Engine Coolant Flush

[Pancho]

I was reading my Helm's manual today and see where it says not to use a chemical coolant flush. Anyone know why and what harm may have been done if one used the Prestone or Zerex cleaners?

[bobcat5544]

THAT MAIN REASON THEY SAY NOT TO USE A CHEMICAL COOLANT FLUSH, IS DUE TO THE CHEMICALS THAT ARE USED CAN DAMAGE AN ALUMINUM ENGINE BLOCK AND HEADS. IT CAN CAUSE CORROSION AND EAT THOUGHT THE ALUMINUM.

 

NOW IF YOU HAVE ALREADY USED A CHEMICAL FLUSH ON IT THEN MAKE SURE YOU FLUSH THE SYSTEM WITH LOTS OF WATER. THE BEST WAY WOULD BE TO PULL THE THERMOSTAT AND BACK FLUSH THE SYSTEM ALLOWING WATER TO RUN THOUGHT IT FOR A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME, THEM FILLING UP THE SYSTEM WITH DEX-COOL AND ABOUT 30,000 MILES LATER DUE ANOTHER COOLENT FLUSH OR JUST A DRAIN AND FILL...

 

WHEN IT COMES TO MANUFACTURE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE I PERSONALY DO IT IN HALF THE TIME, WHEN IT COMES TO COOLENT, DIFFERENTIALS, TRANSFER CASE, AND TRANSMISSION FLUIDS INTERVALS

[Pancho]

Thanks for the reply. I must admit to using the cleaner on my 99 but was getting ready to drain and flush the 02 with a new thermostat today when I noticed the warning. I use the Prestone back flush kit on all my vehicles and think I did a pretty good job of flushing out the cleaner after driving it 3-4 days with the cleaner in it. I'll just do another drain and flush next year without the cleaner from now on. I guess it pays to read the manual every once in awhile.

[bobcat5544]

YOU CAN DO ON CAST IRON BLOCK ALL YOU WANT, BUT JUST AS LONG AS YOU DO THE RECCOMENDED MAINTNASS, CLEANERS ARE NOT NECESSARY, EXCEPT THE ENGINE I DO RECOMMEND ENGINE FLUSHING (THE BILLSTIEN FLUSH IS ONE OF THE BEST) AND NOT ONE OF THOSE YOU DUMP INTO THE ENGINE RUN IT FOR 5-10 MIN AND THEN DRIAN YOUR OIL

[Superman TNT]

The only thing I would add is to not use Dex Cool again. If you already flushed it out of your system I'd go back to good old green.

[bobcat5544]

I WOULD DISAGREE WITH CHANGING IT OVER TO GREEN AND HERES WHY, DEX COOL CONTAINS ADDITIVES TO PROLONG LIFE OF AN ENGINE, IT IS ALSO BETTER FOR ALUMANUM ENGINGES WHEN IT COMES TO ACIDITY LEVELS WHICH DETERIATE ALUMANUM BLOCKS. GREEN ANTIFREZZE DOES NOT LAST TO LONG AND ACIDITY LEVEL CHANGES QUICKLY IN 1-2 YEARS...SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP ANY EYE ON IT

SECOND. IF YOU DONT FLUSH ALL THE DEX COOL OUT AND YOU LEAVE JUST A CUP FULL OF DEXCOOL IN THE SYSTEM, YOU HAVE A GOOD CHANCE THE COOLING SYSTEM CAME BECOME RESTRICTED OR BLOCK. TEST HAVE SHOWN 2 GALLONS OF GREEN MIXED WITH 1 CUP OF DEXCOOL THEN HEATED AND PRESSUREIZED DEX WILL START TO GEL AND THEN HARDEN UP.

[snoman]

I WOULD DISAGREE WITH CHANGING IT OVER TO GREEN AND HERES WHY, DEX COOL CONTAINS ADDITIVES TO PROLONG LIFE OF AN ENGINE, IT IS ALSO BETTER FOR ALUMANUM ENGINGES WHEN IT COMES TO ACIDITY LEVELS WHICH DETERIATE ALUMANUM BLOCKS. GREEN ANTIFREZZE DOES NOT LAST TO LONG AND ACIDITY LEVEL CHANGES QUICKLY IN 1-2 YEARS...SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP ANY EYE ON IT

SECOND. IF YOU DONT FLUSH ALL THE DEX COOL OUT AND YOU LEAVE JUST A CUP FULL OF DEXCOOL IN THE SYSTEM, YOU HAVE A GOOD CHANCE THE COOLING SYSTEM CAME BECOME RESTRICTED OR BLOCK. TEST HAVE SHOWN  2 GALLONS OF GREEN MIXED WITH 1 CUP OF DEXCOOL THEN HEATED AND PRESSUREIZED DEX WILL START TO GEL AND THEN HARDEN UP.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

That test was rigged then or a flat out lie because they are both based on Ethylene Glycol, only the inhibitors are different (Dex i Cool is supposed to have better protection for aluminum) so you can mix them until the cows come home and NOTHING will happen unless someone rigs it. I have Dexi cool in two vehicals and I raised the mixture to between 60 and 70% Dexi to water and one is now 5 plus years old and the other 4 plus years old and both are as clean as day one with no sediment and clean reserviors. I have little doubt that eveyone that has had a Dexi problem has had in a in a 50/50 mixture or less because with the amount of aluminum present in a modern engine you should run more than 50% regardless of where you live.

