Coolant questions
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Coolant questions
This is a sort of a corvette question, but I have been looking for a winter car and since I've always bought GM, I naturally looked into GM. BUT, it turns out that no matter what brand or model I look at, there's a problem with 'DexCool' coolant. So much so that I found a really low mile 2000 Monte Carlo, but it has the 3800 series II V6 and whomever, and where ever I asked about advice, everyone said the same thing, Walk away! So I'm asking you educated folks, since Dexcool has such a poisoned histroy going all the way back to 1999, why the hell did GM stick with this toxic crap? It eats away at gaskets, plastic intake manifolds, hoses, heater cores and becomes gunk if left in the system for too long and absolutly every single V6 engine is affected. There are hundreds of lawsuits and one class action lawsuit in progress.
The only vehicle I've found that has not been distroyed by DexCool is the 4 cylinder Pontiac Vibe? Considering the current situation of General Motors, i guess it just business as usual.
The only vehicle I've found that has not been distroyed by DexCool is the 4 cylinder Pontiac Vibe? Considering the current situation of General Motors, i guess it just business as usual.
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From: Fort St John B.C
Everything you've found has been destoyed by dexcool?
Do a search on here on "dexcool" you find some info. Long story short it had to do with air getting in the mix and creating a sludge, I believe.
Dexcool is in everything nowadays, and its safe.
Do a search on here on "dexcool" you find some info. Long story short it had to do with air getting in the mix and creating a sludge, I believe.
Dexcool is in everything nowadays, and its safe.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: North Port Fl
You need to chill, dexcool is perfectly safe and problem free, when used properly. Don't mix it with any other kind of antifreeze and flush it when the manufacture recommends and you won't have any problems.
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From: Rocky Mount Virginia
Dexcool itself is fine. It is when outside elements are introduced into the coolant which causes problems. GM said Dexcool can go 150000 miles before changing. IMO, I think that is a stretch. Now the biggest problem came with the Northstar engines, especially in 98, 99, 2000. However, it was more of the headbolts that was the culprit.
It is easy to check the coolant. If it is a clear orange, you're fine. A cloudy orange needs changing.
As far as the 3800 engine is concerned, it is one of the best V6's ever produced. I wouldn't worry too much over Dexcool.
It is easy to check the coolant. If it is a clear orange, you're fine. A cloudy orange needs changing.
As far as the 3800 engine is concerned, it is one of the best V6's ever produced. I wouldn't worry too much over Dexcool.
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Nothing wrong with using DexCool. I've had it in a bunch of cars and have never had any problems at all with it. Don't mix it with other antifreeze and it should work just fine.
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I'm sure your all right, the car I'm looking at has had the same coolant for ten years now, I'm afraid of opening a can of worms. Along with all the negitive things I've been told and heard, I have read on wikpidia? that the 'DexCool' is FINE so long as you don't have a bad radiator cap (1998 to 2000) or mix green anti-freeze in with it.
Melting Slicks
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From: Greenville SC
St. Jude Donor '10
I just sold my 00 Monte Carlo with 100K on the clock, 90 of which I put on myself and never had any coolant problems. I changed the coolant around 65K and it was pretty good when i changed it. The only other problems I ever had with that car were a bad wheel hub at 87K and a bad EGR at 99K.
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I just sold my 00 Monte Carlo with 100K on the clock, 90 of which I put on myself and never had any coolant problems. I changed the coolant around 65K and it was pretty good when i changed it. The only other problems I ever had with that car were a bad wheel hub at 87K and a bad EGR at 99K.
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
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Why?? The "Problem with DexCool" is an urban myth.
The actual "problem" was the particular material GM was having certain gaskets made out of that were used only on certain year vehicles during certain years. Also, the "radiator cap problem" involved the design of the radiator cap placement on the end tank of certain GM trucks.
Both of these issue have long since been resolved, but like all good myths ("Golly, I saw it on the Interweb, so it MUST be true), it keeps getting passed around as "gospel".
I've use Dex mixed with distilled water for the last 10 years in my C5. NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER. I prefer distilled water due to no minerals, etc, plus it's really cheap.
If you like the car and the price is to your liking, buy...the...car.
The actual "problem" was the particular material GM was having certain gaskets made out of that were used only on certain year vehicles during certain years. Also, the "radiator cap problem" involved the design of the radiator cap placement on the end tank of certain GM trucks.
Both of these issue have long since been resolved, but like all good myths ("Golly, I saw it on the Interweb, so it MUST be true), it keeps getting passed around as "gospel".
I've use Dex mixed with distilled water for the last 10 years in my C5. NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER. I prefer distilled water due to no minerals, etc, plus it's really cheap.
