OMG, its green!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 656
Likes: 79
From: Jackson Wisconsin
OMG, its green!
As I work around my 95 Coupe I'm slowly doing all the maintenance that I feel is necessary. Opening the coolant tank, I find its green. If I'm not mistaken, plain old conventional antifreeze is green. My 95 car needs Dexcool, which is orange. Is this correct? My first impression is to get it out of there ASAP. Next up, how to replace. Is it a simple matter of drain, flush and replace or do I have to do some sort of native dance as well?
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,344
Likes: 48
From: San Marcos CA
My 95 had a new opti and a new radiator the year previous to my purchase of it and it had been properly flushed and refilled with conventional coolant. I chose to keep it green. Dexcool supposedly has a longer change interval, but I am ok with actually changing coolant every three years or so. I would consider keeping it conventional because:
1) you own the coolant- ie, it is paid for and properly flushed and done- use it up for 2-3 years
2) it is a lot of work to properly and totally flush a system for a chemistry change.
95/96 cars were a transitional year for coolants- I'm not sure how others feel about it, but Dexcool had its problems in different 90's GM's- especially if you never flushed it.
1) you own the coolant- ie, it is paid for and properly flushed and done- use it up for 2-3 years
2) it is a lot of work to properly and totally flush a system for a chemistry change.
95/96 cars were a transitional year for coolants- I'm not sure how others feel about it, but Dexcool had its problems in different 90's GM's- especially if you never flushed it.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 11,619
Likes: 1,055
From: Compound in the Grove, Ga.
2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C4 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods)
2018 C4 of Year Finalist
2015 C4 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '16
Nothing wrong with green, just not what came in your car. To change it yes a complete flush of the system with water many times with the heater on hot to get it out of the heater core. be sure to let it completely warm up so the thermostat opens.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Your '95 doesn't "need" any special coolant.
Ther is absolutely nothing wrong w/green, as long as you keep it maintained. 
Ther is absolutely nothing wrong w/green, as long as you keep it maintained.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 44
From: NC
Green is better. DexCrap got GM sued a few years back for corroding aluminum engine parts to the point they'd no longer seal.
Prestone Green is all you need, as long as it's clean and taken care of.
Prestone Green is all you need, as long as it's clean and taken care of.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 538
Likes: 36
From: Northern Colorado
My 95 had a new opti and a new radiator the year previous to my purchase of it and it had been properly flushed and refilled with conventional coolant. I chose to keep it green. Dexcool supposedly has a longer change interval, but I am ok with actually changing coolant every three years or so. I would consider keeping it conventional because:
1) you own the coolant- ie, it is paid for and properly flushed and done- use it up for 2-3 years
2) it is a lot of work to properly and totally flush a system for a chemistry change.
95/96 cars were a transitional year for coolants- I'm not sure how others feel about it, but Dexcool had its problems in different 90's GM's- especially if you never flushed it.
1) you own the coolant- ie, it is paid for and properly flushed and done- use it up for 2-3 years
2) it is a lot of work to properly and totally flush a system for a chemistry change.
95/96 cars were a transitional year for coolants- I'm not sure how others feel about it, but Dexcool had its problems in different 90's GM's- especially if you never flushed it.
Best to keep with what is already being used. From the reading I have done, seems the biggest issue with Dexcool is when the conventional coolant was not fully flushed 100% and bad bad chemical reactions then start to sludge up the cooling system. My 95 has Dexcool and I recently completed a system flush, I just kept with that as no need to tempt the coolant gods with these cars. 
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
I changed mine to green. but if you change it back or flush it. you must pull both knock sensors to do it right. alot of crap in there and many folks don't know about it. the differant coolants don't play well. proper torque and dope is a must for the knocks.
Last edited by antfarmer2; Nov 5, 2015 at 12:19 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
By posting that^, I'm not advocating that the OP use Dex; either will work FINE, w/a good flushing and proper maintenance. One requires more frequent maintenance, than the other. That's it.
.
Last edited by Tom400CFI; Nov 5, 2015 at 01:11 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
No, no, NO! Please don't make **** up. GM did get sued over Dexcool. Bringing that up is sensational and proves nothing, as I could sue you for being a "dummy"...but that in no way, "proves" that you are a dummy (and I"m not implying that you are...just chose that for the example). The suit wasn't successful, and the root cause wasn't Dexcool. Geeze this stuff won't die.
