['97ventureowner]

Dexcool is a coolant that was meant for long term use. It started to be used in the mid '90s. It was meant as the next generation of coolants to replace the old standard for many years, ethylene glycol. The major difference is the color. Dexcool, is an orangish-red, while the ethylene glycol is green. Dexcool is an OAT based coolant(Organic Acid Technology) and has different properties. If a vehicle came from the factory with Dexcool installed in the cooling system, then it or another vehicle manufacturer approved coolant should be used. One should not replace the Dexcool with ethylene glycol because the respective protection packages that each coolant has is different. Dexcool was made for the modern engine that may have many different metals and other substances used in manufacture, so it's protection package is meant for that purpose.
There has been some issues in recent years with problem components such as intake gasket failures and cooling system sludging up. A lot of research has been done and some of the causes have been linked to improper maintaining of the coolant. GM had said you could use the coolant for 5 years or 150,000 miles, but we know now that is too long of a time to wait for servicing. A new timetable similar to the green coolant should be followed. That is flushing and refilling every 2 to 3 years or 30 to 40,000 miles. Air infiltration has also been an issue leading to the coolant to sludge u. In many cases, a faulty radiator cap has been the culprit. Replacing the cap with a new one ( usually a Stant brand has solved the issue.) Always keep an eye on the overflow tank or level in the radiator and keep the level topped off and you should be fine. If you notice a sudden drop in the level you should further investigate for a leak.
The main thing to e\remember, contrary to what has been posted previously is that if your cooling system came from the manufacturer with an extended life coolant, you should stick with it and not change to ethylene glycol, because you risk damaging your engine. I've had 4 vehicles in the past decade that used Dexcool and I still continue to use it.