I don't know about you guys but I dont think that stuff is all its cracked up to be. My father just spent $1200.00 to replace his heater core in his 2001 GMC. He has had the truck since new and it has been serviced by either him or myself. The cooling system has never been touched and never anything other than dexcool. On our way back from TX we could smell the antifreez and had to pull over to disconnect the heater core. Needless to say the truck was out of warranty(75000 miles) and it now has the old green stuff in it. We have a few larger trucks, c7500's, that have had some problems also, and they were also out of warranty too. All our vehicles have the green in them now.

John

I look at GM service bulletins (TSB's) all the time, I have never seen one on the dangers of using the 100,000 mile coolant. GM is still using it the new Vettes, as well as a host of other GM vehicles. Do you honestly think if there was a serious problem with this coolant that it would still be on the market and being used in as many vehicles as it is?.

I converted my two GM vehicles to it years ago and both have well over 100K on the clock.

You have to follow the proper proceedure and you must have a mechanic that is familiar with the Dexcool fluid. I find that must "shade tree's" are not. The dealership and more reputable independent garages for the most part know how to use the stuff.

Vince

First off GM isn't going to print about any [color=red]dangers[/color] because that implies a legal responsibility. There have been numerous TSB's relating to cooling system problems but GM doesn't attribute the problems to the coolant. Here is just one TSB. The problem is not that the coolant doesn't work but if there is any air in the system from a leak or being run low on fluid there is a nasty chemical reaction and this stuff gets ugly. It is also not limited to just GM's coolant but other long-life coolant as well. I have seen quite a few Toyota water pumps develop leaks and it leaves a solid trail of crud down the side of the engine. I've removed timing covers off of the V-6 Tacomas only to find huge clumps of hardened coolant behind the covers from where the water pump had leaked. It isn't easy to describe this stuff but I never in twenty years of servicing cars saw the old style green coolant react this way. I've personally repaired enough of these systems over the years that you couldn't pay me to put it in my car and if I bought a new car and it needed it for warranty purposes I would be checking that system for any possible leaks or problems regularly. Under normal conditions, yes it works no different than any coolant but once she starts leaking and air is entered into the system it gets ugly. As far as knowing how to use the stuff, it's just coolant whether it's GM's, Toyota's, or anyone else's version, come's in a bottle and get's mixed with water. Now different vehicles have different bleeding procedures but that's been around for years. Ford's had special bleeding procedures for some of it's Lincoln's for years and they didn't even use extended life coolant. There are many reasons why manufactures are using Extended Life Coolant, it does not mean it's flawless.

just do a word search & do the reaing then you do the reading & make up your own mind, because you can take that garbage & get rid of of it, BS if GM doesnt know this is a problem. I know dealer mech's & shops who refuse to install it & will & do warn the customer about.. Plain & simply put, with all the info i have read GM & every other car company that uses the same stuff should loose thier pants on this, BUT we all know they won't.. hell w/the big SBC lawsuit my sister got her check last month..........a whole f'n nickel, yep you read the rite 5 cents, no more no less....joe

http://www.wcpo.com/wcpo/localshows...y/20299ce7.html

http://www.wkrc.com/heyhoward/story...7F-84250675D214

http://www.geocities.com/b_gillie/d..._problems3.html

http://www.imcool.com/articles/anti...cle-Excerpt.pdf

http://tpg1.com/blog/index.php/rob/more/gm_problems/

http://www.epinions.com/content_109164203652 <~~ this is a good one & I quote

http://www.lemonaidcars.com/up_march2002.htm <~~quote from
GM DEX-COOL Coolant Lawsuits in the Offing. Owners Claim Damages for Leaks, Sludge, and False Advertising —
This is a biggie that's headed for class action status in the States and possibly a federal Canadian Competition Act charge for misleading advertising. A ton of small claims court filings are also expected (see http://www.geocities.com/b_gillie/dexcool_problems.html).

Owners allege the coolant, used in most GM vehicles since 1996, leads to engine and radiator problems, causing the engine to overheat, poor driveability, and erratic heater/AC operation. Owners report that GM has a secret warranty that will cover damaged engine components up to 7 years/160,000 km (100,000 miles).

The misleading advertising allegation concerns GM's owner manual assertion (1998 Buick Century in this case, but likely used in other model and year manuals, as well) that the coolant "is designed to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles (240,000 km)." J. S. from Delta, British Columbia, says the dealer service representative who recently serviced his '98 Century at 32,000 km, advised him to change the DEX-COOL because the coolant was, "breaking down, jellying, and could plug the radiator."

After writing GM Canada's president and calling the company's toll-free line (1-800-263-3777), an Oshawa service rep insisted to the Century's owner that the 5-year stipulation was only a guide and refused to issue any refund or accept any responsibility for the coolant's failure.