By posting that^, I'm not advocating that the OP use Dex; either will work FINE, w/a good flushing and proper maintenance. One requires more frequent maintenance, than the other. That's it.
.
By posting that^, I'm not advocating that the OP use Dex; either will work FINE, w/a good flushing and proper maintenance. One requires more frequent maintenance, than the other. That's it.
.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 44
From: NC
No, no, NO! Please don't make **** up. GM did get sued over Dexcool. Bringing that up is sensational and proves nothing, as I could sue you for being a "dummy"...but that in no way, "proves" that you are a dummy (and I"m not implying that you are...just chose that for the example). The suit wasn't successful, and the root cause wasn't Dexcool. Geeze this stuff won't die.
By posting that^, I'm not advocating that the OP use Dex; either will work FINE, w/a good flushing and proper maintenance. One requires more frequent maintenance, than the other. That's it.
.
By posting that^, I'm not advocating that the OP use Dex; either will work FINE, w/a good flushing and proper maintenance. One requires more frequent maintenance, than the other. That's it.
.
It also gums up from my understanding with ANY air contamination.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...m_dexcool.html
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2011/03/...ol-settlement/
Why take the chance on that garbage. Green is just as effective without turning into gum, or eating away at nylon, aluminum and pretty much everything else.
It was proven to be a load of sludge. Nothing sensationalist about it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,692
Likes: 349
From: Sacramento California
I agree with most others here. Just because your 95 is spec'd to use Dex-Cool doesn't mean you must use it. In your original post I didn't read that you want to use Dex-Cool, just that you were concerned the car now has green. Since yours already has the green, I suggest continuing with the green. It's proven over decades, it works fine, and will cause no problems with your car. My 1995 had green when I bought it, I could see it in the surge tank and was green when I flushed it out through the knock sensors. Refilled with 50/50 green and a bottle of hy-per lube super coolant (generic water wetter) and it works great.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 30
Likes: 2
From: Homer Glen IL
As long as we're addressing coolants.........
Do you guys still put the seal tabs in?
I purchased some on Ebay and used them on my last flush and fill. I thought that I read that the coolant weeps through the aluminum castings, and the seal tabs slow that down.
Thoughts?
I purchased some on Ebay and used them on my last flush and fill. I thought that I read that the coolant weeps through the aluminum castings, and the seal tabs slow that down.
Thoughts?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Coolant should not weep through aluminum.
That is simply not true, Aaron. BS.
Here is the radiator out of my '96 Silverado, @ 240,000 miles. All dexcool. Pulled after I hit a cow. Where is the "sludge"?
Now, here is the radiator out of our '05 CTS-V at ~130,000 miles, coolant hadn't yet been changed yet, tank seal started leaking. Where is the "sludge"?
Last, (for pics I have), here is my 'Vette, ~155,000 miles, 23 year old radiator, after side tank cracked. Where's the "sludge"? Where is it??
I don't have pics of this, but I ran Dex in a fleet maint program I was responsible for w/100's of vehicles; diesels, gas, big, small, you name it....never saw this "sludge", never had a coolant related issue.
Now here is the difference between my posts about dex, and post w/crap from the internet: I know the entire history of my vehicles, and my fleet vehicles. When we post up crap from the 'net...we don't know what the owner has done, what the previous owner has done....we don't know the history, all we see is a result. A result of what? We don't know.
That is simply not true, Aaron. BS.
Here is the radiator out of my '96 Silverado, @ 240,000 miles. All dexcool. Pulled after I hit a cow. Where is the "sludge"?
Now, here is the radiator out of our '05 CTS-V at ~130,000 miles, coolant hadn't yet been changed yet, tank seal started leaking. Where is the "sludge"?
Last, (for pics I have), here is my 'Vette, ~155,000 miles, 23 year old radiator, after side tank cracked. Where's the "sludge"? Where is it??
I don't have pics of this, but I ran Dex in a fleet maint program I was responsible for w/100's of vehicles; diesels, gas, big, small, you name it....never saw this "sludge", never had a coolant related issue.
