how does DEX-COOL look towards the end of it's life?

[bubble.tea]

hahah that's a funny emoticon...I should really try and pic that slewwwwDgggge.

I put this here because I figured it's a general question about DEX-COOL with Buick's...if you dont' agree...congratulations

'99 REGAL 114,000 KMs.

I am about to get this baby flushed...as I bought this vehicle in November...and am not sure if the original fluid has ever been changed.

My engine is running fine, oil/transmission levels good., no over-heating....my only concern is that the first time (Last week) I looked at the coolant reservoir tank...coating the entire tank was a...

brownish/orangish/dirty grimy/oily globby substance.

WHUT THE HECK IS THAT???

I tested the (hydrometer) fluid and it's fine...The clarity is also not bad. This is the fluid in the Radiator. Fairly clear still with some cloudiness...SOME. However the fluid that is in the reservoir seems like there's a thick film sitting on the top of it?

FIRSTLY, I don't know that much about vehicles. secondly, if this is the original fluid...DOES DEX-COOL break down and look like this normally?

I've heard that maybe it's indicative of blown gasket(s)? but then again., like I said I have no other problems/issues with the car...then again I don't even know what's are signs of a blown gasket.

Having mentioned this...would I be better to get a mechanized flush...or would a driveway (gravity) flush be sufficient. keep in mind., I may not be able to splice and dice my way to hooking up the garden hose... I don't know which hose is the heater hose etc etc.

ideas please.

oh yes, and LASTLY, DEX-COOL is the SAME OR DIFFERENT, if bought from such places as Canadian Tire (Pennzoil/Motomaster) or the ones that Buick will actually use at their garages?

~$15/4L jug I think.

Canadian Tire'll charge $88 for a DEX-COOL flushing...so I figure may as well...considering the uncertainties, better safe than sorry...I guess I'll do it with them...then next time I'll know the standards...and do it myself huh?

Thanks for your time.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by bubble.tea

hahah that's a funny emoticon...I should really try and pic that slewwwwDgggge.

I put this here because I figured it's a general question about DEX-COOL with Buick's...if you dont' agree...congratulations

'99 REGAL 114,000 KMs.

I am about to get this baby flushed...as I bought this vehicle in November...and am not sure if the original fluid has ever been changed.

My engine is running fine, oil/transmission levels good., no over-heating....my only concern is that the first time (Last week) I looked at the coolant reservoir tank...coating the entire tank was a...

brownish/orangish/dirty grimy/oily globby substance.

WHUT THE HECK IS THAT???

I tested the (hydrometer) fluid and it's fine...The clarity is also not bad. This is the fluid in the Radiator. Fairly clear still with some cloudiness...SOME. However the fluid that is in the reservoir seems like there's a thick film sitting on the top of it?

FIRSTLY, I don't know that much about vehicles. secondly, if this is the original fluid...DOES DEX-COOL break down and look like this normally?

I've heard that maybe it's indicative of blown gasket(s)? but then again., like I said I have no other problems/issues with the car...then again I don't even know what's are signs of a blown gasket.

Having mentioned this...would I be better to get a mechanized flush...or would a driveway (gravity) flush be sufficient. keep in mind., I may not be able to splice and dice my way to hooking up the garden hose... I don't know which hose is the heater hose etc etc.

ideas please.

oh yes, and LASTLY, DEX-COOL is the SAME OR DIFFERENT, if bought from such places as Canadian Tire (Pennzoil/Motomaster) or the ones that Buick will actually use at their garages?

~$15/4L jug I think.

Canadian Tire'll charge $88 for a DEX-COOL flushing...so I figure may as well...considering the uncertainties, better safe than sorry...I guess I'll do it with them...then next time I'll know the standards...and do it myself huh?

Thanks for your time.

If your engine is running fine and not overheating I wouldn't worry about
it. I had the cooling system flushed and re-filled with Dex-Cool on my '99 Regal LS (98K miles) about a year ago when I saw the same brownish film in the reservoir coolant tank. I believe what you are seeing is the effects of the Dex-Cool breaking down over a period of time and the exposure to air. From what I understand Dex-Cool and air do not get along. Plus the coolant reservoir is not sealed or airtight.

As long as there are no other problems, like the sludge (looks like mud)being present in the radiator, etc., I remove the reservoir once a year and clean it out with a tool that looks like a baby bottle brush. Re-install it and add a 50/50 mix of Dex-Cool and purified water.

After you get the flush, it is important to make sure any possible air is bled-out or removed from the cooling system. Someone of the forum posted a procedure to do or verify this. Good luck!

[bubble.tea]

Originally Posted by bnaylor3400

If your engine is running fine and not overheating I wouldn't worry about it.............. Good luck!

Thanks it's always reassuring to know someone else is in the same boat.

