'00 Silverado 5.3 coolant suggestions...

[Islandvic]

My '00 Silverado 5.3 has 25k miles and the original red Dex-Cool.

Every other vehicle I have owned or serviced always used normal green coolant. I have never dealt with this red stuff.

What brands of Dex-Cool have yall used in your GM '00 and above trucks/SUV's?

Suggestions are welcome.

Thanks.

 

[Bill in Utah]

I used the Prestone brand of Dexcool when I changed my 2000 Silverado last year.

No problems.

Take care, bill

 

[Ray H]

Actually the greenish-yellow Prestone in the yellow jug is exactly the same chemistry as Prestone's GM licensed DEX-COOL orange brew. The only difference, other than color, is paying for the GM licensing to use the proprietary name. Generally the "real" DEX-COOL is around $9.00, and the dexclone is about a buck cheaper at WalMart. WalMart's own SuperTech is a bluish-green version of the Prestone "dexclone" - and made for WalMart by Prestone. A little under $7.00. I've had the SuperTech in my '03 Hyundai Sonata V6 just eight days shy of 19 months with the same results Bill reports (and that was with nearly three weeks of 105+ degree temps this past summer where I live). If you're still under warranty, though, there'll probably be fewer chances of hassles with the dealer in case of a warranty claim by displaying orange in the coolant overflow bottle.

One additional note: DEX-COOL is a GM licensed performance specification, not a specific chemistry recipe. Prestone's differs somewhat from Havoline's, (the OATs are similar but not identical) but they both fully meet GM's requirements.

 

[m2200b]

I use WM ST. You are due even if the old looks good.

 

[Islandvic]

Yep, it's due b/c of the age!

I'd like to keep the color the same, although the green dex-clone will mix well.

So the Prestone Dex-Cool is red also?

Thanks!

 

[Bill in Utah]

quote:

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So the Prestone Dex-Cool is red also?

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It is in my Truck!

Bill

 

[Ray H]

Well, as "red" as GM DEX-COOL, anyway. (It's really orange. Toyota A/F is red.)

 

[N Heat]

I flushed out the DexCool in my 02 Suburban, and am running ST right now.

 

[Islandvic]

Thanks for all of the input!

I'm going with the orange Prestone Dex-Cool.

Should I do a few drain/refills with 50/50 distilled h20/coolant, or run some Prestone Radiator Cleaner/Flush though it first?

 

[Bill in Utah]

What I did was pull the lower right hand coolant hose (it's easy to get to) and drain into a 5 gallon pail.

Then Put it back on and put distilled water in to full.

Drive around and let cool down.

Pull hose and repeat.

Drain again and put hose back on, Add 50-60% of total cap in antifreeze in first and drive. Top off with distilled water.

So it's getting flushed twice.

I saw no need for cleaner in my truck..

Take care, Bill

 

[Buford T. Justice]

You can get Zerex Dex-Cool and most Farm & Home Supply stores and at Pep Boys.