time for coolant change

hoorders · April 21, 2006

Hey everyone,

I've done plenty of research on changing the coolant in my 2000 silverado 5.3......and some recommend staying with the Dexcool and others say its fine to change it out to the regular 'Green' coolant.

Whats the deal with Dexcool??..........will the green stuff cause any damage?........most coolant now adays claim its perfectly safe for all these new engines.

I just want to make sure before I do so............any advice would be appreciated......

ken1mod · April 21, 2006

dexcool, factory fill was texaco available at wal mart.

Ken

ChevyTech007 · April 21, 2006

Stay with dexcool!!! I have not seen any problems with the new body style trucks, with surge tanks.

RyanZ71 · April 21, 2006

I say dump it, I've heard from many mechanics who are not pleased with the stuff, it has caused problems in the cooling system. I trust the mechanics who told me this.

ChevyTech007 · April 21, 2006

Do as you wish. I have seen S&T trucks with extreme coolant clogging with dexcool but that was caused by material left in the block at the factory. Just flushed a 2000 today with 111,238 that looked great, but what do I know. Its not like I do this for a living. Wait a minute, I do.

pm26 · April 21, 2006

Do as you wish. I have seen S&T trucks with extreme coolant clogging with dexcool but that was caused by material left in the block at the factory. Just flushed a 2000 today with 111,238 that looked great, but what do I know. Its not like I do this for a living. Wait a minute, I do.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What do they use in the '06 trucks? The same Dexcool coolant or some new formulation?

az'03Silverado · April 21, 2006

Use Dexcool! Why is everyone so affraid of Dexcool? I've never had a problem with it in any of my vehicles or any of my family's vehicles that use it (that's 5 GM vehicles so far with many many miles).

hoorders · April 21, 2006

I say dump it, I've heard from many mechanics who are not pleased with the stuff, it has caused problems in the cooling system. I trust the mechanics who told me this.

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Ryan............did you get rid of your Dexcool and replace with the 'regular' coolant??.......if you did..........has everything been fine with your truck?....

facn8me · April 21, 2006

Well here's my take on it. Use what ever you want. I prefer the green so I don't get complacent and leave it in longer cause it's "long life". In all my research and of course I work on em for a living, I have come to this realization. Use which ever let's you sleep at night. neither will damage your engine (although the red stuff likes to gel up it subjected to air in the system) I have also come to the conclusion that it's ok to mix them. Why you ask would I mix them since it say's they don't mix. Well It's true if you mix a 5year antifreeze formula with a 2 yr formula you no longer have the 5 yr or 2 yr warrenty, cause you diluted the 5 yr and added to the properties of the 2 yr. Hence the aftermarket came up with add to any make or model stuff. If ya add it to green it's good for 2 yrs. If ya add it to red it's good for 5 yrs. NEITHER WILL DAMAGE YOU ENGINE. of course this is an opinion. I have green in my 96 monte and the factory stuff in the 03 silverado. I will probably go with the any make or model stuff when I change out the truck so I can add either if I'm stuck out on the road and they ain't got what I want but I prefer the green cause it doesn't sludge up as easy as the red.

hoorders · April 21, 2006

Well here's my take on it. Use what ever you want. I prefer the green so I don't get complacent and leave it in longer cause it's "long life". In all my research and of course I work on em for a living, I have come to this realization. Use which ever let's you sleep at night. neither will damage your engine (although the red stuff likes to gel up it subjected to air in the system) I have also come to the conclusion that it's ok to mix them. Why you ask would I mix them since it say's they don't mix. Well It's true if you mix a 5year antifreeze formula with a 2 yr formula you no longer have the 5 yr or 2 yr warrenty, cause you diluted the 5 yr and added to the properties of the 2 yr. Hence the aftermarket came up with add to any make or model stuff. If ya add it to green it's good for 2 yrs. If ya add it to red it's good for 5 yrs. NEITHER WILL DAMAGE YOU ENGINE. of course this is an opinion. I have green in my 96 monte and the factory stuff in the 03 silverado. I will probably go with the any make or model stuff when I change out the truck so I can add either if I'm stuck out on the road and they ain't got what I want but I prefer the green cause it doesn't sludge up as easy as the red.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the reply.................thats what I wanted to hear...........im going to change it out to the green stuff..............its just more readily availble when needed and my other vehicles use the green coolant as well.......

Mr. Smith · April 21, 2006

Well here's my take on it. Use what ever you want. I prefer the green so I don't get complacent and leave it in longer cause it's "long life". In all my research and of course I work on em for a living, I have come to this realization. Use which ever let's you sleep at night. neither will damage your engine (although the red stuff likes to gel up it subjected to air in the system) I have also come to the conclusion that it's ok to mix them. Why you ask would I mix them since it say's they don't mix. Well It's true if you mix a 5year antifreeze formula with a 2 yr formula you no longer have the 5 yr or 2 yr warrenty, cause you diluted the 5 yr and added to the properties of the 2 yr. Hence the aftermarket came up with add to any make or model stuff. If ya add it to green it's good for 2 yrs. If ya add it to red it's good for 5 yrs. NEITHER WILL DAMAGE YOU ENGINE. of course this is an opinion. I have green in my 96 monte and the factory stuff in the 03 silverado. I will probably go with the any make or model stuff when I change out the truck so I can add either if I'm stuck out on the road and they ain't got what I want but I prefer the green cause it doesn't sludge up as easy as the red.

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Dex, sludge up huh? Wow I should have had this happen by now according to your post. I guess that since I don't neglect my vehicle it doesn't do that. Where as if you have the green you can just blow it off and this will just be fine. Not bashing just pointing out the reason for green, to be lazy and blow off normal maintenance.

Have a great day.

facn8me · April 21, 2006

. I prefer the green so I don't get complacent and leave it in longer cause it's "long life".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dex, sludge up huh? Wow I should have had this happen by now according to your post. I guess that since I don't neglect my vehicle it doesn't do that. Where as if you have the green you can just blow it off and this will just be fine. Not bashing just pointing out the reason for green, to be lazy and blow off normal maintenance.

Have a great day.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do you even read a post before you start bashing?

Mr. Smith · April 22, 2006

. I prefer the green so I don't get complacent and leave it in longer cause it's "long life".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dex, sludge up huh? Wow I should have had this happen by now according to your post. I guess that since I don't neglect my vehicle it doesn't do that. Where as if you have the green you can just blow it off and this will just be fine. Not bashing just pointing out the reason for green, to be lazy and blow off normal maintenance.

Have a great day.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do you even read a post before you start bashing?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have you?

tryn2lrn · April 23, 2006

I wonder if maybe the formulation has changed?

I had 96 and 97 Blazers and both had alot of coolant issues to the point of constant flushes, multiple heater cores replaced, 3 radiators and they even put new overflow tanks in. But they also had the intake issue so maybe that was a factor as well. All I know is that "long life"coolant never had more than about 15k miles on it at any given time since the dealer was always flushing and replacing parts and it was always black and sludgelike.

The stuff in my truck appears to be holding up better, already at 13k and no issues. I really haven't heard too many complaints here about the new dexcool.

RyanZ71 · April 23, 2006

I now run the Green stuff, but the damage has been done by the DexCool, there are coolant leaks all over the place starting to pop up. The Mechanics at the repair facility I use as well as others state that the stuff can turn acidic and eats away at the various seals which is what has happend in my case. They say if you are going to run Dex Cool do NOT do a 100,000 mile service on it, but rather every 3 years or 30,000 miles, 50,000 MAX. I believe them.