Dex-Cool Question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,263
Likes: 48
From: NJ
Dex-Cool Question
Anyone know if there's any difference between Havoline, Shell, or Prestone Dex-Cool?? They all say "GM Approved" on label. Coolant has become very confusing...my last visit to Pep Boys...there must've been 20 different varieties!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
Havoline makes it for GM. I was told the others didn't meet GM specifications, but that was a few years ago. Havoline is available at any Wal Mart along with distilled water. That's where I get mine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
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From: Longview Texas
I would only use the original Texaco Havoline Dex-cool.
Prestone says theirs is compatible with all types of antifreeze, including the old green type, and Texaco should be the original formula.
Prestone says theirs is compatible with all types of antifreeze, including the old green type, and Texaco should be the original formula.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,641
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From: Location : Location :
Originally Posted by vettenuts
Havoline makes it for GM. I was told the others didn't meet GM specifications, but that was a few years ago. Havoline is available at any Wal Mart along with distilled water. That's where I get mine.
its the only way to fly 
Plus its cheaper there to boot
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,030
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Besides the GM Owners manual does not call out a specification. They call for Dexcool by trademark. Texaco Havoline is the only one that can produce Dexcool with that trademark. In my opinion that rules out pretenders.
Bill
Bill
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
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I can't speak to the Shell product, but Prestone's Dex-Cool product IS GM approved. Just because one company invented and makes the product doesn't mean other companies can't produce and sell it. Ever heard of licensing? Right on the back of a gallon jug of Prestone sitting on a shelf in my garage, it says it meets GM 6277M specification and is approved for GM vehicles. So I would say this is NOT a Dex-Cool pretender. I would hope not because that's what I have used in several GM vehicles I own (with no problems I might add). BTW I think Prestone would have a trademark violation problem if they were selling this product as Dex-Cool without it being licensed from its patentholder.
Last edited by 04MSGCoupe; Jun 26, 2006 at 08:08 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,263
Likes: 48
From: NJ
Originally Posted by 04MSGCoupe
I can't speak to the Shell product, but Prestone's Dex-Cool product IS GM approved. Just because one company invented and makes the product doesn't mean other companies can't produce and sell it. Ever heard of licensing? Right on the back of a gallon jug of Prestone sitting on a shelf in my garage, it says it meets GM 6277M specification and is approved for GM vehicles. So I would say this is NOT a Dex-Cool pretender. I would hope not because that's what I have used in several GM vehicles I own (with no problems I might add). BTW I think Prestone would have a trademark violation problem if they were selling this product as Dex-Cool without it being licensed from its patentholder.
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