Dexcool or the "Green Stuff? Which to use?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Oviedo FL
Dexcool or the "Green Stuff? Which to use?
About to flush 96 Vet system.
You techs out there: Stay with Dexcool or go with the green stuff?
For the past 30 years I've used the green stuff on all my cars with not a problem.
Is it critcal and correct to stick with the Dexcool on Corvettes?
Do the C5/C6 still specify Dexcool or did they switch to "green"?
You techs out there: Stay with Dexcool or go with the green stuff?
For the past 30 years I've used the green stuff on all my cars with not a problem.
Is it critcal and correct to stick with the Dexcool on Corvettes?
Do the C5/C6 still specify Dexcool or did they switch to "green"?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,793
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From: St. Peters MO Sometimes you have to prove yourself by doing alot of killing or alot of dying...
I believe all new cars use Dexcool. It has qualities that are better than the "green stuff", but it also has experienced problems with "gelling up". Dexcool has had documented problems with excessive corrosion problems that has also lead to over heating and cooling problems. I personally went with the "green stuff" in my 96.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
Originally Posted by OviedoBob
About to flush 96 Vet system.
You techs out there: Stay with Dexcool or go with the green stuff?
For the past 30 years I've used the green stuff on all my cars with not a problem.
Is it critcal and correct to stick with the Dexcool on Corvettes?
Do the C5/C6 still specify Dexcool or did they switch to "green"?
You techs out there: Stay with Dexcool or go with the green stuff?
For the past 30 years I've used the green stuff on all my cars with not a problem.
Is it critcal and correct to stick with the Dexcool on Corvettes?
Do the C5/C6 still specify Dexcool or did they switch to "green"?
A prior owner switched my 95 to green and I have no problems!
My 02 Impala has dexcool and I have problems, with the reservoir getting sludged up and the coolant looks like a$$ so I have flushed and installed dexcool a couple of times. Once the warranty is over I am going to try a different coolant.
Many people have cars that have no trouble with the Dexcool so if your 96 has no problems with the Dexcool there are benefits to keeping the dexcool (the reported long life and corrosion resistance)
If you like the green and want to switch make sure you completely/thoroughly flush the Dexcool out before installing green, unless you're using one of the new coolants that are compatible with Dex and Green
Mike
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Originally Posted by Strick
Rule of thumb has always been if it came with green stuff stay with it, if it came with Dexcool stay with it and NEVER mix the two.
Unless you completley flush the red stuff out of the system, you could have problems swapping to the green. The two coolants are not compatible. Much easier to stay with the Dex-Cool (use the Havoline coolant, it's the same stuff that GM uses) and distilled water.
GM switched to the long-life coolant in 95 or so and it's in all of their car lines. Other car companies use a similar type of product and they usually specify a flush/refill after 5 years or 50K miles. These extended life coolants rely on a system that is tight doesn't let any air in. That's why you should never remove a pressure cap to top off the cooling system. Always fill through the overflow tank.
Last edited by c4cruiser; Nov 18, 2005 at 09:13 AM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,276
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From: Why are there squished peanut butter cups in my underware?
Originally Posted by Strick
Rule of thumb has always been if it came with green stuff stay with it, if it came with Dexcool stay with it and NEVER mix the two.
Bullseye!NEVER mix the two types. That's why I'm weary about this new stuff that claims to be compatible with both.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 588
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Fl
This is what I heard about Dexcool from a Chevrolet dealer. He said that the biggest difference between them is the glycol content. As long as you use the plastic containers in the 'vette you'll need to use Dexcool as the green stuff will crack it. Thats why the REALLY expensive clear stuff is used in Mercedes and BMW, it has almost no glycol content. Stick with the orange 
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 65
From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Aparently, and no doubt most of you with think this is wierd, but there is a particular brand of laundry powder (im not sure which one) is meant to be better than any kind of coolant as far as corrosion/wear protection goes, one of my mate's father swears by it, and has used it in every car and truck he has owned from the day he gets them, he reckons that it keeps the internals sparkling clean (it is laundry powder after all) and protects aluminum. I have no idea what kind of freeze/boil protection it would offer. Personally if it was me, id stick with manufacturer specific fluids,and yes the 96 Corvettes came with DEX-COOL acording to the Black Book and the service manual. Has anyone else ever heard of this laundry powder being used? If anyone is interested, i can find out the exact type it is....
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Originally Posted by Slalom4me
Don't switch coolants.
There are too many sad tales in the archives.
.
There are too many sad tales in the archives.
.
This is very important. Do not mix them!!! Since 1995 corvettes came with DEXCOOL. If you have an older VETT you can switch to DEXCOOL as long you flush the cooling system. I used a modified thermo without the spring. This allowed all the water to exite the car. To answer your question, yes you can use DEXCOOL. Hope this helps you!!
