C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Flushing Coolant In 96

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Old May 25, 2004 | 11:00 PM
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Default Flushing Coolant In 96

I'm flushing and changing out the coolant in the 96 and have a question. Under the hood near the coolant tank it says use GM 1825-M approved coolant. I bought Havoline Dex-Cool GM Approved, GM 6277-m coolant. The service manual says this is fine but indicated that GM 1825-M is not silicate free and is the green stuff. Did I read it wrong? This car is supposed to take the orange silicate free stuff.
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Old May 25, 2004 | 11:32 PM
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Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96 (Shylor)

I'm not sure what a '96 came from the factory with but if you're talking about the extended life types of coolant, I'm not sold on them yet. I like changing my coolant frequently, it's a small price to pay for a healthy system. Even if your car came with it you can still run the green and change it every year or two at the most.
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Old May 25, 2004 | 11:38 PM
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Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96 (Corvette Kid NC)

`96 and newer Corvettes are filled with Dex-cool, aka the orange stuff.

Even if your car came with it you can still run the green and change it every year or two at the most.
The old fashoned green coolant will kill a Dex-cool system.
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Old May 25, 2004 | 11:50 PM
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Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96 (Z-07 freak)

Really? What's the difference, different materials in the system? The heavy trucks I work on can use either one, even if they came with the non-conventional.
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Old May 26, 2004 | 12:06 AM
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Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96 (Corvette Kid NC)

its my understanding you can use "the green stuff" in a dex cool system only when you totally flush the Dex Cool out completely, its not good to mix the two. From my understanding the purpose of using dexcool is it is silicate free so it does not create as much build up in your cooling system, so it stays cleaner and maintance free. The only time i ever change coolant is when electrolysis occurs. You can also use a Hydrometer to measure the coolants freeze protection. and always check the seals on your pressure cap. :cheers:
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Old May 26, 2004 | 12:08 AM
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Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96 (Corvette Kid NC)

While attending Denver Automotive and Diesel College a few years ago, the auto-engine instructor told us you could get away with putting Dex-cool in the traditional system, but putting the "green" coolant in a newer Dex-cool system will kill it. I think it will sludge/block up the passages.
I don't know the exact details, just the orange stuff does not like the green stuff, and you can never completely flush Dex-cool out of the coolant system.


[Modified by Z-07 freak, 10:13 PM 5/25/2004]
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Old May 26, 2004 | 12:18 AM
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St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96 (CaliforniaVette)

its my understanding you can use "the green stuff" in a dex cool system only when you totally flush the Dex Cool out completely, its not good to mix the two. From my understanding the purpose of using dexcool is it is silicate free so it does not create as much build up in your cooling system, so it stays cleaner and maintance free. The only time i ever change coolant is when electrolysis occurs. You can also use a Hydrometer to measure the coolants freeze protection. and always check the seals on your pressure cap. :cheers:
I would not wait for electrolysis to occur. If it does, metals have already been damaged. I've seen severe damage inside of engine blocks before and as thin as heater cores and some radiators are these days I want my system clean, clean, clean to prevent any damage to the components. I use chemical test strips that give the condition of the coolant and additives as well as freeze protection info.
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Old May 26, 2004 | 12:57 AM
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Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96 (Corvette Kid NC)

Look people can someone just answer my question and not get on a Dex-cool debate. All 96's came with Dex-cool, orange coolant. They can't be mixed and shouldn't be changed to the green stuff. If you can't answer my question please don't respond. I'm trying to get this stuff changed out tonight.

Is GM 1825-M orange or green?


[Modified by Shylor, 11:23 PM 5/25/2004]
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Old May 26, 2004 | 04:26 AM
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Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96 (Shylor)

The Havoline if I remember correctly is the preferred stuff... As long as it is, Dexcool approved it should be fine...

I did my 96 last weekend and couldn't find the Havoline stuff anywhere, I found some stuff Prestone has that also says GM dexcool approved...
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Old May 26, 2004 | 04:31 AM
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Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96 (Z-07 freak)

While attending Denver Automotive and Diesel College a few years ago, the auto-engine instructor told us you could get away with putting Dex-cool in the traditional system, but putting the "green" coolant in a newer Dex-cool system will kill it. I think it will sludge/block up the passages.
I don't know the exact details, just the orange stuff does not like the green stuff, and you can never completely flush Dex-cool out of the coolant system.


