Dexcool contraversy

[Peter Solarik]

Hello guys from Canada.
Now, as you may have noticed the opinions on Dexcool differ.
I don't know now to whom I should listen.
To our experts:
Please, post here some official GM statement on this once you can get it. If GM is subjected to class action suits, it does not make a sense that they should be stuburnly stick to their line (?)
I have read some disturbing storries which point to the Dexcool as the culprit behind 'cloged engine cooling channels, etc, etc..
Any authorative adwice here ?
In my car, the sediment shows only under the filler cap. The 'red' coolant in the plastic bottle looks to me clean. I even stuck thru (bottle) a clean paint mixing wooden strip and only very little amount of that slimy 'sh..' showed up on the strip after I pulled it out..
Can somebody here settle this subject once and for all?

[Flatrater]

Peter you will never get GM to admit dexcool is bad for an engine or good for an engine. The GM lawyers will not allow this to happen. Matter of fact all the info that I could get years ago has been removed.

Now I do not feel dexcool is a problem in my personal opinion, I work around dexcool every day and see very few problems. The only car lines I have seen with what you can call a problem are the S/T trucks and the W body platform cars..

In the W body the stuff you see is more than likely a sealant that GM puts into the coolant system. Take that stuff and have it checked out I bet you would find out that it is ground up almond shells. The all alunium engines that GM build had this sealant installed to prevent minor coolant leaks.

The S and T trucks from my memory of when this stuff was printed was from the casting sand used to make the engine block.

As for a class action suit don't hold your breath. The most that will happen is GM and Texaco get a hand slap abd will issue coupons good towards a purchase of a new car.

[Peter Solarik]

Thank you Flatrater for your detailed report.
You have put my mind at ease. I will leave the Dexcool in.
I was concerned, because of the previous entries here that bashed the coolant really bad. I guess, to have some compromise, I will have the rad flushed every year and refill with fresh Dexcool (yes, Dexcool).
You know, I am 62 (looking 45) (;-) and want the car to serve me for few years. I love its comfort (so does my wife) and in spite waht one teenager here says, it has very good 'pick up'. No complain what ever, except the low life of the fron brakes rotors and pads.
I used to drive a Mercedes 300D and this Buick is just as comfortable as the Mec was.
Thanks again, Flatrater!

Originally Posted by Flatrater

Peter you will never get GM to admit dexcool is bad for an engine or good for an engine. The GM lawyers will not allow this to happen. Matter of fact all the info that I could get years ago has been removed.

Now I do not feel dexcool is a problem in my personal opinion, I work around dexcool every day and see very few problems. The only car lines I have seen with what you can call a problem are the S/T trucks and the W body platform cars..

In the W body the stuff you see is more than likely a sealant that GM puts into the coolant system. Take that stuff and have it checked out I bet you would find out that it is ground up almond shells. The all alunium engines that GM build had this sealant installed to prevent minor coolant leaks.

The S and T trucks from my memory of when this stuff was printed was from the casting sand used to make the engine block.

As for a class action suit don't hold your breath. The most that will happen is GM and Texaco get a hand slap abd will issue coupons good towards a purchase of a new car.

[public]

Thanks Flatrater. I was very curious that my 98 Century had a lot of this "Gel" and yet I just pulled the head off of my 89 Cavalier that has been using DexCool for 10 years. It was as clean as new. I never used any stop leak in it. Maybe the Century had some in it from the factory???? Oh well, I switched the 98 Century over to the green stuff and it has been fine since.

[spsnyder]

I have checked with radiator service centers and they have send that this Dexcool should be replaced around 40 to 50,000 miles. They said not to trust it to last 100,000 as GM has said. They also said that if you notice it to start turning brown that is the time to worry. Once it starts to turn brown then you have major problems. This is what I was told. I also have a 2002 blazer and that color is still good. We have over 50,000 miles on it.

[popeye1]

My wife has a 2002 century with 28000 miles. I have a 2003 LaSabre with 15000 miles on it. After listening to the Car Doctor on the radio out of N. J. bad mouth Dexcool I had the green stuff put in my wifes car at 20000 miles. I will have the green stuff put in my LaSabre when its two years old like the Century was. If I remember right the C/Doc said D/C will cause problems if run too hot. We live in the midsouth where it gets pretty hot and its pretty hilly around here so Im just trying to play it safe.

[public]

You should be okay with this plan. My 94 and 98 have been on the green stuff for about two years now here in Fla with no problems. Funny thing as mentioned before. The only car I have that never developed a problem with DexCool is my 89 Cavi, still has DexCool in it. I change it over at the next scheduled service.