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Ford Going To Dex-cool

CapitalTruck

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jblakeney Senior Enthusiast

jblakeney

Posted
Posted

I could careless what color it is.... JUST AS LONG AS EVERYBODY CHANGES IT... FREQUENTLY. I hate changing heat cores.........

 

Jbo

 

Edit: Forgot my reason for posting.... It was to state a dexcool system was the system that I NEVER did anything but change the antifreeze in. I changed the pump and thermostat before selling it simply because I did not want the new owner to have to do it later (which I feared 250K+ miles)....... Pump never failed 1995 - 2004, thermostat was the one GM installed in 8/94 also, and regretfully the upper and lower hose were removed and changed only when I changed the water pump in 2004. They were the GM hoses. I changed the heater hoses with Gates Green silicon hoses around 98.... Me and a heater hose clamp had a disagreement which ended with me and my die grinder.... (which I might add is the way I remove OE hose clamps, which I replace with lined screw hose clamps only)

ColoradoSkiCountry Senior Enthusiast

ColoradoSkiCountry

Posted
Posted

Exactly. Don't do that stupid 100k BS. I will have my Dexcool flushed every 50,000 miles, as reccomended by mechanic friends who have had to change out more heater cores on GM vehicles than they have seen naked women. They are sick of it.

 

I could careless what color it is.... JUST AS LONG AS EVERYBODY CHANGES IT... FREQUENTLY. I hate changing heat cores.........

 

Jbo

jblakeney Senior Enthusiast

jblakeney

Posted
Posted
Exactly. Don't do that stupid 100k BS. I will have my Dexcool flushed every 50,000 miles, as reccomended by mechanic friends who have had to change out more heater cores on GM vehicles than they have seen naked women. They are sick of it.

 

I could careless what color it is.... JUST AS LONG AS EVERYBODY CHANGES IT... FREQUENTLY. I hate changing heat cores.........

 

Jbo

 

 

First cool weekend every fall I can be found changing antifreeze in pretty much EVERYTHING I OWN. Regardless of mileage, condition, mixture, brand, flavor, smell, color, etc, etc, etc....

 

Jbo

Wires Enthusiast

Wires

Posted
Posted
Exactly. Don't do that stupid 100k BS. I will have my Dexcool flushed every 50,000 miles, as reccomended by mechanic friends who have had to change out more heater cores on GM vehicles than they have seen naked women. They are sick of it.

 

I could careless what color it is.... JUST AS LONG AS EVERYBODY CHANGES IT... FREQUENTLY. I hate changing heat cores.........

 

Jbo

 

 

First cool weekend every fall I can be found changing antifreeze in pretty much EVERYTHING I OWN. Regardless of mileage, condition, mixture, brand, flavor, smell, color, etc, etc, etc....

 

Jbo

 

 

You're obviously doing it too often. You only need to change it when it stops tasting like orange Kool-Aid. :cool:

 

I'm all about the overdoing, versus underdoing as well. Same goes with oil. Cheap insurance for a $5k engine.

pm26 Senior Enthusiast

pm26

Posted
Posted

Do I need to change the coolant in my truck even if I have low miles on it? Is time a significant factor as well? The truck is 4 1/2 years old, but has only 16k miles on it. I certainly want to prevent any heater core damage if I can. Why does Dex Cool attack heater cores? Won't it damage radiators just the same?

jblakeney Senior Enthusiast

jblakeney

Posted
Posted

I am usually the preventive maintenance guy. ANYTHING I can do to prolong or keep something from happening, I do. Who changes brake fluid, I do, every brake change or when the fluid is no longer clear... I pull the plug on the transmission pan every couple oil changes, and fill it back up. At least 2x a year I change differential fluid. etc etc

 

I dunno, why the heater core, but it usually goes first. ESPECIALLY if it has moving lines (they swing to allow installation). 4 1/2 years and I would have lost all of my finger nails (chewed off from stress thinking about that system eating something, jk).... but I would change it.... If not every at least every other year.

 

Jbo

dlstewart01 Senior Enthusiast

dlstewart01

Posted
Posted

Dex-Cool IS one of the most friendly coolants towards metals and corrosion.....

 

Dexcool probably has better performance on aluminum, steel, and iron and a longer life than most any other coolant. It has no silicates or phosphates to form solid abrasives (I don't think this is a big issue really) and is pretty tolerate of tap water that's not too low quality. It's pretty cheap and easy to find. Plus if your car has Dexcool already it's good to stay with the same formula if you can especially during the warranty period.

c4cruiser Enthusiast

c4cruiser

Posted
Posted
Do I need to change the coolant in my truck even if I have low miles on it? Is time a significant factor as well? The truck is 4 1/2 years old, but has only 16k miles on it. I certainly want to prevent any heater core damage if I can. Why does Dex Cool attack heater cores? Won't it damage radiators just the same?

 

It certainly wouldn't hurt to do a coolant flush and refill after 4 1/2 years. The recommendation for coolant changes for vehicles with Dex or typical long life coolants is 5 years or 50K miles whichever comes first.

dlstewart01 Senior Enthusiast

dlstewart01

Posted
Posted

According to internal GM documents, the ultimate culprit appears to be operating vehicles for long periods of time with low coolant levels. The low coolant is caused by pressure caps that fail in the open position. (The new caps and recovery bottles were introduced at the same time as DEX-COOL). This exposes hot engine components to air and vapors, causing corrosion and contamination of the coolant with iron oxide particles, which in turn can aggravate the pressure cap problem as contamination holds the caps open permanently.

 

Dexcool really only had problems on earlier models that had poor gasket designs and the pressure cap on the radiator. When you add up all the advantages and disadvantages of coolants, Dexcool makes the most sense in a late-model GM.

CapitalTruck Senior Enthusiast

CapitalTruck

Posted
  • Author
Posted

4.5 years is definitely due for replacement. Eventually that stuff becomes acidic and it's all down hill from there. I would certainly change it.

redvett Senior Enthusiast

redvett

Posted
Posted

Just about all MFR's are going to Dexcool in the future. Gm was one of the first to go to Dexcool in 1996 and as always a leader in technology.

dlstewart01 Senior Enthusiast

dlstewart01

Posted
Posted
Is there a coolant drain plug on a 5.3 liter engine block? If yes, where is it?

 

 

Yes, there is one on each side of the block. It is a big plug and requires a 17 MM allen wrench to remove. The one on the passengers side I believe is behind the starter so it will have to be removed to access the plug.

pm26 Senior Enthusiast

pm26

Posted
Posted

Thanks,

I assume the other plug is accessible. By opening only that one, only half of the block will be drained?

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