Learn from my $700+ mistake
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,400
Likes: 3
From: Sarasota Florida
Valid point but if Dex-Cool allowed the kind of blockage I experienced from being 3-6 months over the 5 year expiration date next time I am not taking any chances.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I'm wondering if something else is causing the coolant to goop up or whatever its doing..excessive heat? Mine has been changed twice in its life so far and the last time was at least 3 years ago, probably more like 4 years when the water pump died on me. I'm now at 290K miles and no problems with the coolant. I'll open it tomorrow and take a look just to be safe, but I've never seen this happen before. The radiator guy knows his stuff so won't doubt him. Just wonder if there is some other possible cause?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 1
From: South of Indy
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
I'm wondering if something else is causing the coolant to goop up or whatever its doing..excessive heat? Mine has been changed twice in its life so far and the last time was at least 3 years ago, probably more like 4 years when the water pump died on me. I'm now at 290K miles and no problems with the coolant. I'll open it tomorrow and take a look just to be safe, but I've never seen this happen before. The radiator guy knows his stuff so won't doubt him. Just wonder if there is some other possible cause?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 1
From: South of Indy
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
for what its worth i own a radiator shop,and probably rod out 25-50 radiators a month myself.this i can say for sure ......if it has gm factory anti freeze and u dont change it somewhere around 25-30k miles your in for a real shocker.there are people on this forum and others alike that will argue with me ......what do i have to gain by saying this u guys are in another state its not like im going 2 make any money here.anyway this 100k mile syuff isnt what its pumped up 2 be .just today i got a bmw radiator in its so bad i cant get it out .that is un stop it .i know its not a gm ,but the guy said he kept antifreeze in it that said it was good for 100k.all i can tell u is that up until about now when a radiator was stopped up (with green )anti freeze .it wasnt near as bad and most of the time i could clean it out .also alot depends on your driving habits .heck i saw a cavalier with 38k on it and is was stopped up so bad i could not get it out .keep in mind ive even put cleaner in them and let them set overnight and it still wont come out.heres the part u need to listen to .....if u really care about about your car ,dont wait change it about every 35k at the most .ok i know some of u guys are gonna fall out of your chair when u read this .keep in mind i do a ton of radiators and im omly telling u what i see because i really do love my car .as im sure you all do .......heres 2 u 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,400
Likes: 3
From: Sarasota Florida
I'm wondering if something else is causing the coolant to goop up or whatever its doing..excessive heat? Mine has been changed twice in its life so far and the last time was at least 3 years ago, probably more like 4 years when the water pump died on me. I'm now at 290K miles and no problems with the coolant. I'll open it tomorrow and take a look just to be safe, but I've never seen this happen before. The radiator guy knows his stuff so won't doubt him. Just wonder if there is some other possible cause?
From your mileage I am guessing that your Vette is your DD. I think that if I hadn't gotten a beater I would have been okay but because I let my Vette sit so long it gave the contaminates the time to solidify instead of being circulated through the system from driving every day. At least that is what my radiator tech told me and it makes sense because I drove my Mazda for 200K plus miles and never changed the coolant (I am not proud of the by the way) and never had any blockage problems.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
So looks like a flush and refill every 20k or so, or perhaps every other year would be the ticket.. -marks calendar-
Good to know
(useda flush and refill every spring on my daily drivers and my bracket racers.. -shrug- ..I like tinkerin, what can I say)
-Frank
Good to know
(useda flush and refill every spring on my daily drivers and my bracket racers.. -shrug- ..I like tinkerin, what can I say)
-Frank
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,278
Likes: 227
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
top/bottom tubes? the c5 rad has end caps, the rest is horizontal aluminum ribs
imho, the catalyst here is having the car sit for months at a time, although spending the $30 in a few gallons of dexcool and distilled is a wise investment every 2 years
imho, the catalyst here is having the car sit for months at a time, although spending the $30 in a few gallons of dexcool and distilled is a wise investment every 2 years
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
I never let any antifreeze go over 2 years, even Dexcool.
Dexcool can cause problems, but you can also get clogging from mineral deposits caused by too many minerals in the water.
I would always use distilled water, or even deionized water if available.
I have seen some Dexcool systems form sludge at low mileage, and others never form the sludge. I still have not figured out what the key factor is. I have had unpressurized surge tanks that stayed clean and pressurized tanks like on the Corvette that get an oil slime that almost nothing will dissolve.
Dexcool can cause problems, but you can also get clogging from mineral deposits caused by too many minerals in the water.
I would always use distilled water, or even deionized water if available.
I have seen some Dexcool systems form sludge at low mileage, and others never form the sludge. I still have not figured out what the key factor is. I have had unpressurized surge tanks that stayed clean and pressurized tanks like on the Corvette that get an oil slime that almost nothing will dissolve.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,400
Likes: 3
From: Sarasota Florida
Yes it was the top and the bottom horzontal tubes that where blocked
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
Likes: 5
From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
If you include labor, that is probably pretty close.
Sorry to learn that it was a costly repair. I have changed out my coolant three times in it's 52K life, so I feel pretty good, but hate to see a fellow vette buddy in this sot of situation.
Sorry to learn that it was a costly repair. I have changed out my coolant three times in it's 52K life, so I feel pretty good, but hate to see a fellow vette buddy in this sot of situation.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,400
Likes: 3
From: Sarasota Florida
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: Landisville PA
Anyone using anything other than Dexcool in the C5?
We recently bought our C5, it's a 2001 with 24k on the clock, and began changing all the fluids. I guess we should put the anitfreeze on the list of items to change.
We recently bought our C5, it's a 2001 with 24k on the clock, and began changing all the fluids. I guess we should put the anitfreeze on the list of items to change.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,233
Likes: 16
From: Cancer Sucks - please donate to Corvettes Conquer Cancer
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
THanks for the tip
How much Dex Cool will I need plus how much distilled water for use here in Nh
TIA
Bob
How much Dex Cool will I need plus how much distilled water for use here in Nh
TIA
Bob
