Dex-cool = Dex KILL?

[99LeCouch]

No issues with it on my old 3800 V6 once the intake manifold gaskets were sorted out. No issues with it on my 144k mile 1.4T Cruze despite having dealer-caused leaks in the system for about 50k miles.

I've always purchased the pre-mixed or mixed with distilled water. Never tap water since the stuff around me is almost liquid rock.

 

[redmondjp]

Cheeze and crackers, another Dexcool thread?

Here's the straight dope: If it remains uncontaminated, AND no air gets into the cooling system, you will never have a problem with it. Period.

Tens of millions of cars and heavy trucks (both domestic and foreign makes) have been using some variation of this formulation (Organic Acid Technology or OAT) for the past 25 years. How many of you are complaining about the "Dexcool" in your Toyotas?

 

[KDXSR5]

Cheeze and crackers, another Dexcool thread?

Here's the straight dope: If it remains uncontaminated, AND no air gets into the cooling system, you will never have a problem with it. Period.

Tens of millions of cars and heavy trucks (both domestic and foreign makes) have been using some variation of this formulation (Organic Acid Technology or OAT) for the past 25 years. How many of you are complaining about the "Dexcool" in your Toyotas?

None because it is pink, not orange. Can't you see the difference?? Haha

 

[justanengineer]

How many of you are complaining about the "Dexcool" in your Toyotas?

They're too busy raving about their Matrix while trashing those crappy Vibes.

 

[Streetbu]

I've had issues with it. GMC Jimmy blew head gaskets, most likely because the intake gaskets were leaking and it was driven low on coolant. Thank my now ex-wife for that one... Later model Pontiac Sunfire had a leaking heater core and plugged system. No leaks before, but coolant was over 5 years old. I've never seen green coolant eat parts when it gets over 5 years old, so I switch everything from Dexcool to the new "global" green coolant. It's hard to find just plain old green coolant anymore. Most is the global, mixes with any color, green coolant.

 

[WhiffySpark]

The vehicles that are at about the 12-20 year mark used a slightly different formulation of dex cool than what they use now. Havent seen issues in about 8-10 years for most GM vehicles.

Orange dex was the problem. They use pink now

I love dex cool. It's ate plenty of intake gaskets and gave me nice paychecks

I recommend flushing orange out whenever I see it

 

[bulletpruf]

Bumping for some pretty good info. I'm about to flush/fill radiator in my 01 'Burb K2500. Looks like I'll go back with Dex-Cool.

 

[Jazzman442]

I have heard about this Dex cool killing the cooling systems for years. I have a 2004 suburban with a Plastic intake and aluminum heads. I only had the system drained to put in my water pump. I have always use prestone DEX cool 50 / 50. I have almost 350K mile on the truck and no issues. Radiator looks like new. Good Luck

 

[redmondjp]

Orange dex was the problem. They use pink now

I love dex cool. It's ate plenty of intake gaskets and gave me nice paychecks

I recommend flushing orange out whenever I see it

The color really has nothing to do with it, it's just a dye.

I've got the orange coolant in a 2001 Yukon I'm working on now that I recently changed the water pump on. I drained and refilled with fresh Prestone-brand OAT which is also the same color. No issues at 200K miles.

 

[strutaeng]

Dang, 2 year old thread back alive!

I've got a 1999 Silverado 1500 with 248,000 miles running Dexcool. I did a coolant change at 157,000 and 200,000. I changed the coolant at 158,000 due to heater core replacement.

I'm on the original water pump and radiator. It has looked pretty clean the times I have changed it. No sludge.