BLKWS.6

I am about to change the water-pump and do a coolant flush. I am wary of using dex-cool again because of all I have read about it being bad for seals/gaskets. Any input/advice?

LostCauseZ06

iTrader: (4)

is dex cool the orange stuff?? ive ran it in every build ive done with no problems ever.

datboibrad

iTrader: (1)

how could it be bad? its designed for and by GM for newer GM's. i dont see how it could possibly be bad lol. i have noticed some of the antifreeze's we sell are claimed to be corrosive to some types of metal but thats about it. even that has alot to do with mix ratio.

BLKWS.6

It destroys seals because it uses OAT's and Ford used it in the 99 couger and had so much trouble they IMMEDIATELY switched back the next year.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...e_coolant.html
http://www.motor.com/MAGAZINE/Articles/082004_04.html

LostCauseZ06

iTrader: (4)

ummmmmm... do you drive a ford?? they habe problems with more than just coolant lmfao ... dont worry about it... like i said i havent had any problems with it.

Stang's Bane

iTrader: (22)

Personally i don't like it. Every car I have had it in, it ends up looking like puke in the tank.

All_out_06

its pointless ****... just switch over to regular anti-freeze.. i work at advance auto, and even now, the newer prestone, and texaco brand antifreeze's, hell even the advance auto brand (which is the same ****) you can mix the 2 together... it used to sludge up when you mixed them, but not anymore

you'll be fine...its just coolant

brandonppr

iTrader: (9)

There is a lot of people trying to get a lawsuit agaist GM just for this stuff.
on a few years when they first switched to it the GM head gaskets would not withstand the coolant I am not sure which models it affected but I know it affected a lot of the V6s like grand am and grand prixs. It would eat through the gasket and either cause a leak on the inside or the outside. and if inside it could cause engine the engine to fail. It usually happens between 50k-90k. The repair for just a leak on those cars are around 1k. I replaced my nieghbors and it was a real pain. GM will not fix it in most cases dealers sometimes cover the cost but very rarely.
They did revise the gaskets on the cars affected and now the new gaskets are not supposed to be harmed by the dex cool.
To me if they revised the gaskets, I mean its not the same material, Then something must have not been right. On the newer models its not a problem I think after 2002 but not sure on that one.
I use the green than can be used with either green or red. in all my CTS, Camaro, and Silverado. I never personally had a problem and I think our cars are not affected by the problem but not sure about that either just never heard of a lot of problems with gen 3/4 V8 engines

brandonppr

iTrader: (9)

I hear that the sludge is caused by DexCool being exposed to air. I think its suppossed to be a closed system unlike older cars.

I change my coolant every year anyway so I see no point in DexCool which is supposed to be a 100k coolant. If you leave it in for 100k and it sludges up how is that going to affect your engine?

BLKWS.6

I ate 2 water pumps in 20K miles in my 5.0 using dex cool. It was a new radiator and new block, so its not a mixing issue. This REALLY causes me to wonder...

CaliforniaBoy5

iTrader: (16)

interesting. . .I JUST put DEX-COOL in my camaro, **** I guess I'll go buy cheap antifreeze now! My dad hates anti-freeze, he puts like a 10/90 mixture, he loves just water. lol.

brandonppr

iTrader: (9)

In my track only car I use very little antifreeze/coolant during season with redline additive. Then I winterize it at the end of the season before it turns cold each year.

Stang's Bane

iTrader: (22)

Tell him to be careful, one of the biggest things about antifreeze are the anticorrosive additives.

Kinda ironic isn't it

Rusted40

I use Delco brand dex-cool

Griffin radiators reccomends it so I use it

BTW do NOT mix it with green AF

brandonppr

iTrader: (9)

You can mix certain green AF some green is made to mix but the reg green is not.

Rusted40

I believe that is the new stuff that is usually labeled as "world" antifreeze

the brand we sell where I work is sort of a yellowish color
it specifically says will work with any type of AF

gun5l1ng3r

I have had the orange coolant in my 1998 Z28 for 122K miles now. I just changed it about 2K mi ago for the first time (possibibly the second, I have only had it since 75K).

I have not had any problems with it and unless I start having problems, I will stick with what GM recommends for my car.

01WS6/tamu

iTrader: (37)

All of the 96> gm grand prix's grand ams and sbc chevy trucks had tons of problems with the intake gaskets. They are made of plastic and after time they break and allow coolant to leak past the sealing o-ring. My .02 dexcool sux run the cheap stuff and change it once a year.

Quick Double Nickel

iTrader: (5)

A close friend to the family is a GM-certified technician (over 30 years experience) and he never uses the stuff (unless he's required to put it in your car when you bring it in for waranty work). Just like Bane said, he says it turns to sludge after a while. He only uses the green stuff in all of his cars.

Cop Car

iTrader: (14)

aww my car only made it 130K with the stock water pump and dex cool. its crap, it should have at least lasted a billiventy miles