Dex Cool

[95escahoe]

When Dex Cool came out many people didn't follow the guidelines on how often to replace it and had issue or mixed it and GM reformulated it at one point too, if you don't mix it with any other coolant and do a coolant change when you should is it ok to keep using it? Or are you better off switching to green coolant? (Which can be bad too if you don't get all the Dex Cool out) had my truck for 5 months now had Dex Cool did a flush and refill and have had no problems


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bottomline2000]

I'm running Dexcool with no issues with clumps or leaks. I was diehard green stuff at one time but switched to Dex with motor swap...level hasn't changed in a year and still clean looking..I'll change it every 2yrs more than likely since TX summers are pretty hot.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[Larryjb]

When I had my 3.8L Buick, I researched Dexcool and found that one of its defining ingredients (the organic buffer) is found in almost all green coolants anyway. The biggest problem with the 3.8L was that the coolant port allowed coolant to come in contact with a nylon framed intake gasket. If oxygen mixed with the coolant due to low coolant, the oxygen oxidized the glycols and buffers, creating strong acids in the coolant. These acids, combined with heat from the engine, eroded the nylon gasket, causing the intake gasket failure. The GM 5.7 and 5.3 L engines didn't seem to have this problem to the same degree.

My advice would be to check the coolant regularly with pH paper. If the paper turn blue, change the coolant. Because most "green" coolants also contain the same organic buffers, I wouldn't bother with them. Correct me if I'm wrong, but coolant doesn't go through the 5.3L intake manifold gasket, so this gasket won't fail because of Dexcool.

If it really bothers you, I'd change the coolant to Zerex G05. Just make sure you flush the old coolant out really well.

Larry

 

[95escahoe]

Thanks for the input got the truck with 155k at 160k now it's a 6.0 Vortec, runs and drives mint, had the Dex Cool in it so figured if it made it this long, had no leaks, cooling issues etc. would be best to just keep using it and replace it per guidelines or needed with that paper method


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bottomline2000]

When I had my 3.8L Buick, I researched Dexcool and found that one of its defining ingredients (the organic buffer) is found in almost all green coolants anyway. The biggest problem with the 3.8L was that the coolant port allowed coolant to come in contact with a nylon framed intake gasket. If oxygen mixed with the coolant due to low coolant, the oxygen oxidized the glycols and buffers, creating strong acids in the coolant. These acids, combined with heat from the engine, eroded the nylon gasket, causing the intake gasket failure. The GM 5.7 and 5.3 L engines didn't seem to have this problem to the same degree.

My advice would be to check the coolant regularly with pH paper. If the paper turn blue, change the coolant. Because most "green" coolants also contain the same organic buffers, I wouldn't bother with them. Correct me if I'm wrong, but coolant doesn't go through the 5.3L intake manifold gasket, so this gasket won't fail because of Dexcool.

If it really bothers you, I'd change the coolant to Zerex G05. Just make sure you flush the old coolant out really well.

Larry

Coolant doesn't flow thru the intake on ls motors. The closest it gets is the connection at the base of the throttle body and it only flows there to warm the throttle body. Most people including myself bypass the connection to avoid heating the t/b. The steam ports run around the intake but again no chance of coolant coming in contact. Only time it can happen is with a head gasket failure.


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk