Dex-Cool or Green Antifreeze?
02-01-2010, 11:14 AM
#1
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Dex-Cool or Green Antifreeze? Recently bought a C5 and the water pump has a slow drip to it. While I'm replacing the water pump, I'm going to do a cooling system flush and fill. The car currently has Dex-Cool in it. Should I stay with Dex-Cool or is it safe to switch over to the standard green colored coolant? I'd prefer to use the green type, since my other vehicles use this. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
02-01-2010, 03:43 PM
#6
all the LSx motors have never had a cooling system problem that was caused by the formulation of dexcool. At most, problems arise from non-maintenance such as having a significant amount of air in the system.
If dexcool cost significantly more than a generic type of antifreeze then I would say yeah switch, but the price difference is nil and the whole point of dexcool was to protect aluminum for 5yr/100k miles which is does by having the 2-eha additive,
opposed to the generic universally compatible coolants which have just basic additives and not 2-eha, or not phosphates, or not silicates, etc. which make them universally compatible but generally offer less protection.
And it is 2010, if dexcool were as bad as some people make it out to be then it would not still be on shelves nor used in new cars.
http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?br...cation_id=2877
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...8/ai_n9453107/
http://www.aa1car.com/library/2004/us120426.htm
If dexcool cost significantly more than a generic type of antifreeze then I would say yeah switch, but the price difference is nil and the whole point of dexcool was to protect aluminum for 5yr/100k miles which is does by having the 2-eha additive,
opposed to the generic universally compatible coolants which have just basic additives and not 2-eha, or not phosphates, or not silicates, etc. which make them universally compatible but generally offer less protection.
And it is 2010, if dexcool were as bad as some people make it out to be then it would not still be on shelves nor used in new cars.
http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?br...cation_id=2877
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...8/ai_n9453107/
http://www.aa1car.com/library/2004/us120426.htm
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02-01-2010, 06:42 PM
#9
Dexcool is perfect.
The people who have trouble with it have UN-sealed cooling systems and or air in the system or a bad head gasket or some other mechanical issue.
My Dexcool was crystal clear clean after 4 years when I put my new engine in. I never once in that 4 year period even opened it to check the level. It was topped off after 4 years and clean as a whistle.
Don't believe the hype. If Dexcool was bad, there would be so many cars broken down on roadsides across the USA, the dealerships and tow truck companies would be backed up for 10 years.
.
The people who have trouble with it have UN-sealed cooling systems and or air in the system or a bad head gasket or some other mechanical issue.
My Dexcool was crystal clear clean after 4 years when I put my new engine in. I never once in that 4 year period even opened it to check the level. It was topped off after 4 years and clean as a whistle.
Don't believe the hype. If Dexcool was bad, there would be so many cars broken down on roadsides across the USA, the dealerships and tow truck companies would be backed up for 10 years.
.
02-02-2010, 09:58 AM
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02-03-2010, 12:06 AM
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Lose the Dex. It tore up all of the gaskets on my 2000 firebird. First thing I did when I bought my Z28 was a coolant flush. Some guys at a shop told me there was actually a recall on the coolant so..
02-03-2010, 03:22 PM
#16
Dexcool also. I live in the tropics, zero cooling issues here. Agree with poor maintenance been responsible for those problems exposed by a few. Its just easier to blame something else I guess.
02-03-2010, 03:28 PM
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I still got the dexcool in my car when I bought it two years ago and haven't had a problem. Also had the car when I lived in Colorado with single digits and it never froze.
02-03-2010, 05:49 PM
#18
I would dump the dexcool if you have a upen type recovery tank. If its a pressurized closed tank your ok with dexcool.
Dexcool turns into a very strong acid when its heated and mixed with air.....so a open recovery tank is asking for trouble. So is running the rad low on coolant.
Dexcool is safe as long as everything is PERFECT if not it will screw you badly. It ruined the radiator in my 99 ta, the acid that formed in the open coo;lant recovery tank ate through the rad cap and ruined the seat where the cap seals. After it did this two times i went to the regular green coolant and the trouble disaapeared.
Now here is where they get smart.....MOST ALL coolant for sale is DEXCOOL in disgius, they use the green dye and don't mention the dexcool additives in it. If it has diethylene glycol, sodium 2-ethyl hexanoate, and sodium neodecanoate.
It is a DEXCLONE ...run the other way from this garbage!
Dexcool turns into a very strong acid when its heated and mixed with air.....so a open recovery tank is asking for trouble. So is running the rad low on coolant.
Dexcool is safe as long as everything is PERFECT if not it will screw you badly. It ruined the radiator in my 99 ta, the acid that formed in the open coo;lant recovery tank ate through the rad cap and ruined the seat where the cap seals. After it did this two times i went to the regular green coolant and the trouble disaapeared.
Now here is where they get smart.....MOST ALL coolant for sale is DEXCOOL in disgius, they use the green dye and don't mention the dexcool additives in it. If it has diethylene glycol, sodium 2-ethyl hexanoate, and sodium neodecanoate.
It is a DEXCLONE ...run the other way from this garbage!
02-03-2010, 05:53 PM
#19
Dexcool is perfect.
The people who have trouble with it have UN-sealed cooling systems and or air in the system or a bad head gasket or some other mechanical issue.
My Dexcool was crystal clear clean after 4 years when I put my new engine in. I never once in that 4 year period even opened it to check the level. It was topped off after 4 years and clean as a whistle.
Don't believe the hype. If Dexcool was bad, there would be so many cars broken down on roadsides across the USA, the dealerships and tow truck companies would be backed up for 10 years.
.
The people who have trouble with it have UN-sealed cooling systems and or air in the system or a bad head gasket or some other mechanical issue.
My Dexcool was crystal clear clean after 4 years when I put my new engine in. I never once in that 4 year period even opened it to check the level. It was topped off after 4 years and clean as a whistle.
Don't believe the hype. If Dexcool was bad, there would be so many cars broken down on roadsides across the USA, the dealerships and tow truck companies would be backed up for 10 years.
.
I seen dexcool RUIN ENGINES! You got lucky because you didn't get air into the system. I've seen engine after engine with MAJOR damage from dexcool. Ask ANY GM tech what he runs in his cars.............I garranty it aint dexcool!