[Modified by Z-07 freak, 10:13 PM 5/25/2004]
Hmmm, somehow it doesn't make sense to me... How can you mix the two in one system and be fine but clog/sludge the other system up??? You're still mixing the two coolants in the same system...

Also from several sources I've read, you can mix the two but you lose the 5yr protection and revert back to 24 month intervals... I looked at changing over my daily driver which is a 94 Caddy that came with green stuff originally... I decided it was too much of a hassle to flush the system throughly enough to make the change worthwhile as the older original coolant coats the cooling system...
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Old May 26, 2004 | 05:04 AM
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Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96

Is GM 1825-M orange or green?
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Old May 26, 2004 | 08:33 AM
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Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96 (Shylor)

your making it too complicated. just go out and buy some dexcool, or dexcool equivilent in any parts store. DONE.

any 5 year or extended life rated coolant is dexcool.
I used the havoline stuff in my 96.
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Old May 26, 2004 | 06:24 PM
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Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96 (larryfs)

I'm not making anything complicated. I started this thread with a question. If you can't answer it then please don't post. I just wanted to know if the sticker on my car is correct or not.
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Old May 26, 2004 | 06:41 PM
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Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96 (Shylor)

This link says that it's green: http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:y...GM+1825M&hl=en

I just did a Google search. Hope that you find it useful.

:cheers:
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Old May 26, 2004 | 08:46 PM
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Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96 (Pappy's 95)

Thanks, that confirms what my service manual says also. Now I have to ask why the sticker on my engine says to use the green stuff when all 96's came with orange Dex-cool from the factory. It doesn't make sense and could get someone into trouble if they followed that information. Good thing I know the difference.

Someone else confirm this, check under your hood at the coolant tank (not the overflow tank), post what yours says.
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Old May 26, 2004 | 09:08 PM
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Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96 (Shylor)

The pink dexcool stuff is supposed to protect aluminum parts, but when it is mixed with green stuff, electrolysis occurs and will damage your radiator or aluminum heads. Both of my vettes had green in them when I got them, but they came with dexcool. I'm going to flush the one that just got a new engine and put the pink stuff back.

By the way, there is a guy that make the only radiator cleaner that still actually works. He calls it CoreRestore. The link to his web site if your interested is: http://www.finishing.com/Products/plattech.html
I used this in my 86 vette and it made a huge capacity in the cooling effiency of my radiator. He is a really nice guy, if you suspect you may have a cooling problem, you should give him a call.
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Old May 26, 2004 | 09:12 PM
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Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96 (Shylor)

if you read futher down that page, it also says red, and then it also says yellow /gold, and on the top of that page it says green.

once again, your complicating a simple coolant flush.
get the dex-cool and your done. :smash: :smash: :smash: :beatdeadhorse: :beatdeadhorse: :beatdeadhorse: :beatdeadhorse: :beatdeadhorse: :sleep: :sleep: :sleep: :seeya :seeya :seeya
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Old May 26, 2004 | 09:32 PM
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Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96 (Shylor)

My 96 had the Dexcool (orange) in it. I replaced it with the Prestone Dexcool and never had a problem. Just look in the radiator and see what color you have in it now.
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Old May 26, 2004 | 10:22 PM
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Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96 (leego)

To actually answer a question that was posted:

Looking under the hood of my '96 LT4, it says to use a GM 6277-M coolant.

As for the color: orange, green, whatever. They all taste good to me :smiliedrool:
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Old May 26, 2004 | 10:44 PM
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Default Re: Flushing Coolant In 96 (CBR Rider)

Well my 96 LT1 says this:

"When adding coolant, use a 50/50 mixture of clean (preferably distilled) water and anti-freeze that meets GM1825-M specs."


GM1825-M is green silicate coolant and was NOT used in 96 Corvettes
GM6277-M is silicate free coolant and used in ALL 96 Corvettes

So it seems my car had the incorrect sticker. I'm emailing GM with the hopes they will provide me with the correct sticker for my car. I would hate down the road for someone else to read it and use the incorrect coolant in this car or worse yet, mix the two.


[Modified by Shylor, 8:08 PM 5/26/2004]
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