The Century's owner says that at the time of purchase, the sales agent pointed out the advantages of this long-life coolant and the company's reneging on that claim now places both the dealer and GM in possible violation of the Canadian Competition Act: Subsection 52(1); Paragraph 74.01 (1)(a); and paragraph 74.01 (1)(c).

In addition to filing a formal complaint with the Industry Canada's Competition Bureau's Commissioner of Competition, Canadians may use the above law and provincial warranty/consumer protection legislation to back up their small claims lawsuits, for the cost to repair damaged mechanical components, or a refund of the cost of the coolant's replacement before 5 years/150,000 miles (240,000 km). As far as filing a class action in Canada is concerned, it only awaits Canada's trial lawyers catching the scent.

For Americans, the Federal Trade Commission's misleading advertising laws and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act have similar provisions to clamp down on corporate deception. Affected owners are urged to use these agencies and laws in their court filings. As stated before class action status is pending at http://www.bigclassaction.com.

Here are several emails that have come across my desk during the past several weeks relative to the DEX-COOL failures:

Just a side note after the problem was noticed in our 99 grand prix I had it flushed again to be sure and put green back in,Ive warned other people to be aware and keep a close eye on the Dex-Cool I don't know why ours started to gell,I'm not taking that chance again.

I resent the "shade tree" remark. With the green we would test it once a year in our fleet. The dex cool is supposed to be 5 yr 150,000 miles so I figured it didnt need testing since the truck was too new to worry about, (2001 model). Besides out here there is no such thing as shade let alone many trees.

John

I recently '4/04', received a warranty recall notice from International Truck and Engine corp. on any in-line 6 cyl. engines w/ extended life coolant, quote " Recent findings indicate ELC coolant is reacting with the front cover and oil cooler header gaskets, resulting in a loss of gasket resiliency and subsequent coolant leakage. This condition may occur at higher mileage/hours." Enclosed was silicate, to be added to all engines w/ ELC. Additional quote " if ELC has been mixed with conventional ( green) coolant, the addition is not required", go figure? Needless to say, the ELC was flushed out and replaced, and would not void the warranty as long as the "SCA " supplemental coolant additive, was checked and adjusted regularly, and documented! Need I say more!!

Well, after reading the points back and forth on this stuff, I decided I do not need the potential problem. As this is my daily driver, I want to be able to just go and not worry about air pockets, leaks, etc causing "sludge-up"...that's a technical term, you might want to write it down!
Anyway, I flushed the system, twice, changed the hoses, and went back to the green. Let you know if I have problems.

Thanks.

Read this on web

"The silicate corrosion inhibitors in conventional antifreeze will poison the O2 sensor, so plan on replacing the sensor(s) if this has happened. "

Any have this experience?

HOW????????????? its in the exhaust, the only way it could mess it up is to have a blown head or intake gasket....joe

Do what???? Not possible!

I had searched for info on web and found it.
Somebody really has that out on web.
Looked weird , and sure enough, it is....

Nevermind

Hate to break the news to you arch but as a tech in a GM dealership I use Dexcool every day. We mix it 50/50 with water just like any coolant. Before this I worked at a Toyota Dealership owned by the same company and the same thing with their extended life coolant. I have been working in this field for twenty years, I think I should know how a product is being used. Some of us don't just read bullsh*t articles and listen to urban tales for our information. I have also attached a picture of the side of a bottle of Havoline Extended Life Coolant which I had in my garage. It is exactly the same as GM's Dexcool and approved for use in all GM vehicles. Notice the directions. Fill with good quality tap water. That interprets to whatever comes out of the faucet at any garage using it. People like you are the reason why products like Dexcool cause so much controversy. Half of the people arguing about it have never even worked with it in the field and have no first hand experience with it's side effects.

Attached Thumbnails

 

I just had another problem with my 2002 c7500, with only 30,000 miles on it. The 8.1's in these trucks have an aluminum tube that is attached to the water pump, it is the return for the heater core. I had a similar problem on the 2001 truck and sure enough there were pin holes in this aluminum tube as well. It seems to be an electrolysis type of erosion. I thought the dex cool was supposed to be better for the aluminum. Doesn't seem to be working. Another weird thing is that when I replaced this $140.00 tube on the 2001, I flushed the system and put in the green coolant and distilled water. The truck has since had 30,000 miles + and no leaks. On the 2002 I had a shop make me one out of stainless and am also running green so I shouldn't have any more problems. I can't wait till I get the 2004 to see what coolant problems I will have with it.

Others have mentioned that you have to know how to work with this stuff. What else do you have to know, when the reservoir is low add coolant, just make sure its the dex cool stuff, which is what we have done. If you have to do anything else then why use it. With the green stuff I have never had a empty reservoir unless there was a coolant leak, not so with the dex-cool. This stuff mysteriously disappears and to make matters worse when you add air to the dex cool it starts eating parts. You guys can run all the dex cool you want in your vehicles but I wouldn't want any even if I was on fire.

John