Do you need dex-cool II in car ??

[lakefly]

I just replaced my head gasket and water pump in my 96 cav 2.2. It now runs in the red. I didnt have dex II so i put regular antifreeze in. Do i need to flush the system or replace with dex II and rebleed ???

[mike2004tct]

Originally Posted by lakefly

I just replaced my head gasket and water pump in my 96 cav 2.2. It now runs in the red. I didnt have dex II so i put regular antifreeze in. Do i need to flush the system or replace with dex II and rebleed ???

I'd say no, it shouldn't be a problem.
A year or so ago, I posted a thread over in the Blazer forum about DexCool, and how Texaco-Havoline says it's OK to mix the DC-II with Green stuff. I know I didn't get ALL of the Dexcool out of the system when I replaced the water pump in my daughter's car.

Personally, I'd prefer to drain the whole system, then refill with new Anti Freeze. I'd have to say the reason you're running in the red is because you have air in the cooling system. All you need to do is run the engine to operating temp, shut the engine off, open the bleeder screw slowly until you hear air escape, when coolant rund out constantly, close the bleeder. It usually takes two attemps minimum to bleed the system.