Mix Dexacool with green antifreeze?

[GNICETRY]

Someone had told me not to ever do this. Is this true?

 

[phillyturbosix]

Some reading for you.. http://autorepair.about.com/cs/coolingsystem/l/aa052601c.htm

 

[Louie L.]

Someone had told me not to ever do this. Is this true?

Yes , its true! Never mix colors!

 

[TurboCrazy]

Makes a very nasty mess of the coolant system. A production worker at my work did this. Almost ruined a new forktruck motor!

 

[Quiky One]

Green+dexcool=sludge

Jason

 

[Blown&Injected]

Over the summer I got some stuff that says mixes with all types of anti freeze - it is green but has the same service time as the Dex-Cool.

Just went out to look at it - I know there was Dex-Cool (orange stuff in my Bonneville) and months later no problem after mixing green stuff in it.

 

[Tony87gn]

Yeah they have stuff that can mix with anything i used it recently.

 

[Louie L.]

The Red "mix with any coolant" is the dumbest thing made. It just continues to create confusion. Just stick with red on red and green and well u know.. thats the safest bet.

 

[zeus87gn]

I know about this issue as I lived it. Put Dexcool in when I did the timing chain in '00 and hated it for the time it was in there. Engine bay was always very hot, even in the winter. I never saw any sludge, but I never liked the results of Dexcool.

I have recently switch to Peak coolant. It is gold in color and claims it will mix with anything. My engine bay is now cool. Temperature reduction of noticibale proportions. Don't have a temp gauge so I don't really know how much, but it has me sold. Even at almost $13/gal.

I am about to do the same switch in my sons Grand Am that has had nothing but Dexcool for 150K. Hoping to get good results.

Just my experience...

 

[JSAautomotive]

That Dex-cool stuff is garbage. Ruins everything in the cooling system from the inside out. Distroys gaskets, water pumps, freeze plugs, heater cores.... you name it. Funny thing is.... when I was working at the dealership... they wouldn't pay us our warranty time unless we put that crap back in.

 

[Blown&Injected]

I have two Bonnevilles that have Dex-Cool, one of them has some green, mixes with anything, in it. They both have over 100K miles and no problems.

I find it hard to believe that GM would continue to use something so terribly harmful.

 

[99ssconv]

The only problems I've seen with dexcool is when people run it low it does build up a brown dirt like sludge that starts restricting things quick. As long as you keep the system full of coolant all is fine. Mixing the 2 will only create a nasty color, other than that nothing else.

 

[Jbenn911]

Only time we ever had an issue with our 9C1 patrol cars(and my 96 SS) was when the clay tablets were used. There's been a million posts about them REALLY screwing up your system when added.. and yeah..NEVER mix the two.. It took alot of flushing to get it out of our patrol cars when the city decided to stop buying dexcool...

 

[JSAautomotive]

I have two Bonnevilles that have Dex-Cool, one of them has some green, mixes with anything, in it. They both have over 100K miles and no problems.

I find it hard to believe that GM would continue to use something so terribly harmful.

Well... I've been in the auto repair industry for around 30 years now. And if you know anything about the big corporations, they try to hide these little dirty secrets as much as possible before they have to issue a recall. Because when a recall happens, they lose big.

Take the Mass Air Flow sensors on Fords. HUGE driveability problems with them in the late 90's up until around 2003-04. Did they issue a recall on them?? Nope. When you buy one at the dealership, why do they ask for the old one back to buy a new replacement part?? Usually that's only for rebuilt items. But they do. Guess why? So there's no trail left out in the public for someone to take Ford to court over it. Pretty smart on their part huh??

Usually the stuff that has to do with the NHTSA (National highway traffic and safety administration) gets priority because those complaints usually have to do with safety items (seat belts, brakes, tires, ABS or SIR systems, etc.). So the stuff like coolant issues and corrosion usually flys under their radar. But a simple google search will tell you the same story that any heavy line wrench that worked for GM for the last 10 years will tell you. Dex-Cool is crap. It eats everything in the system. And if you don't flush it to get the Ph levels in check, or have problems with excess voltage in the cooling system (i.e. poor grounds), then you've got a car with one thing after another in the cooling that Dex-cool touches going bad.

