dexcool and stop leak

[berniescout]

yep 97 blazer again!!!! I have a very small antifreeze leak from passenger side of radiator. looks like it is near the lower transmission cooling line. i know a mechanical repair is always the best but has anyone had any experience with radiator stop leak and prestone version of dexcool?? in june had the intake manifold gasket replaced complete flush ,new hoses and thrmostat. july new water pump now a very small leak. no lowering of overflow reservoir as of yet. i have used various stop leaks with green antifreeze but never with orange. getting close to 100k miles. any thoughts ?????

[BlackBlazOn]

Hi. Can't help you too much with the root of your problem, but when you figure out what you have to replace, have it converted to green coolant at the same time. dex cool is the worst. if you convert it though, make sure you take it to a dependable place that will spend time flushing and cleaning the system out before filling up with the green.

[comp]

Originally Posted by BlackBlazOn

Hi. Can't help you too much with the root of your problem, but when you figure out what you have to replace, have it converted to green coolant at the same time. dex cool is the worst. if you convert it though, make sure you take it to a dependable place that will spend time flushing and cleaning the system out before filling up with the green.

I agree if you change flush it GOOD,,, i have used epoxy on a lot of patch repair's

[TonyMazz]

I don't know why you people keep saying Dexcool is the worst...that's bunk...generally speaking the people that have not maintained their systems, allow air into the radiator has had problems.....as long as you keep your 'puke' tank reservoir appropriately filled with the dexcool/ water solution as the suggested...you will not have any problem.

When you mix different anti freezes you will have problems....I doubt very seriously that folks at GM would put crap into all of their cars/trucks if it's junk....think about ........and after 100K geez that's pretty good service for an anti freeze don't you think ?

If you mechanically fix the leak, fitting etc and refill with what ever your heart desires......after an extensive flush anyway you should be good to go....

[rlith]

Originally Posted by TonyMazz

I don't know why you people keep saying Dexcool is the worst...that's bunk...generally speaking the people that have not maintained their systems, allow air into the radiator has had problems.....as long as you keep your 'puke' tank reservoir appropriately filled with the dexcool/ water solution as the suggested...you will not have any problem.

When you mix different anti freezes you will have problems....I doubt very seriously that folks at GM would put crap into all of their cars/trucks if it's junk....think about ........and after 100K geez that's pretty good service for an anti freeze don't you think ?

If you mechanically fix the leak, fitting etc and refill with what ever your heart desires......after an extensive flush anyway you should be good to go....

I've seen many properly maintained cars get gelled up with dexcool. Plenty of professional mechanics I know have also seen it. There is a class action suit against GM because of dexcool. Let's face it, the average person (non mech types like us) Just get an oil change done and let it be topped off at where ever they go. They don't understand about possible breakdowns of dexcool. Several personal friends of mine go in and buy new cars and before they sign on the dotted line they have made sure that the dealership has flushed the dexcrap and put good old green stuff in. 2 of our dealers here in Pittsburgh also flush all systems the moment the cars come off the carriers because they got tired of the problems associated with it.

[Alexxn 00 Si]

There is NOTHING wrong with Dexcool in a properly maintained system...most of the problems were with the older Dex coolant and/or the radiator cap with air getting into the system....see below...

http://www.imcool.com/articles/antif...l-macs2001.htm

Care to add to this BlazerLT ?

[TonyMazz]

I know I have seen both information and mis-information on DexCool....

We could debate the benefits of the OAT technology (Organic Acid Technology) Havoline/Texaco puts in their Dexcool, which is similar to Prestones Extended Life 5/150 antifreeze.....

But I think the true mis-nomer is that GM probably made a mistake and said that we can go 5 years without any mainteance....that's a marketing deal, and think it's too long.....

I believe that we should flush out systems every 36 months regardless and I refill with DexCool.....replace the cap and volia back in business....

..I still suggest we need to also go under our hood more often....just like in bulletin #99-0560020012D says..."Vehicles equipped with DexCool coolant, which may have been operated for extended periods of time with a low coolant level, usually in excess of 20K miles may be susceptible to the formation of a rust like material in the cooling system....

Why does that happen ...?? because we read the manual and it says we have to do nothing but change the oil for 100K miles...Bull....

Flush early , flush often...recharge it, and keep it full and you will run alonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggg time...

