Changing coolant... DexCool or???
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,481
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
Changing coolant... DexCool or???
It's past time to flush and replace the coolant in my '99.
So, what's everybody using? Sticking with DexCool or going for standard coolant?
Thanks!
Mike
So, what's everybody using? Sticking with DexCool or going for standard coolant?
Thanks!
Mike
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Bloomington Illinois
DexCool. I don't know of any compelling reason to change to the regular stuff. If you do decide to change, you must be sure you get all the DexCool out, because mixing DexCool and regular anti-freeze causes big problems.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Apopka FL
I just did an 80k service on my 99 A4 Z51 coupe, changing all of the coolant hoses, water pump, pulleys and tensioners. The dexcool I removed looked as good as the new stuff I put back in. There was no corosion at all after 80K and 8 years of service. The stuff is amazing.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 389
Likes: 1
From: Roswell GA
I just did an 80k service on my 99 A4 Z51 coupe, changing all of the coolant hoses, water pump, pulleys and tensioners. The dexcool I removed looked as good as the new stuff I put back in. There was no corosion at all after 80K and 8 years of service. The stuff is amazing.
It turns the coolant to sludge that requires heavy duty flushing to get most of it out. You can buy the Prestone Coolant that is safe for both the old style coolant and dexcool.If you keep it changed and cooling system working properly, you should not have trouble with Dexcool.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,481
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
The Prestone is exactly what I was thinking about. I have no cooling system leaks that I'm aware of and the factory DexCool is still in (24,000 miles but seven years).
I'm skeptical that I could get all the DexCool out so it's more DexCool or the Prestone.
My main concern is the corrosion and gasket issues.
Since the Prestone is approved by GM, I guess the question is what's better? Prestone or DexCool?
Mike
I'm skeptical that I could get all the DexCool out so it's more DexCool or the Prestone.
My main concern is the corrosion and gasket issues.
Since the Prestone is approved by GM, I guess the question is what's better? Prestone or DexCool?
Mike
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Advanced
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 64
Likes: 1
From: sedona az
Dex-Cool Deathcool
There is a reason they call it death cool. It is supposedly very susceptible to contamination. Any rust or sediment + air bubbles + too old and it coagulates.
There have been numerous complaints & suits against GM for this.
It is unclear to me if this is urban legend but I don't to find out first hand so I change mine every 2 years.
Even if it looks clean, change it. Use distilled water, do not use tap water with minerals in it. You can check the integrity of the coolant with a digital voltmeter, - to GND, + to coolant.
RG
AZ
http://www.imcool.com/articles/antif...le-Excerpt.pdf
http://www.valvoline.com/pages/produ...gory.asp?cid=2
There have been numerous complaints & suits against GM for this.
It is unclear to me if this is urban legend but I don't to find out first hand so I change mine every 2 years.
Even if it looks clean, change it. Use distilled water, do not use tap water with minerals in it. You can check the integrity of the coolant with a digital voltmeter, - to GND, + to coolant.
RG
AZ
http://www.imcool.com/articles/antif...le-Excerpt.pdf
http://www.valvoline.com/pages/produ...gory.asp?cid=2
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I've had Dexcool in 5 vehicles (97 Vette, 99 Tahoe, 99 Saturn, 03 Tahoe, 03 Z06 and except for the 03s waited 5 years before changing the antifreeze. No problems with any of them. Several other family members have GM cars with DexCool and they haven't had any problems either. As for the that old article that was referenced once you see an attorney explaining how the cooling system is damaged by DexCool you know there is something wrong with the claims against the product.
Bill
Bill
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 64
Likes: 1
From: sedona az
Death Cool - OK Here is a recent article
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news0...m_dexcool.html
And yes whenever an attorney is involved I am immediately skeptical. I have a family full of them.
Rgds,
RG
And yes whenever an attorney is involved I am immediately skeptical. I have a family full of them.