One of my customers with a 99 Astro van needed 1st the intakes (common on the 4.3's), then the heater core, then the radiator, then the freeze plugs, then the head gaskets. It's a common story I see everyday after servicing thousands of cars over the years.

Jbenn911.....
I'm not aware of any clay tablets that GM ever released. I have the Delco tabs that are made from Almond shells. Are you talking about that stuff?? Those were made originally for the Cadillac 4.1's and their leaking head gaskets/water pump o-rings. If they're a clay tablet released by GM, I'm not aware of them.

Here's a link to a recent story regarding the class action lawsuit that are out there regarding Dex-Cool. I've had several of my customers get re-imbursed by GM for me to replace their defective cooling system parts. I think it's being handled on a case by case "hush-hush" basis.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/08/gm_dexcool.html

And the largest class action suit being handled in the country is here.

Dex-Cool Class Action

Girard Gibbs is co-lead counsel in a federal Multi-District Litigation class action and numerous state class action lawsuits filed on behalf of owners of General Motors vehicles, which were factory-filled with "Dex-Cool" coolant. The lawsuits allege that Dex-Cool forms a sludge-like substance in these vehicles which clogs cooling systems, causing them to overheat, and that Dex-Cool corrodes all parts of the engine it comes in contact with including the upper and lower intake manifold gaskets. The suits further alleges that Dex-Cool not only does not perform as promised, but also causes premature and costly engine repairs to consumers' vehicles.

If you've experienced similar problems with Dex-Cool, please click here and let us know. http://www.girardgibbs.com/consumercases.asp

 

[JSAautomotive]

The only problems I've seen with dexcool is when people run it low it does build up a brown dirt like sludge that starts restricting things quick. As long as you keep the system full of coolant all is fine. Mixing the 2 will only create a nasty color, other than that nothing else.

If you take apart these cars..... you'll see these white balls that start to form in area's that don't get much circulation. We kept some of these after doing freeze plugs on one and put them on a piece of sheet metal. left it there for a few weeks and the area where the balls were ate right thru the metal. The other area's from just the coolant left surface rust.

 

[Jbenn911]

Jbenn911.....
I'm not aware of any clay tablets that GM ever released. I have the Delco tabs that are made from Almond shells. Are you talking about that stuff?? Those were made originally for the Cadillac 4.1's and their leaking head gaskets/water pump o-rings. If they're a clay tablet released by GM, I'm not aware of them.

I'm sure that's the same stuff....The Impy and 9c1 guys used to just call them clay..Came from factory/dealer with it in the system...We had 3 96's with no tablets and never any trouble...2 came from another dealer with the tabs(we did ask about them) and heater cores went first..

 

[zeus87gn]

The more I hear about this Dex-cool stuff the more I think it for 'engineered (or planned) obsolesence'. Making a part that will only last so long so that you take it back to the dealer (or someone) to get it fixed. The parts business has a better markup and brings in more money. That's where the dealers make thier cut. The engineers design stuff that they know will need to be replaced and have the parts at the ready.

It's a racket. Complete BS in my opinion.

 

[Blown&Injected]

It would not be the first time an auto mfr got screwed for false reasons - was it the Audi's that had the unintended sudden acceleration problem.

If they lose so big then it is to their advantage to not continue to use something that is so rotten.

Well... I've been in the auto repair industry for around 30 years now. And if you know anything about the big corporations, they try to hide these little dirty secrets as much as possible before they have to issue a recall. Because when a recall happens, they lose big.

Take the Mass Air Flow sensors on Fords. HUGE driveability problems with them in the late 90's up until around 2003-04. Did they issue a recall on them?? Nope. When you buy one at the dealership, why do they ask for the old one back to buy a new replacement part?? Usually that's only for rebuilt items. But they do. Guess why? So there's no trail left out in the public for someone to take Ford to court over it. Pretty smart on their part huh??

