Too late to switch from Dexcool?

Ok, I have read and searched all over this forum about dexcool and even read a very good thread from 2004 on the subject (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=220429&highlight=ketch )but I still have some dexcool questions and need advice.

Im the Ford guy who just bought the 96 k1500 Burb 5.7 with about 160k. Love it!! :)
It has dexcool and it looks like it has been in there awhile, but not horrible looking. My instict is to flush it big time and put in the good ol' green stuff.

1.Can this cause problems on a truck this old?
2.Should I leave it alone?
3.Should I flush and replace with Dexcool?

Any guidance would be greatly appriciated. This forum is a life saver!!

You can go either way.
Any Coolant needs flushed ever 3 years or 50K. red green or pink or dexcool.
Just do not mix dexcool and green. Orange and green makes brown mud.
That is the main problem on dexcool they try to push the 7 year 150K crap.
Also another good coolant is the universal antifreeze that mixes with anything.
MT

I have seen a few times where Dexcool was not used and problems with aluminum parts that were eaten away. Usually water pumps and thermostat housings and radiators. If GM calls for Dexcool, Use Dexcool.

I tend to agree with you MT, I really want to flush the burb and install standard green coolant, however, I have been told by the local Chevy shop that their experience has been bad with making the switch. Usually resulting in coolant leaks and or water pump problems. Does anyone have first hand experience changing their truck to standard coolant?

DexCool has a different protection package for your engine's cooling system than the old green ethylene glycol based coolant. DexCool is an Organic Acid Technology based coolant and should be reinstalled if that is what has been used. Using the ethylene glycol 9green coolant) may not give you the proper protection your cooling system needs. Best thing to do like what has been said previously is to R&R th coolant more often than was previously recommended by GM. I do mine in all my vehicles that use DexCool every 2 to 3 years or 30 to 40,000 miles, similar to the timeframe for the green coolant. Make sure when you do drain out the old coolant you properly flush the cooling system before installing the fresh coolant.
One quick thing. I wouldn't put as much weight behind older posts concerning the DexCool, especially 3 years ago. So much has changed in thinking over the past few years, and we are STILL learning more about the coolants. Even I had said different things 3 years ago on this site about mixing the 2 different coolants, but from further research and experience have found out that it is not a good thing to do. There is so much NEW information coming out daily that opinions and recommendations can change over time, as has happened in this case.

I tend to agree with you MT, I really want to flush the burb and install standard green coolant, however, I have been told by the local Chevy shop that their experience has been bad with making the switch. Usually resulting in coolant leaks and or water pump problems. Does anyone have first hand experience changing their truck to standard coolant?

If you want to change to Old green. Go for it.
As 97ventureowner has stated .
Things are changing and I suspect the coolant make up is changing to.
I have saw a lot of people change over to old green with no problems.
There is one year 350 GM engine that you have to add GM pellets to coolant when coolant is changed to keep water pump from leaking.
But other than that it should not cause any leaks.
Old green used to have a stop leak additive in it and new coolant would seal some leaks.:grinyes: But I am not sure it still does.
Dex-cool and other newer types of coolant is made for newer types of engines and engine gasket.
Also keep in mind static elect in coolant systems.
As far as cost old green and dexcool is close to same price.
And there is the universal coolant that will mix with any kind of coolant.

But which ever way you go always keep the coolant servviced 3 years or 50K or less and you will have a lot less problems.

Just a quick clarification. Whatever coolant you decide to use, make sure it meets at least the minimum standard as set by the vehicle manufacturer,( listed in your owners manual.) I personally have used this product for years:http://www.havoline.com/products/na/antifreeze_01_tech.html as it meets GM recommendations for coolant in the engine. It is readily available at Wal Mart and is a good price compared to it's competition. If your owners manual states to use an extended life coolant, I wouldn't use ethylene glycol, (the old green coolant) as it doesn't have the proper protection package(s) designed for your engine and cooling system. You may not have any issues now if you did use the green stuff, but what's to say you won't sometime in the future? I myself wouldn't risk using a coolant not recommended for my cooling system/engine:2cents: .

Thanks for the advice. I am going to drain out a little of the antifreeze into a clean container and see how bad it really is, how much junk is floating around and how contaminated it looks. I am really split down the middle on which way to go. I have been driving fords for years with overhead cam aluminum head engines and used the green stuff with no probs. But GM used the Dexcool for a reason so.......If the antifreeze is really nasty Im going to flush and refill with Dexcool to prevent any further damage. If it is not abnormally dirty I will flush and refill with green as the cooling system should be in realitively good shape. This may be flawed logic :screwy: but it makes sense to me.

I changed to the green when I did the intake manifold gaskets almost 3 yrs. ago in my 97 GMC Suburban 5.7L. The dexicool that I took out was prettty nasty looking and was thicker than what I thought it should have been. Before I purchased it was only maintained by the GM dealer. My son did the same thing a year before on his 98 K2500 Chevy pickup and neither one of us have had any problems. I talked to a good mechanic friend that I have have known for 25 yrs. and he said get it out, flush it good and put the green back in.

Thanks for the info Old Dave, its good to hear from some one that has been there before. As an update, I checked my coolant and I it is dirty but not sludged up, I believe that I will switch my Burb to Old Green. I figure being a 96 with 160k, this truck is going have some maintenance issues either way I go. If I have a water pump, radiator or heater core go out I think I would blame age over Ethylene Glycol. Furthermore, this is a 350 chevy, not a Vette, it can take it, if it cant I will replace the failed components. Like I was told by an AF member before I bought the Burb, "Everything can be Fixed"

My Suburban had 118K on the clock when I did it and it's got 136K now and no problems with the coolant. Like you said "It's a 350, it can be fixed." Some fixes just are more expensive than others... Good luck with your project. :)

I changed my 99 k2500 over to the green a couple of years ago. I did just have to change my water pump( 94,000 miles). The gasket was leaking. I changed mine over when I was doing my intake manifold gaskets. I changed over because I thought the dex-cool might be part of the reason the gaskets leak. I don't think that is the case anymore. (just a poor design). I know the chemical properties are different between the two, and I believe the dex-cool is supposed to contain more lubricants than the green. I think the best thing to do is to change it every couple of years. I didn't change my wife's 2000 montana over and it has been fine.