Pink Coolant in a 2017 Suburban

BlaineBug · February 22, 2020

Weird!

JimCost2014 · February 23, 2020

On 2/14/2020 at 3:11 AM, Bob2C said:

My 2018 Tahoe is definitely not orange. I bought it new

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Is your overflow tank always so low?

JimCost2014 · February 23, 2020

8 hours ago, Bigfutz said:

Well, the cap color is more accurate than anticipated. The Prestone DexCool (left) is definitely orange, and what’s in the reservoir(right) is pink.

Thinking someone added water, which is a no-no, I would have it changed out just to be safe.

This is what I keep in the shop, I know it is the right product:

Bob2C · February 23, 2020

Is your overflow tank always so low?

Bought it new like that. Level never changed.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SDfromSD · February 23, 2020

I put a block heater in my 2017 Burb couple weeks ago. Dumped in what had came out and noticed it was pink instead of “Dexcool orange.” Also owned from new so I know it hasn’t been changed. My pink looks exactly like the pictures above.

Bob2C · February 23, 2020

Is it possible color change from usage?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SDfromSD · February 23, 2020

17 minutes ago, Bob2C said:

Is it possible color change from usage?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If it does it changes quick. I have 8k miles now and have never ran it hot or had a problem. I lost a little putting the block heater in and didn’t top it off with Dexcool cause it didn’t match. If I don’t find an answer soon I’ll probably just dump some in. Would be nice to know what it is though.

Bob2C · February 23, 2020

So I found this on the Cruze forums. Interesting. The second attachment should be read first

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

BlaineBug · February 23, 2020

Is Dex-Cool the same awful sludgy mess that it used to be?

Bob2C · August 6, 2020

I added some Prestone Dexcool to the tank and brought it up to the cold full line. It mixed well and had no issues.

newdude · August 6, 2020

On 2/23/2020 at 9:15 AM, BlaineBug said:

Is Dex-Cool the same awful sludgy mess that it used to be?

Dexcool is fine. It was the coolant's reaction to $hitty gaskets GM was using that caused all those problems early on and from people not changing it every 5yr/150k.

Edited August 6, 2020 by newdude

newdude · August 6, 2020

Yes, its Dexcool that is in there. Yes it does look on the pink side. Yes its normal and no GM didn't stop using Dexcool and switch to something else. All the new vehicles have that pink-ish color to it.

BlaineBug · August 6, 2020

3 hours ago, newdude said:

Dexcool is fine. It was the coolant's reaction to $hitty gaskets GM was using that caused all those problems early on and from people not changing it every 5yr/150k.

I wasn't aware. Was it an incompatible metal gasket or rubber that was causing the issue?

txab · August 6, 2020

Yes. Gasket material

carkhz316 · August 6, 2020

Shucks, I missed this thread until now. I know it's been pretty much answered in the mentions above, but though I'd comment. So, I discovered my 2014 SS sedan had what appeared to be pink coolant as well. I couldn't find anything online or in the owners manual mentioning this besides "USE DEXCOOL". Earlier this year at a local tool/ parts store expo, I spoke with a PEAK antifreeze rep and he answered the question as they are a supplier for some some/ all of GM's production lines. He stated that (in addition to above mentioning the dye blends), that some of their coolant reacts differently with the metals and rubber seals in the vehicles of some vehicles, altering the color slightly. He said that they are are aware of the the GM Dexcool blend being of a pink hue, and said it's the same composition as the regular orange that you are used to. So, suffice to say, Pink in a GM vehicle = Orange Dexcool.