Usually the stuff that has to do with the NHTSA (National highway traffic and safety administration) gets priority because those complaints usually have to do with safety items (seat belts, brakes, tires, ABS or SIR systems, etc.). So the stuff like coolant issues and corrosion usually flys under their radar. But a simple google search will tell you the same story that any heavy line wrench that worked for GM for the last 10 years will tell you. Dex-Cool is crap. It eats everything in the system. And if you don't flush it to get the Ph levels in check, or have problems with excess voltage in the cooling system (i.e. poor grounds), then you've got a car with one thing after another in the cooling that Dex-cool touches going bad.

One of my customers with a 99 Astro van needed 1st the intakes (common on the 4.3's), then the heater core, then the radiator, then the freeze plugs, then the head gaskets. It's a common story I see everyday after servicing thousands of cars over the years.

Jbenn911.....
I'm not aware of any clay tablets that GM ever released. I have the Delco tabs that are made from Almond shells. Are you talking about that stuff?? Those were made originally for the Cadillac 4.1's and their leaking head gaskets/water pump o-rings. If they're a clay tablet released by GM, I'm not aware of them.

Here's a link to a recent story regarding the class action lawsuit that are out there regarding Dex-Cool. I've had several of my customers get re-imbursed by GM for me to replace their defective cooling system parts. I think it's being handled on a case by case "hush-hush" basis.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/08/gm_dexcool.html

And the largest class action suit being handled in the country is here.

 

[JSAautomotive]

It would not be the first time an auto mfr got screwed for false reasons - was it the Audi's that had the unintended sudden acceleration problem.

If they lose so big then it is to their advantage to not continue to use something that is so rotten.

I've worked in GM dealerships on and off since 1989 and I'm telling you as a certified GM tech, Dexcool is garbage. Most GM line mechanics will tell you the same thing. I see anywhere from 6-10 different cars a day. This is what I do for a living. As Zeus87gn said..... it's another way for the manufacturers to create something as an advertising gimmick. It's like when BMW said their transmissions didn't require servicing EVER!! Now if you talk to SAE (society of automotive engineers) they'll strongly disagree with BMW's statement. This coolant is no different.

Sure you can monitor the ph levels and see when it becomes acidic or check the voltage in your cooling system, add grounds... etc. But the fact remains..... these lawsuits are being brought by the thousands of claims being made by consumers..... not just a handfull. Most people in the auto service industry know about the problem with this coolant. Why go through all the hassle and just run green glycol based coolant.


Jben911.... I've never seen the GM tabs cause a cooling system failure. It's just powered almond shells like I said. It says so right on the back of the package. If the heater cores failed, I would have to say it's because of excess electrolisys in the coolant system or too low of a ph with the dex-cool. And that is when Dex-cool starts it's distructive path.

 

[Blown&Injected]

From what I have read last year, some automotive techs that are professional engineers and expert witnesses said that the stuff is not good for as long as claimed. Sort of what you talk about with regard to advertising claims, but that it is a fine product, just not a 5 year/100,000 mile substance.

Funny thing about dealer mechanics, everyone I know says they work on junk and the one's I know that have changed shops to work on a different MFR's car all start off with feeling happy about better cars but soon fall back to (insert any mfr) car's are junk.

I've worked in GM dealerships on and off since 1989 and I'm telling you as a certified GM tech, Dexcool is garbage. Most GM line mechanics will tell you the same thing. I see anywhere from 6-10 different cars a day. This is what I do for a living. As Zeus87gn said..... it's another way for the manufacturers to create something as an advertising gimmick. It's like when BMW said their transmissions didn't require servicing EVER!! Now if you talk to SAE (society of automotive engineers) they'll strongly disagree with BMW's statement. This coolant is no different.

Sure you can monitor the ph levels and see when it becomes acidic or check the voltage in your cooling system, add grounds... etc. But the fact remains..... these lawsuits are being brought by the thousands of claims being made by consumers..... not just a handfull. Most people in the auto service industry know about the problem with this coolant. Why go through all the hassle and just run green glycol based coolant.


Jben911.... I've never seen the GM tabs cause a cooling system failure. It's just powered almond shells like I said. It says so right on the back of the package. If the heater cores failed, I would have to say it's because of excess electrolisys in the coolant system or too low of a ph with the dex-cool. And that is when Dex-cool starts it's distructive path.