Coolant question
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,427
Likes: 604
From: Minneapolis Mn
Coolant question
Got a question for the members here. I bought a 05 Convertible a little over a year ago and did not have any maintenance records with it. It's got 56K miles on it and nothing fluid wise looks out of place. I'm starting to replace most of the fluids due to not knowing the history of the car and its prior maintenance. I know when the car was new it came with Dex-Cool coolant, but from what I've read it's real good or real bad depending on who you read about it. I also know you aren't supposed to mix it with things like Prestone green or it can turn to silly putty. Far as I can tell, the car still has Dex-Cool in it due to the Orange (with a touch of red) color in the overflow tank.
I already have some work scheduled and thinking of having the coolant done at the same time. So, what's the current consensus: Dex-Cool : Good? Bad? Better than Prestone? or Not. Use Dex-Cool or Prestone Green?
Thanks
I already have some work scheduled and thinking of having the coolant done at the same time. So, what's the current consensus: Dex-Cool : Good? Bad? Better than Prestone? or Not. Use Dex-Cool or Prestone Green?
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
Dex-cool is fine, but do not mix it with anything else, including green antifreeze.
As for dex cool change, you want to replace the T stat at the same time. So remove R state, put filler neck back on without T stat, fill system with distalled water, let engine run for few mins, dump out that distalled water, do it again, and this next dump out, look at the color of the water, and it still on the dirty side, do it again with distilled water and running for a few mins again.
Now with that dumped out and water coming out clear, install new T state with it weep channel/device in flange top dead center, fill system back up with reserve tank to full mark (the line is on the front side or tank (tank will be about half full, when full), start the motor, and put a vacuum on the reserve tank to pull any air still in the coolant system, then top tank back up to full mark.
As for vacuum device, standard vacum brake bleeder pump, and rubber cone plug that fits the id of the tank fill bunge for pump to pull vacuum in, will work fine.
As for dex cool change, you want to replace the T stat at the same time. So remove R state, put filler neck back on without T stat, fill system with distalled water, let engine run for few mins, dump out that distalled water, do it again, and this next dump out, look at the color of the water, and it still on the dirty side, do it again with distilled water and running for a few mins again.
Now with that dumped out and water coming out clear, install new T state with it weep channel/device in flange top dead center, fill system back up with reserve tank to full mark (the line is on the front side or tank (tank will be about half full, when full), start the motor, and put a vacuum on the reserve tank to pull any air still in the coolant system, then top tank back up to full mark.
As for vacuum device, standard vacum brake bleeder pump, and rubber cone plug that fits the id of the tank fill bunge for pump to pull vacuum in, will work fine.