[bobcat5544]

I WOULD DISAGREE WITH CHANGING IT OVER TO GREEN AND HERES WHY, DEX COOL CONTAINS ADDITIVES TO PROLONG LIFE OF AN ENGINE, IT IS ALSO BETTER FOR ALUMANUM ENGINGES WHEN IT COMES TO ACIDITY LEVELS WHICH DETERIATE ALUMANUM BLOCKS. GREEN ANTIFREZZE DOES NOT LAST TO LONG AND ACIDITY LEVEL CHANGES QUICKLY IN 1-2 YEARS...SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP ANY EYE ON IT

SECOND. IF YOU DONT FLUSH ALL THE DEX COOL OUT AND YOU LEAVE JUST A CUP FULL OF DEXCOOL IN THE SYSTEM, YOU HAVE A GOOD CHANCE THE COOLING SYSTEM CAME BECOME RESTRICTED OR BLOCK. TEST HAVE SHOWN  2 GALLONS OF GREEN MIXED WITH 1 CUP OF DEXCOOL THEN HEATED AND PRESSUREIZED DEX WILL START TO GEL AND THEN HARDEN UP.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

That test was rigged then or a flat out lie because they are both based on Ethylene Glycol, only the inhibitors are different (Dex i Cool is supposed to have better protection for aluminum) so you can mix them until the cows come home and NOTHING will happen unless someone rigs it. I have Dexi cool in two vehicals and I raised the mixture to between 60 and 70% Dexi to water and one is now 5 plus years old and the other 4 plus years old and both are as clean as day one with no sediment and clean reserviors. I have little doubt that eveyone that has had a Dexi problem has had in a in a 50/50 mixture or less because with the amount of aluminum present in a modern engine you should run more than 50% regardless of where you live.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

HAVE YOU EVER TORN DOWN YOUR OR SOMEONE ELSES ENGINE, SPLIT OPEN THE RADIATOR OR HEATER CORE THAT YOU KNOW HAS MIXED THE TWO?

[snoman]

I WOULD DISAGREE WITH CHANGING IT OVER TO GREEN AND HERES WHY, DEX COOL CONTAINS ADDITIVES TO PROLONG LIFE OF AN ENGINE, IT IS ALSO BETTER FOR ALUMANUM ENGINGES WHEN IT COMES TO ACIDITY LEVELS WHICH DETERIATE ALUMANUM BLOCKS. GREEN ANTIFREZZE DOES NOT LAST TO LONG AND ACIDITY LEVEL CHANGES QUICKLY IN 1-2 YEARS...SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP ANY EYE ON IT

SECOND. IF YOU DONT FLUSH ALL THE DEX COOL OUT AND YOU LEAVE JUST A CUP FULL OF DEXCOOL IN THE SYSTEM, YOU HAVE A GOOD CHANCE THE COOLING SYSTEM CAME BECOME RESTRICTED OR BLOCK. TEST HAVE SHOWN  2 GALLONS OF GREEN MIXED WITH 1 CUP OF DEXCOOL THEN HEATED AND PRESSUREIZED DEX WILL START TO GEL AND THEN HARDEN UP.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

That test was rigged then or a flat out lie because they are both based on Ethylene Glycol, only the inhibitors are different (Dex i Cool is supposed to have better protection for aluminum) so you can mix them until the cows come home and NOTHING will happen unless someone rigs it. I have Dexi cool in two vehicals and I raised the mixture to between 60 and 70% Dexi to water and one is now 5 plus years old and the other 4 plus years old and both are as clean as day one with no sediment and clean reserviors. I have little doubt that eveyone that has had a Dexi problem has had in a in a 50/50 mixture or less because with the amount of aluminum present in a modern engine you should run more than 50% regardless of where you live.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

HAVE YOU EVER TORN DOWN YOUR OR SOMEONE ELSES ENGINE, SPLIT OPEN THE RADIATOR OR HEATER CORE THAT YOU KNOW HAS MIXED THE TWO?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

 

I will know who used not enough antifreeze in the engine and to much water. When you do not use a high enough mixture of antifreeze in a engine that has aluminum and cast iron part the reactivity between them will wear the coolant out sooner. EVERY sytem that I have ever torn into that has had problems, somebody has tried to save a few pennies and not use enough anitfreze in them and the water (which is VERY reactive when aluminum and cast irn ar mixed together) starts to break down the parts into solution and the clogging starts. If you use 60% or better dexicool with distill water you will not have a problem and if you mix it with regular antifrreze and only have 40% or less water present, you will not have a problem either. The claim they the two together from plugs and clogs is rediculous. Some people use tap water and that some of which is pretty nasty itself to begin with PH or suspended mineral wise. Use distilled water in mix and the water will have less reactivity to begin with and blend nicely with antifreeze. For the record, I have mixed Dexi and regular Ethylene Glycol coolant and I have also mixed Ethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol (which is non toxic unlike Ethylene Glycol) with no problems at all but it has also been with water consentrations of 40% or less and I have been using the Propylene Glycol in a few test apps for about 12 years now. I have a old tractor that is a collectable (51 years old) that I use between 70 and 80% antifreeze in it that I put in it 19 years ago when I got it. I top it off from time to time over the year but the coolant is a clean as the day I put it in and it has maybe 600 to 800hrs of run time on it too in 19 years.

