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: DEX COOL Class Action Lawsuit Against GM


rod97301
06-10-2004, 04:49 PM
I recently bought a 2004 D/A 3500 (LLY) Silverado; over the past 6 months have found this site to be a great wealth of information. Dex Cool has been around since '96 - nothing new to most folks... I searched this forum to see if there was anything on Dex Cool and didn't see anything. I came across this website on the class action lawsuit against GM -


Class Action Suit (http://www.dexcoolcase.com)


Synopsis:


CASE INFORMATION:


A class-action lawsuit filed in Kansas City alleges that GM vehicles with a coolant known as "Dex-Cool" developed rusty sludge in their cooling systems, causing engine problems.





The lawsuit, originally filed in Jackson County Circuit Court in April, was moved earlier this month to federal court in Kansas City.


The lawsuit seeks class-action status on behalf of consumers nationwide who bought General Motors Corp. vehicles equipped with the extended life coolant.


For vehicles manufactured in 1996, GM warranted that the coolant could remain in the vehicles for five years or 100,000 miles, whichever came first. From 1997 on, the warranty was extended to 150,000 miles.


The lawsuit alleges that Dex-Cool failed to protect engines from corrosion and caused a rusty sludge to form, clogging radiators and heater cores, damaging water pumps and destroying gaskets.


The named plaintiffs - Michael Gutzler of Manchester, Mo.; Herbert Jones of Blue Springs; and Karen Barton of Irondale, Mo. - contend that GM has refused to repair their vehicles or pay for the repairs. The action seeks unspecified damages for breach of warranty under the federal Magnuson-Moss Act.


Because warranty laws differ slightly from state to state, the plaintiffs have hedged their bets. If national class certification is not granted, they also have filed separate actions in New York, California, Illinois and Texas seeking certification on behalf of consumers in those states as well as in Missouri.


GM maintains that the product is an improvement over traditional coolants. The company, however, has alerted mechanics that vehicles operated for 15,000 to 20,000 miles with low coolant levels "may be susceptible to the formation of a rustlike material in the cooling system."


The plaintiffs are represented by lawyers with three local firms: Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, Shamberg Johnson & Bergman, and David R. Smith P.C. Local counsel for GM is Bryan Cave.

jholly
06-10-2004, 06:54 PM
From what I have read about this, it seems dex-cool does sludge up if you used high mineral content water and have overheated your engine. Peterbuilt recommends dex-cool but also recommends using distilled water with the coolant. Other places I have read also recommend the use of distilled water. The addition of additive packs on a regular basis has never been discouraged from what I have read. Peterbuilt recommends that also.

My 1999 1500 gasser had dex-cool for 80K and no problems and the coolant was clean.


Using distilled water on your make up coolant additions is probably a good thing.

JimEdited by: jholly

coalbucket01
06-10-2004, 07:13 PM
have seen lots of problems with elc in cat engines, in peterbilts, when mixed with oil and air hits it, it will set up like concrete

Redapple
06-10-2004, 07:14 PM
The Dex-Cool thing is just like our Duramax fuel systems. The integrity of the system cannot be comprimised, or there will be problems. For the fuel systems it is water in the system, for Dex-Cool, the system needs to be leak free, as air free as possible (purged/burped etc.), and as stated above distilled water. This is my 4th GM vehicle with Dex-Cool. The oldest one a 1996 Pontiac Grand Am is still running with the original Dex-Cool (gave car to my niece), never had a problem with my 97 Sierra, and my 2000 Z71 ran 4 years and coolant still looked new, and had zero problems. I know GM had some problems in the first year or two with I think head gaskets and interaction with the coolant, but I have heard of no problems recently.


Bill

rod97301
06-11-2004, 11:11 AM
Thanks guys for the replies... The distilled water is a good idea. I'll keep that in mind.

skibum
06-11-2004, 01:29 PM
I had the head gasket go out in my '97 Suburban and the mechanic stated that it was due to lack of protection from the Dex-Cool. He recharged the system after repairs with antifreeze. The repair bill was over $1000.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gif

dmacy
06-11-2004, 03:34 PM
I understand that the issue is with a system that has a small leak. If air is introduced in any fashion it will create suldge. If the cooling system stays tight there shouldn't be a problem. You may have a small leak, not enough to have to add antifreaze but enough to let air in. Check for any small leaks.

OneSilverTruck
06-11-2004, 11:07 PM
1996 1500, 5.7 liter....173,428 trouble free miles(knock on wood) with Dex-Cool. I changed it at 100,000 miles and only top off with Dex-Cool..I still have the original spark plug wires...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif





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