Whats is the final call with DEXCOOL?

I just replaced my lim uim gasket on my 97 grand prix that is now switched over to green coolant because i was told dexcool is the reason for the gasket failure. My mom just bought a 02 gp 3.8 and i justnoticed that is still on dexcool. This vehicle has 100,000 and shows no sign of uim lim yet so im curious about switching the coolant. Any other information about this product would be appreciated.

Why is it stilll around if it caused all these problems.

thanks

There is nothing wrong with Dex-cool as long as the maintenance intervals for replacement are followed. Which is 5 years or 150K miles, whichever comes first but earlier replacement is better. The aftermarket extended life coolants like Prestone EL green are also 5/150K now.

The gasket failures mainly lower intake manifold (LIM) were due to poor design so Dex-cool is still around and being used.

:iagree:
DexCool is not the problem, rather improper maintenance and poor gasket materials, and other issues have led a bad rap on the product. I have had and still own vehicles that have Dexool installed from the factory, and have not had any of the major problems that were purported to be caused by the coolant.When there are any issues, people tend to be very vocal with their displeasure, and when things are all right they tend to be quiet, so I believe there are far more vehicles out there with DexCool that aren't experiencing any issues than those that are.

This topic has been discussed many times before. My only knocks against dex-cool are that it doesn't really last the 5yr/150k miles as advertised, and that it sludges when exposed to air. The old green coolant is being phased out and all the replacement coolants are based on the same basic chemical formula as Dex-cool minus the red/pink dye. So if Dex-cool is/was so bad, why is everyone going to a similar type of coolant??? All the GM intake issues can be traced to junk gaskets, not Dex-cool.

So if Dex-cool is/was so bad, why is everyone going to a similar type of coolant??? All the GM intake issues can be traced to junk gaskets, not Dex-cool.

Its funny how GM is the only one thats really having a problem with this stuff!

I've never had any issues with Dexcool. Like what Bob stated, never wait five years to flush it out. I usually flush mine out at least every two or three years just for cheap maintenance. Just my preference.

Its funny how GM is the only one thats really having a problem with this stuff!
Like was stated previously, a lot has to do with poor gasket design/materials. Many defective gaskets were replaced with aftermarket ones and no further issues were reported.

Agreed, my gaskets have been changed out because of these defects. However, I still prefer to flush the cooling system about every three years well before the recommended five years.

There is nothing wrong with Dex-cool as long as the maintenance intervals for replacement are followed. Which is 5 years or 150K miles, whichever comes first but earlier replacement is better. The aftermarket extended life coolants like Prestone EL green are also 5/150K now.

The gasket failures mainly lower intake manifold (LIM) were due to poor design so Dex-cool is still around and being used.

5 years or 150K miles? Who the hell drives 30,000 miles a year?

I just serviced an 07 camry the other day that had a tad over 80k miles on the odometer!

5 years or 150K miles? Who the hell drives 30,000 miles a year?

I used to commute 50 miles one way, and put over 150k on my car in 3 years.

Yeah, I have been putting quite a bit on the GTP recently to with my job.

5 years or 150K miles? Who the hell drives 30,000 miles a year?

You can put me on that list. And that's just the GP.

5 years or 150K miles? Who the hell drives 30,000 miles a year?

put me on the list too. i had a '97 GTP and i drove 100 miles back and forth to work everyday roundtrip. when i finally decided to sell her back in 2002 it had 147K on it.

I think the bottom line is you have to use common sense. Many will fall under the 5 years portion since running up 150K miles mileage in a 5 year period is not attainable or realistic. For the ones that can achieve up to 150K miles in less than 5 years then the Dex-cool should be replaced and you should not wait or procrastinate. Remember it is 5 years or 150K miles, whichever comes first.

In my experience, I believe it should be changed more like every 3 years, 100k miles as it seems to start sludging up and getting acidic after that.

The only time I have seen Dex-cool sludge is when there is a bonafide problem with the cooling system or gaskets like intake going South. I've run Dex-cool in most of the GM cars I own up to 5 years since I don't ever come close to 150K miles before 5 years and it looked as good as new when replaced. That includes running various tests to include conductivity. I use Prestone EL coolant in my GTP but that was for other reasons like cost and nothing to do with the pros or cons of Dex-cool. It is replaced annually but it is also 5/150 coolant just like Dex-cool.

Also, the aftermarket EL coolants will sludge just like Dex-cool if there are issues.

went to walmart bec my coolant light came on so im reading ingrients on raditor fluid at 7am... guess i was bored

the dexcool i bought was made by prestone. and i noticed tht there was a prestione right next to the dexcool/ and the ingrients matched. then i checked the ingrients on the walmart raditor fluid and everthing has the same ingrients..

so i bought the dexcool bec of the name. otherwise are we just buying the name?

Here's a different take.

The "older"design" GM pushrod engines ala 3800, 350cid V8, 4.3L/262 V6, 7.4/454, 3.1/3.4 60 degree V6 that powered the world all use an non-pressurized overflow bottles which see regular exposure to air, possibly more as the radiator cap ages, etc.

The "newer design" engines & corresponding vehicles such as L850, 4.8/5.3/6.0L V8 all use pressurized overflow bottles which generally see no airflow.

IMHO there's something to this, rooted nearby the above. It could be investment in better sealability internal to the engines as well as the designs evolved. The Dexcool complaints and problems I've heard of all are in the first category of engines. I've heard of none with the second category.

Again, just my personal observations of owning several vehicles and talking to people about repair issues.

I know this is an old thread but have to say something about dexcool aka"dexkill" I'm a mechanic coming on 30 years now..every single engine Ive gone head or intake gaskets on have had dexcool..burnt orange clay buildup around cap water pump hoses radiators u name it...I won't touch the stuff...every vehicle my family has I've drained and flushed that crap out and used conventional green 50/50.. sister has a 3400 sfi in her grand am pushing 310k and still burns the tires