Dex-Cool

Rob,

Your local auto parts store will have an equivalent in stock. Ask for it, and you shall receive.

GMdude

I guess I'll just ask for "Dex-Cool Equivalent".

Or maybe I could just use some Kool-Aid.

---Bob Gross---

Flush it all out (CLEAN) and use the ethylene glycol (regular Prestone). As long as you get it all out, it will not make a difference.

No, I am not flushing it while the car is in warranty. If the GM shops adds anything to the reservoir, it would be Dex-Cool, and then I would have a mess. Once out of warranty, I will likely flush it and switch over to good old green stuff.

---Bob Gross---

No.

---Bob Gross---

Boy, I bet those marinated walnut shells are pretty tasty after 20,000 miles in the cooling system.

---Bob Gross---

Robert,

Perhaps you think kool-aid is the same as Dex-cool, but auto parts stores have a Dex-Cool equivalent that is licensed by GM. Read the bottle and be informed, dude.

GM is not the only supplier of Dex-Cool. I know,.... I'm a GM tech.

GMdude

Yes Bob,

Put the green stuff in. Your gaskets and seals were made to be used with Dex-Cool. It's no skin off my back. I'll continue to use Dex-Cool in my truck. I'm a GM tech. What the heck do I know? You know what is best for your vehicle. Why do you ask questions here?

GMdude

Yes, I picked up some Prestone equivalent that says it is compatible with GM Dex-Cool. Of course, $8.99 per gallon seems like a bit of a rip-off. As long as I have the engine cooled off, I may do an inspection around the intake manifold, just to make sure that there isn't anything suspicious going on.

---Bob Gross---

Rob,

Of course it's a rip-off. Were you expecting anything else? :-)

I'm a former GM tech. Nothing is surprise to me.

GMdude

P.S. Shop around. I picked this stuff up at $6 per gallon on sale.

Sure. If I thought I was going to be needing a bunch, then that is a good idea. But if I am only needing a little bit, then I don't intend to burn up gas driving all over the county looking for sales.

Prevailing wisdom says to keep Dex-Cool in the car until it is out of warranty. Then completely flush it clean and replace it with the good old-fashioned green stuff. I don't have any problem with that.

---Bob Gross---

Are the reports true regarding Dex-Cool actually gumming up engines/cooling systems? I recall reading something about a class action lawsuit over Dex-Cool.

Brad

Absolutely...once Mr. Coolant meets Mr. Oil (sorry, just finished watching South Park) kiss your engine goodbye.

This problems also affects the 3100 engines.

are you mr. goodwrench? or are you a Gay Masculine dude?

troll post....

Brad wrote:

I am not an expert, but I can tell you what I think. I think there have been some suits, but I don't know which of the engines (3.1, 3.4, 3.8) were involved. I've got the 3.8, so that is all I am interested in. Apparently, when they switched over to the Series II engine in the mid-1990's, they changed the intake manifold to be composite instead of metal, but the gasket had a problem. So, at least in the first year or two, there were lots of failures, and some of those caused major internal engine damage. Some users felt like the problem was purely a gasket problem. Some others felt like the problem was made worse by Dex-Cool. Apparently if you let the reservoir level get too low, and if air gets into the cooling system, then the air and Dex-Cool mixture goes bad and the stuff starts to gum up. At this point, it becomes harder to distinguish between a gasket problem and a coolant maintenance problem. Anyway, after several years, apparently GM used some better gasket material, so most of the intake problem went away. Apparently it did not go completely away. Just a month or two ago I got a GM recall notice that they want to inspect and replace the intake manifold fasteners. Well, I'll bet you a quarter that they want to inspect for coolant leaks in the same area, so that they can head off any major engine damage. So, if I had to bet on it, I would think that there is some lawsuit somewhere in this matter. Gaskets, coolant, etc. I prefer to follow electrons myself.

I just checked mine, and the coolant was still a clear pink color, and there are no visible leaks on the rear of the engine (the side closest to the air cleaner).

---Bob Gross---