7th Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7
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...just buy the "yellow stuff" it is supposed to be compatible with both.
Supposedly if you use the ethyl glychol "green" stuff it can be corosive to a coolant system meant for dexcool. Nobody likes dexcool because the sludge it develops, but supposedly that only happens when owners let the coolant level get low.
Yes, I used "supposedly" a lot, but I am not trying to pass this off as fact, just saying what the general consensus is.
Dave
Supposedly if you use the ethyl glychol "green" stuff it can be corosive to a coolant system meant for dexcool. Nobody likes dexcool because the sludge it develops, but supposedly that only happens when owners let the coolant level get low.
Yes, I used "supposedly" a lot, but I am not trying to pass this off as fact, just saying what the general consensus is.
Dave
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,036
Likes: 13
From: Edmonton AB
Unfortunately, due to the recent work here on the forums, the vast
numbers of threads about this issue no longer seem to be readily
available. Hopefully they will be restored in time.
Here is one thread I found. Note the key is the guy tore down his
engine and had new gaskets. Coolant seeps into the gaskets and
a flush won't get it out.
Also, read these two articles
Top it up with green? Or orange? Which antifreeze?
BY PATRICK BEDARD
June 2002
Dr. Turcotte writes a few coolant prescriptions.
BY PATRICK BEDARD
July 2002
If you still have any doubts, google Dexcool and see what you get.
While the number of issues that come up seem to be an indictment
of Dexcool, it makes me wonder how many of these cases occured
because the owner or some service person added non-Dexcool.
Bottom line - if it ain't broke, don't fix it !
.
numbers of threads about this issue no longer seem to be readily
available. Hopefully they will be restored in time.
Here is one thread I found. Note the key is the guy tore down his
engine and had new gaskets. Coolant seeps into the gaskets and
a flush won't get it out.
Also, read these two articles
Top it up with green? Or orange? Which antifreeze?
BY PATRICK BEDARD
June 2002
Dr. Turcotte writes a few coolant prescriptions.
BY PATRICK BEDARD
July 2002
If you still have any doubts, google Dexcool and see what you get.
While the number of issues that come up seem to be an indictment
of Dexcool, it makes me wonder how many of these cases occured
because the owner or some service person added non-Dexcool.
Bottom line - if it ain't broke, don't fix it !
.
Last edited by Slalom4me; Nov 18, 2005 at 01:22 PM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Oviedo FL
Thanks for all the responses.
My 96 Vet came with Dexcool, so I will stick with it. Bought it last month with only 6700 miles on it, no maint history, so as a minimum I'm replacing ALL fluids and filters.
I will do a full flush/drain (knock sensors out) with new thermostat about every 2 years at the max. I will also take out the radiator surge tank and coolant recovery reservoir and flush it out.
Its just that if you poke around a bit and talk to master mechs who have seen it all, about half of them hate Dexcool and have seen the damage done to car engines. But I also realize most non-car nuts just let the stuff sit in their engines for years and years and let it do the damage.
This is my first GM/Chevy car so might as well stick to Dexcool.
I have five other cars (foreign) and many other foreign cars in the past 25-30 years and have been always using the Prestone "green" stuff. Always flush every 3 years or so, never had a problem, no sludge, change radiator hoses every 4 years or so, never been stranded on the road with cooling problems.
I like preventive maintenance!
My 96 Vet came with Dexcool, so I will stick with it. Bought it last month with only 6700 miles on it, no maint history, so as a minimum I'm replacing ALL fluids and filters.
I will do a full flush/drain (knock sensors out) with new thermostat about every 2 years at the max. I will also take out the radiator surge tank and coolant recovery reservoir and flush it out.
Its just that if you poke around a bit and talk to master mechs who have seen it all, about half of them hate Dexcool and have seen the damage done to car engines. But I also realize most non-car nuts just let the stuff sit in their engines for years and years and let it do the damage.
This is my first GM/Chevy car so might as well stick to Dexcool.
I have five other cars (foreign) and many other foreign cars in the past 25-30 years and have been always using the Prestone "green" stuff. Always flush every 3 years or so, never had a problem, no sludge, change radiator hoses every 4 years or so, never been stranded on the road with cooling problems.
I like preventive maintenance!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 1
From: Manchester NH
Originally Posted by OviedoBob
I will do a full flush/drain (knock sensors out) with new thermostat about every 2 years at the max.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,706
Likes: 485
From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by OviedoBob
But I also realize most non-car nuts just let the stuff sit in their engines for years and years and let it do the damage.
!
!
Do not try to switch to the green unless you are sure that you can also drain the heater core as well .... if they mix, you end up with sludge.