DEX-COOL or not?

mcr217 · January 24, 2020

GM recommends DEX-COOL coolant in their vehicles, but I've heard it can jack up manifold gaskets and cause other problems... Anyone have problems with this type of coolant or have any other recommendations? I have a 2018 Silverado 1500 by the way

m3n00b · January 24, 2020

20 minutes ago, mcr217 said:

GM recommends DEX-COOL coolant in their vehicles, but I've heard it can jack up manifold gaskets and cause other problems... Anyone have problems with this type of coolant or have any other recommendations? I have a 2018 Silverado 1500 by the way

Nothing wrong with DexCool.

Snowcamo · January 24, 2020

X2
Dex-cool was formulated for use in aluminium block and heads.

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Grumpy Bear · January 24, 2020

Ya hear allot of things. Most of it garbage. Nothing wrong with Dexcool.

kickass audio · January 24, 2020

IMO the things I have seen of people complaining about it are those who never flush their coolant out when it gets old like the manual calls for. I don't need to do mine just yet since I had the radiator replaced and that dumps a bunch of coolant out in the process but in another 2 years I am going to disconnect everything and drain the system and flush it out with water then refill with dexcool again.

amxguy1970 · January 24, 2020

Yup, nothing wrong with it. Those with problems neglected it or mixed other brands. If you add water, add distilled water but it is better to buy a premixed container. The biggest no-no that caused those gunking issued was mixing in another brand/type...

Tyler

mcr217 · January 24, 2020

I take it GM puts DEX-COOL in their vehicles off the line? I know mixing different kinds of coolant can create a reaction between the 2 and cause problems, so it makes sense that those who don't flush out the old before putting in the new could increase that risk.

djw88 · January 24, 2020

dexcool had issues back in 2000s because it would go acidic "faster" than other types. what prevented that was actually changing you coolant when you were supposed to.

happened to my mothers Bonneville it went acidic and ate the head gaskets, thinned the oil and spun a main bearing.

havent heard of this issue recently may be fixed idk

carkhz316 · January 24, 2020

dexcool had issues back in 2000s because it would go acidic "faster" than other types. what prevented that was actually changing you coolant when you were supposed to.

happened to my mothers Bonneville it went acidic and ate the head gaskets, thinned the oil and spun a main bearing.

havent heard of this issue recently may be fixed idk

It was more than likely a bad intake plenum gasket, or lower manifold gasket(s) that allowed coolant into the oil. Most 3800's have suffered this failure. I have owned a few, and fixed many more, in addition to many 60* V6's as well.

djw88 · January 24, 2020

16 minutes ago, carkhz316 said:

It was more than likely a bad intake plenum gasket, or lower manifold gasket(s) that allowed coolant into the oil. Most 3800's have suffered this failure. I have owned a few, and fixed many more, in addition to many 60* V6's as well.

it was a head gasket i worked on it. yes the gasket material also was apart of it didnt get along with dexcool

Edited January 24, 2020 by djw88

MaverickZ71 · January 24, 2020

2 hours ago, mcr217 said:

GM recommends DEX-COOL coolant in their vehicles, but I've heard it can jack up manifold gaskets and cause other problems... Anyone have problems with this type of coolant or have any other recommendations? I have a 2018 Silverado 1500 by the way

Nope, use DexCool. These new trucks have 99 problems, but DexCool ain't one of 'em. What happened almost 30 years ago isn't germane to the current formulation/situation.

1 hour ago, mcr217 said:

I take it GM puts DEX-COOL in their vehicles off the line? I know mixing different kinds of coolant can create a reaction between the 2 and cause problems, so it makes sense that those who don't flush out the old before putting in the new could increase that risk.

Absolutely. And the specs and capacities section of your Owner's Manual is your friend.

Edited January 24, 2020 by MaverickZ71