DEX-COOL ..coolant question?

Question

I just recently bought a used 99 grand am, when I decided to check the fluids I notice the coolant was low and since I did not know which one to put and after reading the manual I thought Dex-cool was the green one and I end up getting 50/50 something, but it was green. After doing some research on the internet I found out the Dex-cool is actually the orange, but I also found out it damages your car and I guess there's a lawsuit pending, to make matters worse my car is starting to overheat (keep in mind I live in Arizona), so I don't know if I should continue using the green or switch to the orange. It doesn't overheat too bad.....Yet.

Answer 1

Neither one will have any affect on overheating. The difference between all of the coolants has nothing to do with temperature protection, it has to do with which additives and chemicals the various manufacturers consider most beneficial. This is a very hot topic within the automotive industry, but the fact of the matter is nothing bad will happen if you mix coolant types, the preeminent experts in the field explain that you will just get the lowest qualities of any coolant in the system. The use of Dexcool is definitely a polarizing topic, but I think that the majority of technicians, even GM ones, believe that it is not the best one to have in your car. It does have extended life in comparison to some others, but at the expense of more gunky, sludgy buildup, and it takes time for this coolant to start it's protection, unlike phosphates and silicates, which work much quicker. I am not a chemical engineer so I don't really know all of the answers, but from what I read in my technical journals, and there are at least a couple of coolant articles every year in each of them, most of them say to get rid of Dex, and there's nothing wrong with green, and the differences aren't as great on performance of the cooling system as some of the automakers would like us to believe. I recommend using ethylene glycol (the green stuff) for several reasons. It is typically the easiest to find and cheapest to buy, which I believe is a great help, especially when away from home and buying some to top off the system. Every facility in the world will have it, and you can buy it at any convenience store. It still has the largest acceptance level of professional technicians, and there really isn't any evidence, that I know of, that shows it's inferior to any of the others, in any way. I know quite a few GM guys who have bought a brand new GM and then immediately changed the coolant from Dex to green. Now, as far as the overheating problem, you need to get the vehicle to a professional auto repair facility, because this problem has absolutely nothing to do with the coolant type in your car. Your problem is a restriction to flow (this would include a thermostat that is stuck closed, as well as any sealant or buildup in any component), a leak in the system, a blown head gasket, a faulty temperature gauge or engine coolant temperature sensor or powertrain control module, a lack of flow from a damaged waterpump that does not move coolant through the system, a faulty electronic cooling fan motor, faulty cooling fan motor relay, or an open or short circuit in the wiring to and from the ECT, PCM, cooling fan and relay. I presented this extensive list so that you can understand the number of possibilities and why it needs to go to a professional. Hope that this helps since information is your best friend. Also, please check ASE.com to find a Blue Seal rated facility, which is an elite certification that belongs to only 3-4% of shops in the nation as well as carcare.org, which is a consumer organization not affiliated with any automaker or repair facility that gives you very detailed information about maintenance and repair as well as service intervals and why it should all be done.

Answer 2

I suggest Flushing your coolant system and then adding Dex Cool (orange) back into it. You can buy a flush kit at the autoparts store for cheap or you can pay someone over a 100$ to do this for you. My 1995 chevy silverado had green coolant and I switched to Dex Cool oarnge but only after flushing the old radiator fluid green first. Dex Cool is supposed to last longer but the real secret is to not run your radiator with tap water use Dex Cool 50% and then add 50% distilled water.
Hopefully you dont have any leaks, but most important keep that radiator full with something because if your car overheats your whole engine is done.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
DEX-COOL ..coolant question?
I just recently bought a used 99 grand am, when I decided to check the fluids I notice the coolant was low and since I did not know which one to put and after reading the manual I thought Dex-cool was the green one and I end up getting 50/50 something, but it was green. After doing some research on...

Answer 4

1) MIXING THE COOLANTS WILL NOT "GEL OR MAKE BROWN MILK" IN THE SYSTEM. AT WORST IT MAKES YOUR LONG LIFE COOLANT INTO A STANDARD LIFE COOLANT.IE:CHANGE EVERY 2 YEARS.
2) ANY AND ALL "GUMMING,GUNKING,BROWN GELLING" IS CAUSED BY AIR INTRUSION INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM.AS IN A PREVIOUS LEAK OR A CURRENT ONE.
3)DEX-COOL HAS A HIGH ACID CONTENT THAT CAN AND WILL SOFTEN "PLASTIC GASKETS" LIKE GM USES FOR INTAKE MANIFOLDS.
Now that aside,get the cooling system checked.Not only for leaks but performance of thermostat,electric cooling fans,radiator flow and waterpump operation.Should also get a hydro-carbon check at the same time,to rule out any head problems(see air intrusion in above paragraph).If all this is OK then go ahead and get the coolant flushed wether you use green,gold or orange it's up to you all these coolants will work fine but using the recommended DEX-COOL is the best choice.All the above info can be found in Motor Age mag.

Answer 5

You just shouldn't mix the two together (at least that's what I've heard)

Dex-cool doesn't hurt the engine..I've been using Dex-cool in one vehicle for almost 10-years now with no problems. If you do regular maintainence including periodic flushing & changing of the coolant, it's fine.

Answer 6

First you should look into having your car pressure checked or further diagnosed to find out why the vehicle is overheating. Then fix the leak and/or overheating problem. Then have entire cooling system flushed with universal coolant/ and water. This usually takes out all of the dex-cool.sediments built up in engine.

Answer 7

Oh my god!!! Please do not listen to Mtech. Mixing the dex-cool and green coolant together will cause it to form a gel in your cooling system thus causing it to overheat. All General Motors vehicles are designed to use the Dex-Cool coolant. GM has a patent on that. Please, if you think you mixed these two coolants, please have your cooling system flushed immediately and have it filled with the proper amount of Dex- cool coolant. It is what was in the vehicle when it was brand new.

Answer 8

You are going to ruin your car if you keep driving it like that if you haven't already. When you mix the 2 coolants it turns it into a gel. Which in turn stops your car from cooling down. That is why you are over heating. You better have that car towed to a shop so they can flush the system. It may be a major problem already. Good luck.

Answer 9

How do I add coolant to a dexcool engine

Answer 10

I agree with mtech and axel.I mixed green with dex because at the time I needed it.Was told it would damage the system but it didn't.Your problem is somewhere else.