[berniescout]

sorry i opened a can of deathcool (poor joke) my question was has anybody had any experience with any of the stop leaks and prestone dexcool???? my system has been maintained new cap all the rest i mentioned the system is clean as a whistle just a drip once in awhile near the lower tranny line not sure if it is coupling or a pin hole until i get in there and see i would like to as stop leak but which one????

[mike2004tct]

Check this out, It's the Havoline web site. The .pdf file states DEXCOOL is compatible with water pump seal products. (Stop-leak junk)
It also says DEXCOOL is compatible with other anti-freeze solutions, although you lower DEXCOOL properties my mixing with other products.

It's interesting to note that DEXCOOL was intended for modern engines,meaning the more aluminum content in today's engines compared to all steel of later day engines where the good-old green stuff was acceptable.

I use DEXCOOL in my '97, I changed it at the 5 year point. I've yet to have any problems with it. I've yet to spring a leak anywhere, but it seems Havoline has no problem with stop leak products.
Good luck,
Mike

http://library.cbest.chevron.com/lubes/compprd9.nsf/c88c682625e06af6882568db00737ce8/62d62399027efb5288256c6100615dc6/$FILE/COOL-50.pdf

[barpat96]

regarding keeping your resivoir tank full, I checked mine reguarly (since the manuel told me to check the tank) and it was always full. When I started to run hot, I opened the radiator cap and it was bone dry. The Dex-Crap had stopped up the hose to the tank. This was well before the 5 year, 150,000 mile maitenance free mark that the manuel had stated. I use the Dex-Cool by prestone now and I haven't had any problems. When GM first started putting this in their vehicles, It still was in the experimental stages (like Vioxx) they didn't really know the longterm effects it would have. I read where GM now advises 75,000 miles instead of 150,000. It might have something to do with the lawsuits which I am keeping track of.

[BlazerLT]

There is nothing wrong with Dexcool.

The problem is not the coolant, but the poor rad caps GM put on the vehicles and still do today.

Air getting into a dexcool equipped system causes a acidic reaction which causes it to eat heater cores etc....

Also, a lot of people just don't maintain there cooling system properly and don't do the proper flushing and refilling at the proper intervals.

Anyhoo, a leaking radiator should be fixed with a new rad. Using stop leak will expose the whole cooling system to an additive which could plug the small cooling passage way in the heads and the cylinder walls.

Avoid at all costs and install a new rad.

Rads have failed for decades using dexcool or standard coolant.

[troubles789]

May I suggest www.radiatorbarn.com I have bought 3 rads now. Great service and lifetime warranty. If you buy from them over the net and use CC they knock another $5 off and shipping is FREE. I saved between $50-$100 per rad, Compared to napa and advanced auto prices. Received my rads in 2 days too. gl

[smt]

It has been suggested elsewhere that "topping off" your old broken-in Dexcrap with new out-of-the-jug stuff, is what makes it gel. (or whatever it does.)
Since it DOES break down, just like the old green, the only solution is inspect it often and schedule flush (w/cleaner) and fill at 75,000 or two years. (wcf)
Note that the engine block and heater core must be flushed and completely drained or it will contaminate the new anti-freeze.
I know it defeats the purpose of a "long-life" product, but it beats having to replace major parts.
All product sources that I have researched say that sealants, lubricants and differing brands of coolant are compatible. This (http://www.imcool.com/articles/antif...l-macs2001.htm) is the best article I have found concerning Dexcool.

[DistortionX]

Hello im new here and just wanted to comment on the dex-cool stop leak.

First, i wouldn't reccomend any thing you have to put INTO the radiatior, from my experiances they all tend to clump and clog the fins and small tubing. I would reccomend, if you dont have the time or money to replace the leaking component, try a little J/B Weld if its in an easily accessable spot.

Now for the dex-cool...*oy* ...i have read MANY complaints about dex-cool, (the orange colored anti-freeze) clumping up, hardening to almost a rock, clogging heater cores, water pumps, etc. I will post a site where i recently read this and you can make your own judgements from them. Hope this helps. ^^,


http://www.geocities.com/b_gillie/dexcool_problems
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...m_dexcool.html

[BlazerLT]

http://www.imcool.com/articles/antif...l-macs2001.htm

Not the coolant's fault, it is the faulty of GM and their crappy rad caps.