Dexcool in toyota's

[INDYMAC]

A local shop filled my 2000 Tundra system with DexCool a few years ago (2005). Within a year and a half, I had to replace a radiator, water pump, and thermostat manifold gasket. Maybe a coincidence, but after going back to Toyota Red coolant the system has worked flawlessly.

 

[CharBaby]

Originally Posted By: INDYMAC
A local shop filled my 2000 Tundra system with DexCool a few years ago (2005). Within a year and a half, I had to replace a radiator, water pump, and thermostat manifold gasket. Maybe a coincidence, but after going back to Toyota Red coolant the system has worked flawlessly.


That's amazing! I have never heard of anything like that before. You say Tundra? I do know that the Tocoma 3.0L V6 had issues.
And yes, now that everything in your engine in new(rad, wp, tstat, imv), it should work flawlwssly. Maybe the DexCool is really that bad

 

[INDYMAC]

Originally Posted By: Char Baby
Originally Posted By: INDYMAC
A local shop filled my 2000 Tundra system with DexCool a few years ago (2005). Within a year and a half, I had to replace a radiator, water pump, and thermostat manifold gasket. Maybe a coincidence, but after going back to Toyota Red coolant the system has worked flawlessly.


That's amazing! I have never heard of anything like that before. You say Tundra? I do know that the Tocoma 3.0L V6 had issues.
And yes, now that everything in your engine in new(rad, wp, tstat, imv), it should work flawlwssly. Maybe the DexCool is really that bad


Don't know for sure. I can only relect back on my experience and an article that was written about coolants that I read http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=2822&location_id=2877 after the 3rd problem (thermostat gasket seal) was corrected by the same shop. I decided to take my truck to Toyota to have the system flushed and refilled with Toyota Red coolant. It's been several years since the tranfusion and around 65K miles. The rebuilt radiator, water pump and manifold gasket are not leaking so far (knock on wood).

I think the best advice I can give is use the OEM coolant for your vehicle. If it proves ineffective, then try something else. But don't change based on cost or because that's what your shop uses.

 

[CharBaby]

You're not wrong there my friend!

 

[nicholas]

FWIW- I have been running the Prestone AMAM in my versa for 65,000kms and in a Yaris for 50,000kms. No problems, no issues, I perform a visual inspection every month or so, nothing?

 

[Smokescreen]

Sell the Dexcool.

Use Toyota OEM coolant. Its the right tool for the job.

I tend to steer away from any fluids or parts that have questionable track records. Dexcool may be just fine and work great for a lot of people. Not me...and I have had first hand experience even in a GM vehicle. So I flushed cleaned and switched it out for old reliable green stuff. Since then absolutely no issues.

The mere mention of the word "Dexcool" is so controversial amongst car DIYer, mechanics and the like that it would be enough to make me shy away from it.

 

[SteveSRT8]

The Dex baloney is all over, even Ford is using it now.

Purely bad diagnosis, the Dex was not at fault. But you won't hear from the literally millions of folks who never had an issue, just the noisy few on the net.

 

[keith]

Originally Posted By: Mark_S
One thing I don't understand. Some say Dexcool works great as long as the cooling system remains air tight.


It was some time ago, but I seem to recall that some GM cars had the wrong radiator cap installed when new and the cap underside would corrode. I don't know if that entirely explains the dexcool brown sludge problem. My '99 Caddy STS radiator cap had the issue, and dexcool sludge throughout. I don't own the STS now and have more or less put dexcool out of my mind. I just know not to buy it.

 

[wolfc70]

Originally Posted By: wallyuwl
Originally Posted By: toyota62
Hi.
Can we safely use dexcool coolant in Toyota Camry's?


The Pontiac Vibe comes with the same engine as the Matrix/Corolla. From the factory starting in 2005 (maybe 2004, can't remember) Vibes shipped with DexCool. We have a 2003 and have had, and currently have, DexCool in there without an issue.



Not true, my 2008 Vibe has the pink Toyota Coolant in it, not orange Dex-Cool. The manual states to use Dex-Cool. While talking about the Vibe, the manual and the cap for the PS flud say to use Dexron III, but it is clearly filled with GM PSF (the fluid is not red, and has a slight golden tan color to it). The oil fill cap says 5w-30, but the manual says to use 5w-20. I have owned this vehicle since new, so apparently there was still some confusion as to what fluids to use in this car.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: wolfc70
Originally Posted By: wallyuwl
Originally Posted By: toyota62
Hi.
Can we safely use dexcool coolant in Toyota Camry's?


The Pontiac Vibe comes with the same engine as the Matrix/Corolla. From the factory starting in 2005 (maybe 2004, can't remember) Vibes shipped with DexCool. We have a 2003 and have had, and currently have, DexCool in there without an issue.



Not true, my 2008 Vibe has the pink Toyota Coolant in it, not orange Dex-Cool. The manual states to use Dex-Cool. While talking about the Vibe, the manual and the cap for the PS flud say to use Dexron III, but it is clearly filled with GM PSF (the fluid is not red, and has a slight golden tan color to it). The oil fill cap says 5w-30, but the manual says to use 5w-20. I have owned this vehicle since new, so apparently there was still some confusion as to what fluids to use in this car.

Most Toyota cars have "Use Dexron III" on the power steering reservoir and leave the factory with yellow oil.

It does not indicate that GM PSF was in there.

They just use a very cheap factory fill.

 

[pbm]

Originally Posted By: pbm
I believe the answer to your question is , yes.

My s-i-l had a 2004 Corolla with 140K which she had topped up with regular (old type) green Peak (before I knew her). The inside of the overflow bottle looked muddy so I flushed it and refilled it with Prestone AMM (a dexclone). It now has 190K and is running great.


The car now has 210K (with a dexclone in it for the past 60 or 70K w/o an issue.)

I would have no problem using Prestone or Peak (name brand) AMAM or even G-05 in a Toyota as long as I completely flushed the system first...

 

[ARB1977]

My buddy did my cooling system with dexcool before moving to Texas. After I got here I had the dealer change it. Mine takes red.