View Poll Results: What coolant do you use in your LSx?
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Offical Dex-Cool vs. Green Thread
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TECH Enthusiast
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 640
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From: Chino Hills, CA
Offical Dex-Cool vs. Green Thread Okay, for ***** and giggles I want to see who uses what coolant. Let's dig deep into this one! What are these additives and how do they affect different materials? My experience is that I had a slight amount of Dex-Cool residue, but nothing shocking. On my 99 Camaro that I had the coolant level sensor stopped working until I clean that residue off. However, I've seen residue form with both types of coolant.
Has anyone felt adventurous and tried other manufacturer's proprietary coolants? I know Honda uses some blue stuff, and Toyota uses a pink coolant. These cars are much like ours in that they're are aluminum and I'm sure gasket technology can't be too different. Anyone try these as you don't hear of these problems with other brands.
Oh, and let's play nice in this thread
Has anyone felt adventurous and tried other manufacturer's proprietary coolants? I know Honda uses some blue stuff, and Toyota uses a pink coolant. These cars are much like ours in that they're are aluminum and I'm sure gasket technology can't be too different. Anyone try these as you don't hear of these problems with other brands.
Oh, and let's play nice in this thread
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: Exton, Pennsylvania
My experiences have been that I have had no particular problems with the stuff. I ran it for 5 years, changed it, and saw nothing remarkable. My car is a DD, gets driven pretty hard regularly, and sees temperature anywhere from 10 degrees F to 100 degrees F, depending on season. No problems with it so far. I wish I could say the same about my all factory whining rear end, or blown Monsoon speakers.
I agree 100% with RussStang.
I got a laugh out of that.... It's funny because it's true 
My busted speakers = nothing to drown out my noisy stock rear!
I wish I could say the same about my all factory whining rear end, or blown Monsoon speakers.
My busted speakers = nothing to drown out my noisy stock rear!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,623
Likes: 2,541
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
I've used dex in all 3 of the LS1 F-bodies I've owned over the last 8 years, plus all 3 of my current daily drivers ('96 Bonneville, '02 Monte SS, '04 Cavalier).
These cars have all had dexcool since new. I've never had a problem specific to dexcool. I've never had any early failure of cooling system components using dex. The small amount of parts that have failed/leaked on my dexcool cars, have happend at the same age/mileage range as what I've experianced previously with my green coolant cars. In many cases, I've seen more issues with my green coolant cars than my dexcool cars.
I will continue to use dex in all my new(er) GM cars.
These cars have all had dexcool since new. I've never had a problem specific to dexcool. I've never had any early failure of cooling system components using dex. The small amount of parts that have failed/leaked on my dexcool cars, have happend at the same age/mileage range as what I've experianced previously with my green coolant cars. In many cases, I've seen more issues with my green coolant cars than my dexcool cars.
I will continue to use dex in all my new(er) GM cars.
Last edited by RPM WS6; Mar 23, 2007 at 07:10 AM.
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Teching In
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Sticking with Dex...
...but, damn, I just remembered that my radiator had a fracture a year and a half ago, mixing the coolant and the trans fluid. Since it couldn't have possibly been a bad radiator...which is to blame, the trans fluid or the dex? I'll flip a coin and get back to you all...I may have to change my vote.
...but, damn, I just remembered that my radiator had a fracture a year and a half ago, mixing the coolant and the trans fluid. Since it couldn't have possibly been a bad radiator...which is to blame, the trans fluid or the dex? I'll flip a coin and get back to you all...I may have to change my vote.
Originally Posted by trgrhpy
Sticking with Dex...
...but, damn, I just remembered that my radiator had a fracture a year and a half ago, mixing the coolant and the trans fluid. Since it couldn't have possibly been a bad radiator...which is to blame, the trans fluid or the dex? I'll flip a coin and get back to you all...I may have to change my vote.
...but, damn, I just remembered that my radiator had a fracture a year and a half ago, mixing the coolant and the trans fluid. Since it couldn't have possibly been a bad radiator...which is to blame, the trans fluid or the dex? I'll flip a coin and get back to you all...I may have to change my vote.
might want to check the power steering cooler....same thing happened to me.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,623
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Originally Posted by brad8266
I just use green becuase im lazy and you can buy it prediluted and its easier to find.
Originally Posted by RPM WS6
They sell the dex prediluted (50/50) as well. Most of the autoparts stores around me carry it.
Originally Posted by 01pewterbird
what about the newer prestone stuff all makes all models? Says it's ok for aluminum. I'm currently running it, just curious what other people have to say about it.
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Fastest94V6:
My fault for not having my sig up yet, but I have a silverado...no ps cooler that I know of. Did you have a chocolate milkshake mess like I did? The trans was just rebuilt 2 days before that happened. Two trans rebuilds in a week. whatabitch.
My fault for not having my sig up yet, but I have a silverado...no ps cooler that I know of. Did you have a chocolate milkshake mess like I did? The trans was just rebuilt 2 days before that happened. Two trans rebuilds in a week. whatabitch.
There was just an article on this same issue in MotorAge magazine (ASE Tech Magazine). Long term studies have found Dex-Cool to erode "plastic" engine components over time. Their final conclusion was to switch to tradional (green) and change at the coolant's reccomended intervals. I personally have had no issue in my cars with Dex-Cool but I just thought I would post this.
Originally Posted by Cop Car
dexcool keeps everything 100% cleaner than green stuff and there are NO ISSUES WITH DEXCOOL IN LS1s !!!!!!!!!
