Dex-cool/ class action

[gunjes]

Today I found this web site that is proposing a class action law suit against G.M. for the problems that "dex-cool" has caused. Here is the web site, http://www.girardgibbs.com/dexcool.html, Time to fight back for all the problems that we have faced and are currently facing with our vans. Hope this helps

['97ventureowner]

This is just one law firm of many that I have found on the internet attempting to "collect" info from owners of GM vehicles who use Dex Cool antifreeze. I have done quite of bit of research into this matter and also have been reading some of the postings in other GM forums concerning this. Below I have copied and pasted a post I made yesterday in the Impala forum : "Okay... Let me start by saying I have been doing a lot of research lately into this mess concerning Dex Cool. I have a '97 Venture that needed the intake gaskets replaced at around 62-63,000 miles. I've been thinking about replacing the Dex with the old ethylene glycol based antifreeze. This morning I called a local radiator shop that has been in our area over 75 years and is well respected. I wanted to get his opinion on the matter. He told me that he is working with some people concerning the class action suit, and couldn't comment much at this time, but he was able to tell me that he believes the problem with the gaskets is not really related to the antifreeze but rather poor design of the engine and poor choice of materials that went into the gaskets themselves. I asked him about switching over and he said you could, but what he really reccomended was keeping the Dex in the engine and replacing it every year. He said if the lawsuit comes out and the consumer wins big, you have a better chance of a claim if you still have the Dex in. He said the main focus of the lawsuit is the sticker GM put in the engine compartment stating the Dex was good for 5 years 150,000 miles, which is wrong. They made the mistake of putting that there, when it was found that Dex really doesn't last as long and should be replaced more frequently than is stated. He also said the Dex can break down sooner than the ethylene glycol based green antifreeze, warranting the yearly change. I plan on continuing the research and post anything else I can find. He also stated that he wouldn't put DexCool in a vehicle that did not come with it as the engine and components need certain ingredients in the green stuff that the Dex doesn't have, one of them being silica." There was a post after mine which backed up some of the items I mentioned in my post. The member stated at the end of his post that Chevy at least no longer puts the 5/150,000 sticker on later model vehicles. So we should be changing our Dex Cool much earlier than originally reccomended by GM.

[gunjes]

WEll, venture owner97 if the coolant isn't to blam then why would it be better to have it in? Oh and by the way I copied this from G.M. customerFAQ list":Is it true that the engine coolant in my Venture does not have to be changed for 150,000 miles (240 000 km)?


It's true. The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with DEX-COOL engine coolant. The coolant is designed to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add only DEX-COOL extended life coolant. "

So your "expert" is a radiator shop guy that is not at liberty to say. What ever!

[gunjes]

I received a e-mail from the law firm in my hyper link requesting more info, ie repair costs and dates . Anyone else receive this e-mail?

[broughy84]

They called me at home yesterday!

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by gunjes

WEll, venture owner97 if the coolant isn't to blam then why would it be better to have it in? Oh and by the way I copied this from G.M. customerFAQ list":Is it true that the engine coolant in my Venture does not have to be changed for 150,000 miles (240 000 km)?


It's true. The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with DEX-COOL engine coolant. The coolant is designed to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add only DEX-COOL extended life coolant. "

So your "expert" is a radiator shop guy that is not at liberty to say. What ever!

The main issue with the class action suit centers around the claim that Dex Cool was good for 5/150K, which now we are seeing is not the case. Newer GM vehicles are not displaying the old stickers in the engine compartment that the older vehicles had stating that fact. GM needs to hurry up and revise that answer to the "customer FAQ". There have been reported problems with some owners getting a crappy radiator flush, or attempting to do it themselves and not getting all of the Dex Cool out, and then putting the green ethylene glycol in. Major problems have then occured as the 2 don't mix. That is why it is advisable to keep the Dex in and change it much more frequently.The additives in the 2 antifreezes are different from each others and the materials that are being used in the newer GM engines are better suited to the Dex. Putting the green antifreeze in, instead will work but you are not getting the full benefit of protection to the engine parts as you would if you used the Dex. I have stated in other posts in other forums that it is not reccomended to put Dex Cool in an engine that did not come with it originally, because these engines need the protection afforded by the ethylene glycol based antifreeze. The reason why one radiator shop owner couldn't comment much is that he is working with one of the law firms looking into a class action suit and has been asked not to comment as to the detail until further investigation has been completed. He did say that he reccomended keeping the Dex in because if the consumer wins the suit they have a better chance of getting damages awarded with the Dex still in, rather than the green stuff, because it could be said that changing the antifreeze to the green one caused further damage to the engine and would not be covered. Most of the opinions I received during my research have said it is better to keep the Dex in and change it on a more frequent basis due to it's shorter life span than previously suggested.