If you like the car and the price is to your liking, buy...the...car.
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St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
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Why?? The "Problem with DexCool" is an urban myth.
The actual "problem" was the particular material GM was having certain gaskets made out of that were used only on certain year vehicles during certain years. Also, the "radiator cap problem" involved the design of the radiator cap placement on the end tank of certain GM trucks.
Both of these issue have long since been resolved, but like all good myths ("Golly, I saw it on the Interweb, so it MUST be true), it keeps getting passed around as "gospel".
I've use Dex mixed with distilled water for the last 10 years in my C5. NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER. I prefer distilled water due to no minerals, etc, plus it's really cheap.
If you like the car and the price is to your liking, buy...the...car.
The actual "problem" was the particular material GM was having certain gaskets made out of that were used only on certain year vehicles during certain years. Also, the "radiator cap problem" involved the design of the radiator cap placement on the end tank of certain GM trucks.
Both of these issue have long since been resolved, but like all good myths ("Golly, I saw it on the Interweb, so it MUST be true), it keeps getting passed around as "gospel".
I've use Dex mixed with distilled water for the last 10 years in my C5. NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER. I prefer distilled water due to no minerals, etc, plus it's really cheap.
If you like the car and the price is to your liking, buy...the...car.
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
FWIW, I would drain and replace ALL fluids when buying any used vehicle unless I personally knew the owner and was comfortable with it's history.
Have you even looked at the coolant? Have you driven the car to see (among other things) that the engine temperature is indicating normal?
It almost sounds to me as if you mostly believe this Dex-Cool myth and are looking for a reason to NOT buy the car.
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Did the current owner of this car you're looking at say the coolant hasn't been drained/flushed for 10 years?
FWIW, I would drain and replace ALL fluids when buying any used vehicle unless I personally knew the owner and was comfortable with it's history.
Have you even looked at the coolant? Have you driven the car to see (among other things) that the engine temperature is indicating normal?
It almost sounds to me as if you mostly believe this Dex-Cool myth and are looking for a reason to NOT buy the car.
FWIW, I would drain and replace ALL fluids when buying any used vehicle unless I personally knew the owner and was comfortable with it's history.
Have you even looked at the coolant? Have you driven the car to see (among other things) that the engine temperature is indicating normal?
It almost sounds to me as if you mostly believe this Dex-Cool myth and are looking for a reason to NOT buy the car.
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Oh no bud. I have read a lot and have asked a lot of questions, And I'm headed down to see and drive the car on Wednesday morning. I never got to talk to the owner, but I did talk to the dealership machanic and he said the car ran perfect. So I'm not looking for a reason not to buy, I'm looking for some support to buy the car. I want this car so long as I don't have a real risk of the engine going bad. BTW, when I am looking at the coolant, what should I look for? RED or ORANGE? and what does bad and used up DexCool look like? Thank you to all of you guys for giving me the right information. This is like sitting at a bar with a bunch of Mechanic friends and we're talking about a car i'm interested in ! It's all good.
I would be looking for what clean/clear Dex looks like. It's a little orangeish-red in color originally and very translucent. I would not like to see brown or dark or opaque liquid. Kinda like what VinnyT said. Also prefer to see free from any "crusties" in and around the filler neck. Of course the car is 10 years old, so I would expect to allow for some small level of debris. It's the clarity I tend to go my the most. Bring along a coolant tester if you like and you can see what level of protection it has. While not completely definitive in-and-of itself, it can give a bit of a clue as the previous owners maintenance.
HTH
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I'm curious about your comment on the 10 year thing. Is that the case with this car? Has the coolant been in there 10 years?
I would be looking for what clean/clear Dex looks like. It's a little orangeish-red in color originally and very translucent. I would not like to see brown or dark or opaque liquid. Kinda like what VinnyT said. Also prefer to see free from any "crusties" in and around the filler neck. Of course the car is 10 years old, so I would expect to allow for some small level of debris. It's the clarity I tend to go my the most. Bring along a coolant tester if you like and you can see what level of protection it has. While not completely definitive in-and-of itself, it can give a bit of a clue as the previous owners maintenance.
HTH
I would be looking for what clean/clear Dex looks like. It's a little orangeish-red in color originally and very translucent. I would not like to see brown or dark or opaque liquid. Kinda like what VinnyT said. Also prefer to see free from any "crusties" in and around the filler neck. Of course the car is 10 years old, so I would expect to allow for some small level of debris. It's the clarity I tend to go my the most. Bring along a coolant tester if you like and you can see what level of protection it has. While not completely definitive in-and-of itself, it can give a bit of a clue as the previous owners maintenance.
HTH