When to change Dex Cool (flush radiator)
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Vacaville CA
Coolant
The manual says 5 years or 150 kmiles (whichever comes first). But it also cautions changing sooner if other that DEX-COOL coolant was used. My 99 was used when I bought it (62 Kmiles), so I have no idea how well it was maintained ... so, I changed oil & filter, air filter and coolant immediately and had a reputable shop do a good inspection of everything else for me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 932
Likes: 0
From: Las Cruces New Mexico
Here are the instructions from another thread. This is good!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ifreeze+change
Good luck.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ifreeze+change
Good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 134
From: merritt island fl
C1 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
2016 C1 of the Year Finalist
2015 C2 of the Year Finalist
Originally Posted by willyfastz
I would say get it out as soon as possible, and put the yellowish green Preston back in it. There was a law suit with GM over all the damage that Dex-cool is causing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 167
From: Rochester Hills Michigan
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by willyfastz
I would say get it out as soon as possible, and put the yellowish green Preston back in it. There was a law suit with GM over all the damage that Dex-cool is causing.
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Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 733
Likes: 0
From: Vanceboro NC
Originally Posted by dave pawlowski
Besides being bad advice, what specifically are the details of this "law suit"?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,216
Likes: 1
From: westminster California
Its perfectly fine to use dex cool just don't mix it with other anti freeze and add only distilled water. Its people not following these instructions that causes problems.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 5,266
Likes: 15
From: Syracuse NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Dexcool only "disagrees" with a few GM vehicles... my S10 Blazer is one of them... my 1996 had issues with sludging. The 2004 does not yet... I have the "non-vented" radiator cap and have the coolant tank filled to full hot when cold. The trick is to keep the air out of the system.
The C5's are fine
The C5's are fine
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
From: The Nether Region IL
Originally Posted by ant21b
At what milage or after how many years should I change the dex cool and flush the radiator on my 02 vert.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I have serviced 3 of my vehicles that have had Dexcool installed and have not seen anything wrong in the cooling systems. Since I don't pay attention to my wife's car she went 6 years before the Dexcool in her Saturn was changed and it looked almost like it did the day GM put it in on the assembly line.
Bill
Bill
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Originally Posted by chuck1026
Dexcool only "disagrees" with a few GM vehicles... my S10 Blazer is one of them... my 1996 had issues with sludging. The 2004 does not yet... I have the "non-vented" radiator cap and have the coolant tank filled to full hot when cold. The trick is to keep the air out of the system.
The C5's are fine
The C5's are fine
Bingo. There are papers written on this subject, and air in the system and poor center drop radiator caps were the issue. Keeping the system full is the key.