[bobcat5544]

I WOULD DISAGREE WITH CHANGING IT OVER TO GREEN AND HERES WHY, DEX COOL CONTAINS ADDITIVES TO PROLONG LIFE OF AN ENGINE, IT IS ALSO BETTER FOR ALUMANUM ENGINGES WHEN IT COMES TO ACIDITY LEVELS WHICH DETERIATE ALUMANUM BLOCKS. GREEN ANTIFREZZE DOES NOT LAST TO LONG AND ACIDITY LEVEL CHANGES QUICKLY IN 1-2 YEARS...SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP ANY EYE ON IT

SECOND. IF YOU DONT FLUSH ALL THE DEX COOL OUT AND YOU LEAVE JUST A CUP FULL OF DEXCOOL IN THE SYSTEM, YOU HAVE A GOOD CHANCE THE COOLING SYSTEM CAME BECOME RESTRICTED OR BLOCK. TEST HAVE SHOWN  2 GALLONS OF GREEN MIXED WITH 1 CUP OF DEXCOOL THEN HEATED AND PRESSUREIZED DEX WILL START TO GEL AND THEN HARDEN UP.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

That test was rigged then or a flat out lie because they are both based on Ethylene Glycol, only the inhibitors are different (Dex i Cool is supposed to have better protection for aluminum) so you can mix them until the cows come home and NOTHING will happen unless someone rigs it. I have Dexi cool in two vehicals and I raised the mixture to between 60 and 70% Dexi to water and one is now 5 plus years old and the other 4 plus years old and both are as clean as day one with no sediment and clean reserviors. I have little doubt that eveyone that has had a Dexi problem has had in a in a 50/50 mixture or less because with the amount of aluminum present in a modern engine you should run more than 50% regardless of where you live.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

HAVE YOU EVER TORN DOWN YOUR OR SOMEONE ELSES ENGINE, SPLIT OPEN THE RADIATOR OR HEATER CORE THAT YOU KNOW HAS MIXED THE TWO?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

 

I will know who used not enough antifreeze in the engine and to much water. When you do not use a high enough mixture of antifreeze in a engine that has aluminum and cast iron part the reactivity between them will wear the coolant out sooner. EVERY sytem that I have ever torn into that has had problems, somebody has tried to save a few pennies and not use enough anitfreze in them and the water (which is VERY reactive when aluminum and cast irn ar mixed together) starts to break down the parts into solution and the clogging starts. If you use 60% or better dexicool with distill water you will not have a problem and if you mix it with regular antifrreze and only have 40% or less water present, you will not have a problem either. The claim they the two together from plugs and clogs is rediculous. Some people use tap water and that some of which is pretty nasty itself to begin with PH or suspended mineral wise. Use distilled water in mix and the water will have less reactivity to begin with and blend nicely with antifreeze. For the record, I have mixed Dexi and regular Ethylene Glycol coolant and I have also mixed Ethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol (which is non toxic unlike Ethylene Glycol) with no problems at all but it has also been with water consentrations of 40% or less and I have been using the Propylene Glycol in a few test apps for about 12 years now. I have a old tractor that is a collectable (51 years old) that I use between 70 and 80% antifreeze in it that I put in it 19 years ago when I got it. I top it off from time to time over the year but the coolant is a clean as the day I put it in and it has maybe 600 to 800hrs of run time on it too in 19 years.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

I DO AGREE WITH YOU ON THE MIX OF COOLENT AND WATER, BUT THE POINT I HAVE BEEN SAYING IS THE MIXING OF GREEN COOLENT WITH DEX-COOL. MIXING BOTH WILL CUASE GEL AND BLOCKAGE IN SIDE THE COOLING SYSTEM

[snoman]

I DO AGREE WITH YOU ON THE MIX OF COOLENT AND WATER, BUT THE POINT I HAVE BEEN SAYING IS THE MIXING OF GREEN COOLENT WITH DEX-COOL. MIXING BOTH WILL CUASE GEL AND BLOCKAGE IN SIDE THE COOLING SYSTEM

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

This is a myth. They are both based on the same glycol with just a differnt additive package. I honestly think that some of Dexi's bad rap is because when it came out, engine were also had more aluminum in them and greater reactivy and GM did not ship them with a high enough concentration of dexi vs water from factory (because they figured that they could save tons of $$$$ buy cutting corners here) and it failed sooner than normal.