I'm going to have to have to get my radiator repaired or replaced & want to have the system flushed too. This will open up a can of worms but there's alot of talk on different GM forums, some saying DexCool is bad & some good, some folks are saying to flush & switch to regular antifreeze. Thought I'd hear what DieselPlace members have to say about the whole thing.Edited by: Fishnfool

I've heard the same testamonials for and against. Some swear by it and others off it. My dad's truck came with it and has been running it the 50,000 he's driven it without incident.

I was at NAPA a few months back, and was talking with the counterman there. He said that there was a class action lawsuit about Dexcool and GM going on. He said most problem was with the V6's and the cars, moreso than the trucks he believes. I told him I was at 150k miles on mine no problem, he said, "ya, you'll proably not see any problem"


Truth or tale, I do no know. Anyone else heard anything?

Dexcool debate continues. IMO.. If your into regular maint and you plan on changing it every 2 years, put in the green. If your lazy, put in dexcool..


The introduction of the Dexcool came when GM went to using different gasket styles on most engines.. gassers anyways. The intakes gaskets are plastic with silicone impregnated and the plastic would deteriorate (sp) over time. Some attribute it to the Dexcool.. The other big thing that I see that I would bet the farm on being a Dexcool problem is the S/T trucks getting sludged up in the radiator. When coolant was low, air would mix with it and create a nasty sludge that took a long involved acid flush to clean up and sometimes, it wouldnt work even.


Long story short, put in whats avail and what you want..http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif

For no particular reason I changed to dexcool last time I serviced my radiator 5k miles ago, and haven't noticed any significant difference in any parameter. I had heard that dexcool had better goodies in it for seal life. Plus my wifes 02 has dexcool in it so less jugs of stuff in the garage to only stock dexcool.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif

IMO if it came with DEX Cool go with that, they are not compatable, and my fear is without adequate flush the residual "mix" could be and unfriendly one to your engine. Even a good flush may not get it all too many nooks & crannys for the old of either to hide in.

i just drained my dexcool out and put in purple fleetquard. if you use green, make sure it is an ethylene glycol based forumula that is suitable for diesels. a lot of the green antifreezes are not suited for diesels. i just used the purple stuff because that is what we get from the international dealer for our tractors. if i didn't use this, i was going to use the zerex g-05. it is yellow and ford and dodge use this from the factory now. i think ford just switched over to it, but dodge has been using this for a while. it is what they put in everything, even the cummins. and it was the popular mechanics magazine product of the year in 2000. its also a little easier to find then the fleetguard.

Try this stuff, Red Line Water Wetter (http://www.redlineoil.com/products_coolant.asp?productID=53) and Diesel Water Wetter (http://www.redlineoil.com/products_coolant.asp?productID=70).


They've got a pretty impressive line-up of Diesel Additives as well.Edited by: Texas Diesel Guy

schaeffers also has a nice water wetter

Take a look at NPG+ at http://www.evanscooling.com/main25.htmEdited by: KJAM

My truck came with DexaCool and has not had anything else, I have not had any problems with it and would NOT go to anything else, GM put it in these trucks for a reason and I don't want to chance mixing the green and pink and get goop in the system.

dont ever mix any colors, no matter what anybody says. i read somewhere that gm is switching to the zerex.

Yup, I'm opening this thread again. I have dexcool and will stay with it (use it in my old vintage suzuki GT750, they like silicate-free), but have 2 questions:


1. Manual says the stuff needs to be replaced every 150k miles. Sheeesh, that is long. I am at 147k but it was changed at 93k and I'm already thinking I want to change it. Thoughts on intervals?


2. Can anybody tell be how to get most, if not all, of the coolant from a Suburban with rear heat/ac? what about refill ?


Thanks!

Steiner43511, Where did you get the purple fleetquard? I have checked all of our auto parts stores in town, and they do not know what I am talking about.


Thanks

Hey BobT,


I have a GT750 also. Mine is a '72 model in Candy Lavender (yeah, yeah....the girly color) Which do you have?

hrjack99:


i get the purple stuff from my local case international tractor dealer. its what we use in our tractors so i figured might as well use it in my truck.


if you do switch from dexcool, make sure it is ok for a diesel.

Prestone has an improved extended life coolant (non Dex-Cool) that I switched to last time. I am hoping this will be the happy medium between deathcool and green. So far so good.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley24.gifInteresting. Went to our local Bumper to Bumper the other day looking for Dex-Cool; the guy says it's not made anymore, and if I find some on a shelf somewhere, it's been there a while. He said that the big 3 all had some version of Dex-Cool, and all had some kind of problems with it. Dex-Cool's problem was gelling and plugging up radiators and heater cores. He offered that the big 3 just waited for the anti-freeze mfg's to offer a long life coolant, which they did. His advice was to do a complete flush, then add the extended drain coolant that is good for 5 yrs or 150,000 miles. Just HIS opinion. Hmm. I'm wondering what GM is advising on their new vehicles, and what about warranties on the older models?