How many of you here use xtend'd coolants to limit

[Gary Allan]

If it's anything like your oil changing habits, I suspect very few.

I won't use any Dexcool or any of the wizbang new stuff. It's way too complicated for a Gary life. I use PG blends since I like to not have to worry about some stray animal drinking the stuff and croaking. They may get sick, but they won't die ..or so I believe.

Now that I've already gone on my 15 year learning curve on the liabilities of not maintaining "good old green" to factory spec's in a mixed alloy application, I now manage a 2-3 year routine like I should have all along.

I suspect most of you do too.

So, what's your justification for using the long life coolants??

btw- Chris kinda confirmed my gut feeling here. If the rad man doesn't use Dexcool ..then I surely don't want anything to do with the stuff (or its kin).

 

[HTSS_TR]

My '04 Honda S2000 I bought in Nov 2003 still have OEM coolant. I'm not going to change it out until Nov 2013 because Honda recommends 10 years for factory filled coolant. At that time I'll try to locate Peak Global Lifetime or Asian Formula to replace the FF coolant.

 

[mechanicx]

I believe in a good working system designed for it, Dexcool can protect well for up to 5 years as recommended. I feel that is the limit for OATs and HOATs. With an IAT Green I try to stick to 2 years/30K miles and G-05 3-4 years/60K. As far as any recommendation of over 5 years intervals, I look at it with the same scepticism as lifetime ATF.

 

[Shannow]

I've been using Castrol test strips with the OEM coolant on my Nassan for a bit over 6 years, until I chickened out and changed it to a standard 33% long life.

Got 8 out of the 11 litres replaced, so will do another try in Late June most likely.

The test strips showed all OK, the stuff that came out looked good, and no sign of anything untoward in the rad etc.

Conversely, I had a quick squiz in a mates similar ute when showing him the intake mods in another thread, and his was gungy and black, with some yellowy looking smears around the cap.

His has around 30% more mileage than mine for the same age, but has spent time at speed with heavy load...

dunno

 

[mechanicx]

Yeah I think it's best to play it conservatively and change it while it still looks good and not when it shows signs of being depleted and damage has been done. Plus severe operating conditions can lead to more depletion, and it can be hard to predict driving conditions.

 

[cos]

I prefer radiator drain 'n fills - once every two yrs with G-05.

 

[Colt45ws]

I went to the 5 year limit on the OE fill G-05 in my Vic. Pretty much to the month. It only had around 30k mi on it, but that's the schedule.

 

[Gary Allan]

5 years is probably a good time limit, even for old green. I never had an issue with cooling systems until my 3.0 Mitsubishi started showing corrosion on the heads externally. The lower hose was OEM (over 15 years old). The coolant was probably exchanged partially with upper hose and rad replacement.

One of the reasons I think people service it more often (than 5 years) is that the current flock of thermostats appear to get lame faster than the coolant would require changing.

 

[bigmike]

I still have FF Dexcool in my Silverado. Planned on changing it over the summer with Peak Global. Really I planned on changing it last year and I went out and got several gallons of Peak GL, but things kept coming up.

 

[George7941]

Same here, factory fill Dexcool in my 2006 Sierra. Many of you have seen this picture before.

I was planning on changing it out last year but never got around to it. Still looks good. Will change it out this summer for a fresh fill of Dexcool, so hated by some on this board. My truck was manufactured Dec 05, so it will be 4 1/2 years.

I do fluid changes a bit more frequently than as per manufacturer recomendations. For example, I have never exceeded the OLM interval for oil changes and I use synthetic oil.

 

[George7941]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
btw- Chris kinda confirmed my gut feeling here. If the rad man doesn't use Dexcool ..then I surely don't want anything to do with the stuff (or its kin).



The rad man deals with other peoples' cars, generally neglected. Dexcool is problematic when the cooling system is neglected. If you plan on neglecting your car, then definitely do not use Dexcool, or its kin.

 

[labman]

I ran my factory fill of Dex cool 5 years with no problem and have 3 years on Prestone Low tox.

 

[mechanicx]

I don't believe any other available coolant has a longer service life than Dexcool. Thats why so man HD's are using it. Japanese EL probably has a similar service life but not longer. Green works good but has less service life. I would never try to run it out past 2-3 years 36K miles. The silicates and phosphates deplete and most Green is low silicate to begin with. I've seen a lot of engine that started corroding pretty bad after 3 years. Sometimes green still looks good after 4-5 years and low miles but it's pushing it.

 

[XS650]

My 2006 corvette has 4 years on the factory fill DeathCool and it still looks good. I don't expect to change it for another year.

 

[Colt45ws]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
5 years is probably a good time limit, even for old green. I never had an issue with cooling systems until my 3.0 Mitsubishi started showing corrosion on the heads externally. The lower hose was OEM (over 15 years old). The coolant was probably exchanged partially with upper hose and rad replacement.

One of the reasons I think people service it more often (than 5 years) is that the current flock of thermostats appear to get lame faster than the coolant would require changing.

Yeah, when I did change it, I couldnt get it above 180F in the winter, or if I did it would drop back. I put in a new thermostat and also changed the cap. Runs 190F now.

 

[JHZR2]

Im generally running recommended lengths, except for my truck, which has the 4.3 with dex... I keep that one swapped out regularly as safety. Looks perfect and clean to date.

 

[Cutehumor]

I got 4 yrs/56K on Toyota pink long life coolant from the factory on my 2006 Vibe. It still looks new. I was gonna do a drain/fill last year but it looked pretty good. I left it alone. I'm gonna change it out at 5 yrs/70k mileage.

 

[Bumpside 427]

I had 65k and 4 years on mine and could not go another summer.
It's Toyota pink, rated 100k, but I can only do so much fellas.
I've got to a level where I have to follow my gut as well as data.
Let's say I coulda gone another year - so? It's just not worth it to me to be in Palm Springs this summer at 125° and have it go bad. Or to have the insides start gunking up some.
So, short answer: no limits here

 

[ps49556n]

I tend to flush and fill the cooling systems sooner than later IE: every year or two years...flushing the cooling system is one of my favorite types of maintenance to perform so I look forward to it.

Back in December I ended up performing this service on my wrangler during a MAJOR snowstorm... didn't plan it this way...decided to perform a Prestone Super Cleaner which entails pouring the bottle of fluid into the radiator and driving regularly for 3-6 hours. Due to my schedule, the driving 3-6 hours took place over a week. When the blizzard hit I was at probably 4.5 hours of driving with he super cleaner in and I was at the point where I didn't feel comfortable leaving it in any longer especially with the snow. Long story short...only flush a cooling system in warm weather!!!

 

[qship1996]

I flush the system really well by draining rad. and refilling with distilled water,once per day for 8 days in a row in the morning before starting the car for the day.....then refill with AF/dist. water to proper ratio using a longlife coolant {PGL} then just perform 1 drain/fill annually to maintain it for the duration of my ownership{ usually 150,000-250,000 miles} seems to work for me as I have never had a waterpump fail before 200,000 miles or other cooling system problem.