Dex-cool newbie can't decide

[Donald]

One thing I would not do is to use an "All Makes All Models" that was not Peak Global. I have G-05 in my old Suburban and Jeep but both can run low silicates. Some engines want no silicates. If Asian then I'd use Zerex Asian. If I had a GM vehicle that came with DexCool I would probably continue with it but watching it more closely than I might another type.

I'd also add water or distilled water before adding antifreeze that I did not know the specs of. Stewarts (like a 7-11) near me sells some antifreeze, who knows what it is. NAPA is 1/2 mile away. But people stop at this Stewarts and buy oil or antifreeze as its on the way to some ski places. On the plus side, Stewarts does sell great ice cream.

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: mechanicx

Yes, no, yes lol. Air can be a problem with dexcool causing sludge

Exactly. My 01 Nissan Sentra has an open system where the coolant expansion goes to a non pressurized tank.

I changed to DexCool at about 30K miles and at 50K miles the heater core turned into an orange brick.

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: Al
Originally Posted By: mechanicx

Yes, no, yes lol. Air can be a problem with dexcool causing sludge

Exactly. My 01 Nissan Sentra has an open system where the coolant expansion goes to a non pressurized tank.

I changed to DexCool at about 30K miles and at 50K miles the heater core turned into an orange brick.


Yeah Dexcool and all the universal coolants (which are dexcool)don't seem to work reliabily with a cap on radiator or without a pressurized reservoir (degas bottle). Maybe it would if the radiator and pressure cap is at the highest spot on the system and the coolant level doesn't run low and the radiator cap works properly and doesn't draw in air. Most cars anymore seem to have the radiator lower than other parts of the system. A high mounted pressurized reservoir solves all the air problems and they don't have issues with dexcool.

 

[FXjohn]

there's no reason to stay with dexcool. switch it out

 

[Rock_Hudstone]

Originally Posted By: chad8
Nothing wrong with dex cool. It was faulty engineering on the intake gaskets and a bad intake design. I am friends with a physicist/ chemist who was a participant in the defense of the lawsuits.
She has many years in automotive engineering and we debated dex-cool for years. She said that from all the tests , that there was never a cause and effect from the coolant.


Okay, so it was faulty engineering on the intake gaskets and a bad intake design.

However, run conventional green coolant in that same engine, with the same faulty gaskets and bad intake design and a dex-sludge type mess will not develop, even when neglected.

Cause: Coolant system conditions anything less than ideal.
Effect: Dex-cool turns into red muck.