G.M. coolant question?

Question

Has anyone heard of the negative effects of G.M.'s "orange" coolant? Some techs I spoke with said change it back to the green.

Answer 1

Dex-cool has caused problems. Flush and replace with new antifreeze.

Answer 2

Dex-Cool does not in any way harm your gaskets. And it is a great coolant. But you have to make sure the system never goes low. For some reason if the Dex-Cool system gets low the radiator will do what is called flash rust. The part of the coolant system not getting wet will rust and then when touched by the coolant it will wash off and go into the coolant system. Over time this will cause a gel like build up. If you make sure your radiator cap is good get it pressured tested often. And the system is always full you will not have a problem. The people that say it is junk just didn't keep the system full. Now however I think that GM should have been aware of this and alert Gm owners that they need to keep special attention to the coolant level. With the old green coolant it didn't really do anything if it got low. But with Dex-Cool I can tell you if you let it get low on a constant basis it will gel up and cause problems.

Answer 3

There have been some problems reported with Dex-Cool. I would not go back to green which is really not up to speed for late models. While any coolant will work, I suggest that you switch to another long life product. No matter what you do, you should drain, flush and refill using the correct mixture. Anything more than a 50-50 blend will cause problems.

Answer 4

There is no real problem with the new coolant. Most mechanics don't like it because of what happens when it gets low. The real problem is that car owners read that it will last 5 years and think that they should never have to worry about it. If they, or their mechanic doesn't check it often enough, it gets low and causes bad things to happen to engines. Someone has to take the blame. The customer can't, the mechanic won't. so that leaves the Dex Cool.

Answer 5

The problem is not the coolant it's the bad design in gaskets!!in my opinion, these new gaskets (let's make the out of plastic its cheaper) cant take the every day stress we put our engine through, if you look at what engine are having problems it's all of gm's they cant last 100,000 miles if you smell coolant then you have leak plus how many people have had a bad heater connector go bad on them (gm 350-305) if you think its the coolant try the new universals??

Answer 6

I've heard it causes problems with head gaskets, eating away at the gaskets in the 96-01 vehicles, I had a 99 Jimmy with a 4.3 and it caused a gasket failure in the water pump, you have to completely flush the system, then switch back to the green stuff, it wont last as long as the DEXCOOL (orange stuff) but it will work fine.

Answer 7

"some techs" some techs aren't techs at all but halfas
sed mechanics. engineers design mechanics replace parts
and just how do these fools think coolant caused their problems???? oh, because a gasket failed??? they have been failing for over 100 years. i think the closest most of these people have been to a car engine is the lasest issue of hot rod...duh! listen to your manufacturer, they're engineers are the designers not some mechanic...

Answer 8

You just don't want to mix the two. Our new fire truck came with it and we have not had any problems. I know it is about twice the price. If you have a new vehicle and it came with then use it.

Answer 9

From expierience i have to agree with adam f on this one. (the first post)

Answer 10

change it to green. its crap and it doesnt have antirust inhibitors in it