going with traditional coolant that has worked great for many billions of miles in engines across the world. I think it was just a cahoots between Texaco and GM arranged over a weekend in Vegas. it should have stayed there.
Since then the service interval has been shortened to that of 'green' coolant so the advantage is nil. The class action suits are smoke and so there must be fire. The numerous problems with GM cars linked to its use are undeniable.
The very small benefit of corrosion resistance and water pump lubrication is negated by Water Wetter in my case. The same service interval meant going with traditional coolant that has worked great for many billions of miles in engines across the world. I think it was just a cahoots between Texaco and GM arranged over a weekend in Vegas. it should have stayed there.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,349
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Originally Posted by tlong
. I think it was just a cahoots between Texaco and GM arranged over a weekend in Vegas.
What amazes me is that the very same guys who wouldn't dare use any other oil but Mobil 1 because that's what the factory fill was and if-it's-good-enough-or-the-factory-it's-good-enough-for-me, don't seem to think for a minute that there's something just plain wrong with cooking up some garage concoction for the cooling system. Why is that? Is it because the design team at GM really was stupid or evil or wanted their Corvettes to dissolve over time? I can't figure that one out.
Larry
code5coupe
Last edited by rocco16; Sep 19, 2006 at 04:51 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
All of this sounds refreshingly familiar....except the lawyer/lawsuit part. Regarding that part, let's just remember there are people who do little or nothing to their cars and when the coolant "goes bad", they sue. Now that's fair!!!! They also believe in perpetual motion machines.....
Originally Posted by rocco16
Ironic that I just finished reading a piece on antifreeze in a past issue of Car and Driver magazine not an hour ago.
Here is some free opinion:
First, if GM calls for a certain type of antifreeze in a vehicle, your best bet is to use that type antifreeze...forever!!
Two, the article said sticking thermostats is the first sign of a coolant that needs changing! "The stuff turned into brown sludge,which i thought was common rust flakes.so ignored it." Well, then, shame on you, ghoast!!
Three, "after a couple of years, it (Dex) tends to thicken up." ?? After a couple of years, it NEEDS TO BE CHANGED!!! Get a new mechanic, ebisko. The Dex in my C4 is the same stuff that was in it when I bought it three years ago (shame on ME!). It ain't thick. But, you can be sure I'll be flushing the system and putting in fresh Dex and distilled water (from the article) this weekend.
Four, anyone can initiate a lawsuit, class-action or otherwise. That doesn't mean there is any merit to it. That lawsuit, to me, isn't proof that Dexcool is faulty. It's only proof that someone wants some money.
Most of this comes from CandD, but I have to agree.
Larry
code5coupe
Here is some free opinion:
First, if GM calls for a certain type of antifreeze in a vehicle, your best bet is to use that type antifreeze...forever!!
Two, the article said sticking thermostats is the first sign of a coolant that needs changing! "The stuff turned into brown sludge,which i thought was common rust flakes.so ignored it." Well, then, shame on you, ghoast!!
Three, "after a couple of years, it (Dex) tends to thicken up." ??
After a couple of years, it NEEDS TO BE CHANGED!!! Get a new mechanic, ebisko. The Dex in my C4 is the same stuff that was in it when I bought it three years ago (shame on ME!). It ain't thick. But, you can be sure I'll be flushing the system and putting in fresh Dex and distilled water (from the article) this weekend.Four, anyone can initiate a lawsuit, class-action or otherwise. That doesn't mean there is any merit to it. That lawsuit, to me, isn't proof that Dexcool is faulty. It's only proof that someone wants some money.
Most of this comes from CandD, but I have to agree.
Larry
code5coupe
Racer
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: Frisco, Texas USA
Originally Posted by pettvette
Are we sure about the DEX-Cool switch in 95? My May built 95 came with the conventional stuff and thats what the Owners manual calls for.
My GM Service manuals also call for conventional antifreez....Can anyone clarify?
My GM Service manuals also call for conventional antifreez....Can anyone clarify?