Rgds,
RG
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
Seems like a lot of the cars with so called Dex Cool issues are Pontiac Grand Ams. I'm wondering if the gaskets were junk to begin with, and when they fail it causes air or exhaust gasses to get into the coolant system and cause it to break down. One has to wonder what the real cause is with some of these cases.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...m_dexcool.html
Notice that there was a big surge of write-up ... over half of them have been in this year.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...m_dexcool.html
Notice that there was a big surge of write-up ... over half of them have been in this year.
Last edited by ZeeOSix; May 23, 2007 at 02:06 AM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 389
Likes: 1
From: Roswell GA
I've had Dexcool in 5 vehicles (97 Vette, 99 Tahoe, 99 Saturn, 03 Tahoe, 03 Z06 and except for the 03s waited 5 years before changing the antifreeze. No problems with any of them. Several other family members have GM cars with DexCool and they haven't had any problems either. As for the that old article that was referenced once you see an attorney explaining how the cooling system is damaged by DexCool you know there is something wrong with the claims against the product.
Bill
Bill
I agree that it is usually crap when the lawyers get envolved, but I ended up having the problem with my 2002 blazer in 2005, boy what a pain. I had to flush the system and boil out the radiator to get it to cool back down. I do not wish this problem on anyone.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The Prestone is exactly what I was thinking about. I have no cooling system leaks that I'm aware of and the factory DexCool is still in (24,000 miles but seven years).
I'm skeptical that I could get all the DexCool out so it's more DexCool or the Prestone.
My main concern is the corrosion and gasket issues.
Since the Prestone is approved by GM, I guess the question is what's better? Prestone or DexCool?
Mike
I'm skeptical that I could get all the DexCool out so it's more DexCool or the Prestone.
My main concern is the corrosion and gasket issues.
Since the Prestone is approved by GM, I guess the question is what's better? Prestone or DexCool?
Mike
Havoline (Texaco) DexCool is if IIRC, the same stuff as the factory fill.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 6
From: Saraland Alabama
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I was planning on changing the Dexcool next week in my '02 as I have about 23k miles on it and it's never been changed and was built 5 years ago yesterday. I just went down and checked the coolant with my digital volt meter and got a reading of .04 so according to the above grading system it seems to still be in excellent condition. I am very suprised that it it still in that good of condition. It is amazing the things you can learn here on the forum.
For those of you who do not own a digital voltmeter, it is a must have tool for any diys'er. I've only had mine a year or so and I have used it numerous times. I think I bought it at Walmart for $10-$20.
Is there a set rule about changing the coolant on a C-5? My car is still under GM extended warranty for another 22 months and I don't want to void my warranty.
For those of you who do not own a digital voltmeter, it is a must have tool for any diys'er. I've only had mine a year or so and I have used it numerous times. I think I bought it at Walmart for $10-$20.
Is there a set rule about changing the coolant on a C-5? My car is still under GM extended warranty for another 22 months and I don't want to void my warranty.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 2
From: pawleys island sc
The Prestone is exactly what I was thinking about. I have no cooling system leaks that I'm aware of and the factory DexCool is still in (24,000 miles but seven years).
I'm skeptical that I could get all the DexCool out so it's more DexCool or the Prestone.
My main concern is the corrosion and gasket issues.
Since the Prestone is approved by GM, I guess the question is what's better? Prestone or DexCool?
Mike
I'm skeptical that I could get all the DexCool out so it's more DexCool or the Prestone.
My main concern is the corrosion and gasket issues.
Since the Prestone is approved by GM, I guess the question is what's better? Prestone or DexCool?
Mike
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17,640
Likes: 1
From: Lenoir City TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Also own a 03 GMC 2500HD and at 5K a dark ring appeared around the degas bottle, replaced w/ Prestone yellow jug coolant no problems.
Me personally I would not use Dexcool, especially since the local dealer actually replaces w/ green coolant if this problem occurs.
Bob