From Pink to Green

[Evsman]

I have a '99 Chev K-1500 with 95,000miles. Today I am having the Dex-Cool coolant flushed out and reinstalling plain old green ethylene glycol. I don't like that dex cool stuff.
Anyone else ever do this? Or am I just crazy?

[Johnieburban]

Im not 100% sure but if im not mistaking the dex-cool is better for the newer engines due to more aluminuim "dont quote me" and plastic on the newer models ...i would call your local mech., or try calling the dealer, then agian i think maybe the dex-cool was more enviro friendly compared to the green...to be honest before switching over i would consider calling gm

[Evsman]

I'm not too concerned about electolysis from aluminum or other alloys. With the proper P.H. and Nitrate levels, the green is as good or better than the pink.

Kind of makes a person wonder though, that since the introduction of the extended life, intake gaskets have suffered. Probably just coincidental to the design of the Vortech intake versus the older throttle body and carb. intakes.
Seems intake gasket problems are across the board on every G.M. that uses the pink. From the 3.1 v-6 to the 5.7 v-8

[LastOne]

I did this and have no problems in 30K miles since I did my intake manifold.
I have learned from owning a Honda motorcycle you should use Silicate Free coolant. This will make the water pump last longer. I would suggest either Havoline or Peak Global. It will say on the label silicate free. You did the right thing getting Death Cool out of you truck

[abaird]

Originally Posted by Evsman

I'm not too concerned about electolysis from aluminum or other alloys. With the proper P.H. and Nitrate levels, the green is as good or better than the pink.

Kind of makes a person wonder though, that since the introduction of the extended life, intake gaskets have suffered. Probably just coincidental to the design of the Vortech intake versus the older throttle body and carb. intakes.
Seems intake gasket problems are across the board on every G.M. that uses the pink. From the 3.1 v-6 to the 5.7 v-8

If you are flushing the cooling system, you can switch to the green stuff without any problems. All antifreeze becomes acidic over time and this is what causes electrolisis to occur. I like the dex cool myself. I have 126k on my truck and am the second owner and I don't know if it has ever been changed.(I am planning on flushing it soon, but will replace with dex cool) We looked at some of the faulty GM intake gaskets in class the other day and they are a plastic like material that just cracks. A lot of it is due to the plastic just becoming brittle. The antifreeze becoming acidic may speed up this process, I don't know. The moral of my ramble is that no matter what antifreeze you use, maintainance is very important.

[Evsman]

Originally Posted by abaird

If you are flushing the cooling system, you can switch to the green stuff without any problems. All antifreeze becomes acidic over time and this is what causes electrolisis to occur. I like the dex cool myself. I have 126k on my truck and am the second owner and I don't know if it has ever been changed.(I am planning on flushing it soon, but will replace with dex cool) We looked at some of the faulty GM intake gaskets in class the other day and they are a plastic like material that just cracks. A lot of it is due to the plastic just becoming brittle. The antifreeze becoming acidic may speed up this process, I don't know. The moral of my ramble is that no matter what antifreeze you use, maintainance is very important.

I would have to agree with you. I just wonder if maybe the dex cool does not last as long as they claim and maybe it should be changed more often. Perhaps this could be a reason for other problems. Dex cool becomes acidic at say 60,000miles, but owner doesn't change it until 100,000 and meanwhile the last 30,000 to 40,000 miles. It has slowly eroded away at the internal components of the coolant system. Of course this is mearly speculation. Just a theory. For me switching to the old formula and mantaining it as so is just an easier safer practice. I have a fleet of equipment that all uses the old stuff and a program to match. Less types of coolant to stock.