2 aside points.

1)How in God's name doyou remove that cup that holds the bottom of the reservoir tank off? I keep spinning it and can't do anything. Plus what's bolting it on...seems like a circular head so there's no nuts? am I missing something?

2)I noticed today under the hood that right by the driver side is a drum that says A/C something or other I had concluded back in mid-winter that this car DIDN'T have A/C because I didn't see any such button on the climate console? Now that I see that I am wondering? Is it not blatantly labeled as in E V E R Y O T H E R car that I've sat in-but does in fact exist? What's the deaL?

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by bubble.tea

Thanks it's always reassuring to know someone else is in the same boat.

2 aside points.

1)How in God's name doyou remove that cup that holds the bottom of the reservoir tank off? I keep spinning it and can't do anything. Plus what's bolting it on...seems like a circular head so there's no nuts? am I missing something?

2)I noticed today under the hood that right by the driver side is a drum that says A/C something or other I had concluded back in mid-winter that this car DIDN'T have A/C because I didn't see any such button on the climate console? Now that I see that I am wondering? Is it not blatantly labeled as in E V E R Y O T H E R car that I've sat in-but does in fact exist? What's the deaL?

On removing reservoir, just remove the two 10mm nuts on the top and then pull up on the reservoir. The bottom just clips into place onto that circular head bolt. Then undo the small hose. You may have to undo the cross-over bar because it may block removal.

On the A/C, I'm not sure about Canadian GM product options.

[bubble.tea]

Originally Posted by bnaylor3400

On removing reservoir, just remove the two 10mm nuts on the top and then pull up on the reservoir. The bottom just clips into place onto that circular head bolt. Then undo the small hose. You may have to undo the cross-over bar because it may block removal.

On the A/C, I'm not sure about Canadian GM product options.

1)Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh that's clever...that way you only have to worry about 2 nuts/screws...cool

2)So you think the labelling and the tank? is standard in all vehicles...whether they have A/C actually hooked up? That can't be-can it?

[xoros]

Originally Posted by bubble.tea

2)I noticed today under the hood that right by the driver side is a drum that says A/C something or other I had concluded back in mid-winter that this car DIDN'T have A/C because I didn't see any such button on the climate console?

There are no buttons on the climate control that specifically say A/C.... the buttons that say MAX, NORM and Bi-Level if you have them. If you don't have it on the controls, you most likely don't have A/C..... think of it: there is no reason why they would waste money and put the whole A/C system in and not have it on the control module. Unless someone replaced the control module without the a/c buttons, but I doubt it.

[bubble.tea]

yeah thanks. I got the skinny from the guy at Buick. Even he shrugged when I said...why the heck the guys at GM didn't bother to properly label the A/C areas of the climate control knob...hehehe

[MCO_Death]

Originally Posted by bubble.tea

'99 REGAL 114,000 KMs.

I am about to get this baby flushed...as I bought this vehicle in November...and am not sure if the original fluid has ever been changed.

My engine is running fine, oil/transmission levels good., no over-heating....my only concern is that the first time (Last week) I looked at the coolant reservoir tank...coating the entire tank was a...

brownish/orangish/dirty grimy/oily globby substance.

WHUT THE HECK IS THAT???

I tested the (hydrometer) fluid and it's fine...The clarity is also not bad. This is the fluid in the Radiator. Fairly clear still with some cloudiness...SOME. However the fluid that is in the reservoir seems like there's a thick film sitting on the top of it?

FIRSTLY, I don't know that much about vehicles. secondly, if this is the original fluid...DOES DEX-COOL break down and look like this normally?

I've heard that maybe it's indicative of blown gasket(s)? but then again., like I said I have no other problems/issues with the car...then again I don't even know what's are signs of a blown gasket.

Having mentioned this...would I be better to get a mechanized flush...or would a driveway (gravity) flush be sufficient. keep in mind., I may not be able to splice and dice my way to hooking up the garden hose... I don't know which hose is the heater hose etc etc.

ideas please.

oh yes, and LASTLY, DEX-COOL is the SAME OR DIFFERENT, if bought from such places as Canadian Tire (Pennzoil/Motomaster) or the ones that Buick will actually use at their garages?

~$15/4L jug I think.

Canadian Tire'll charge $88 for a DEX-COOL flushing...so I figure may as well...considering the uncertainties, better safe than sorry...I guess I'll do it with them...then next time I'll know the standards...and do it myself huh?

Thanks for your time.

Dex-Cool is orange new, if its sludging, its time for a flush definitly. Be sure never to mix Dex-Cool with any of the green stuff if you value your engine, but you can switch over to the green stuff if flushed properly.

And in case you didn't know, there is a pending lawsuit against GM concerning Dex-Cool.

http://www.cwcd.com/CM/MassTorts/MassTorts5.asp