Now here is the difference between my posts about dex, and post w/crap from the internet: I know the entire history of my vehicles, and my fleet vehicles. When we post up crap from the 'net...we don't know what the owner has done, what the previous owner has done....we don't know the history, all we see is a result. A result of what? We don't know.
Last edited by Tom400CFI; Nov 5, 2015 at 02:35 PM.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 603
Likes: 45
From: Baltimore County MD
coolant
As I work around my 95 Coupe I'm slowly doing all the maintenance that I feel is necessary. Opening the coolant tank, I find its green. If I'm not mistaken, plain old conventional antifreeze is green. My 95 car needs Dexcool, which is orange. Is this correct? My first impression is to get it out of there ASAP. Next up, how to replace. Is it a simple matter of drain, flush and replace or do I have to do some sort of native dance as well?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
the dealer did mine for $700 then gm paid me $400 still got screwed out of $300.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 800
Likes: 45
From: San Diego CA
I know I've probably said this over 100 times. But I worked at Chevrolet for 10 years. From 94-04. I was there when Dexcrap coolant was introduced. I saw many blown headgaskets, blown water pumps, clogged radiators, clogged heater cores and blown aluminum water pipes in many different vehicles there. I'll never use that crap ever. My mom's Chevy Lumina with 3.1 went through many parts as her current piece of junk 03 Impala with 3.8 engine which I'll be flushing dexcrap out soon.
Just run the green stuff.
Just run the green stuff.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 917
Likes: 25
From: College Station Tx
As I work around my 95 Coupe I'm slowly doing all the maintenance that I feel is necessary. Opening the coolant tank, I find its green. If I'm not mistaken, plain old conventional antifreeze is green. My 95 car needs Dexcool, which is orange. Is this correct? My first impression is to get it out of there ASAP. Next up, how to replace. Is it a simple matter of drain, flush and replace or do I have to do some sort of native dance as well?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,229
Likes: 117
From: San Antonio Texas
My 96 LT4 came with Dex-Cool in it. I didn't know there was a difference between the green and red coolant until I read it here on the forum. Glad I did. I stuck with the Dex and after having the pump off a couple of times for Opti service, everything is clean as a whistle!
Don't know if it is truth or rumor but, I've heard that if you don't get it ALL out when you switch to the green, it has a chemical reaction and fills the cooling system with "jell-o *****" that clog up everything.
Don't know if it is truth or rumor but, I've heard that if you don't get it ALL out when you switch to the green, it has a chemical reaction and fills the cooling system with "jell-o *****" that clog up everything.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
Pretty sure DEXCOOL is still used in newer vehicles other than GM just saying.
Also, I've dealt with many vehicles that had DEXCOOL, yes I've seen the intake failures and such. I also noted the lack of maintenance on these vehicles. My family has owned three different vehicles with DEXCOOL. A 98 Malibu (6 years), 04 Malibu (9 years), 04 Cavalier (still owned), NONE ever had issues with DEXCOOL or cooling systems. Also they where maintained 100%. Never had air in the systems, always topped off. Flushed when called for at service intervals....
That being said, "let sleeping dogs lye" stick with the Green. Only thing I hate about it is every 2 years it needs to changed. At least is does in my Corvette and I use distilled water. Mine was changed in early 2014 and it will be again in 2016. Why?
300+mV from the coolant, that is why. If you don't know why I listed a voltage, you don't know coolant. I'll leave you all to Google search that on you own.
Also, I've dealt with many vehicles that had DEXCOOL, yes I've seen the intake failures and such. I also noted the lack of maintenance on these vehicles. My family has owned three different vehicles with DEXCOOL. A 98 Malibu (6 years), 04 Malibu (9 years), 04 Cavalier (still owned), NONE ever had issues with DEXCOOL or cooling systems. Also they where maintained 100%. Never had air in the systems, always topped off. Flushed when called for at service intervals....
That being said, "let sleeping dogs lye" stick with the Green. Only thing I hate about it is every 2 years it needs to changed. At least is does in my Corvette and I use distilled water. Mine was changed in early 2014 and it will be again in 2016. Why?
300+mV from the coolant, that is why. If you don't know why I listed a voltage, you don't know coolant. I'll leave you all to Google search that on you own.