You can save yourself a lot of trouble and switch to the old original green coolant.

I used Dexcool until I saw what it was doing to the inside of the plastic radiator. Then I flushed and flushed and put in G-05 like every one was talking about several years ago. After three years of G-05 it ate a coolant temp sensor and two coolant level sensors.

Then I flushed and flushed again and put in the old Green coolant and have not had any trouble since. The green stuff is not easy to find here I think Autozone and one grocery store has it.

 

Green coolant worked well for DECADES, why did GM and everyone decide to change it?

 

I always see lots of complaints about Dexcool, but I've never had an issue with it - and I basically never even changed my coolant on any of my previous cars - ever!

Supposedly, that is the advantage of Dexcool - you can go a lot longer without needing to change it.

I think most of the problems with it come up when people mix other coolants with Dexcool (and there were some issues with "gasket compatibility" decades ago).

But like I said, Dexcool has been a great coolant for me.

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Green Coolant did work well for many cars but for some reason car manufactures have moved away from coolant with Silicates and phosphate it appears. Jtroskey you could be right on the Dexcool and the mixing with other coolants. In my case as I inherited this vehicle from my Aunt it only had 22k on it when I got it about 15 months ago and she bought it new in 2007 so I assume the coolant was original and Dexcool but the color when it was drained appeared to be more red than the orange color Dexcool I bought to replace. I did a chemical flush with Blue Devil until the water ran clear. I did it over a 3 day period as I wanted to drive the vehicle and let the Blue Devil do a thorough chemicle flush. Who knows maybe I did not get it all out of the system or their was still tap water left behind from the flush but hopefully tap water would not cause this. With that being said I am hesitant to do this all over again and still put new Dexcool back in for fear of having to do this a third time. Looks like if I do switch then Peak Global seems to be the best choice.

 

IIRC, dex turning waxy is due to air in the system and/or contamination from a different coolant or some additives. You're going to have to flush the crap out of the system. Pull the heater hoses and back flush the heater core, pull the overflow reservoir and flush it with a garden hose, and flush flush flush. Might just be easier to take it someplace that does coolant flushes.

Green coolant is great, available at all auto parts stores or Walmart for the best price. Peak and Prestone are both excellent brands. If you want the absolute best coolant that actually keeps your car running cooler, check out Royal Purple's Purple Ice. You can add it to regular coolant or use it diluted with water. Read the details on mixing options if you go this route - important info there.

Purple Ice® - Radiator Coolant Additive | Royal Purple

 

Fizzy, you have this diagnoised correctly I feel as I checked the fluid this morning and it was down just a small amount about 4 ounces maybe a little less. The fluid looked good and I topped it off but did notice right at the top of the radiator fill mark and inside top cap what looks to be a very wet creamy mixture which indicates to me air must be getting in from the radiator cap so I will look to get that replaced, do the whole flushing process over again and yes I am a big fan of the Purple Ice which I did add when I did all this Memorial Weekend as it said it was safe to use with Dexcool.

 

If you are scared of silicates and phosphates switch to the universal stuff that Walmart sells.

I am a old man and I have never seen any product defended like I have with Dexcool. I have hard every excuse from air in the system to contaminated coolant but oh no it is not because of Dexcool. Just because you have never had a problem with Dex does not prove that there is not a problem.

I have seen a five year old Dex radiators and heater cores so eat up with orange rot that you could poke your finger through them. One of these was on a 1997 Buick Lesabre owned by a elderly couple that only had the car serviced at the dealership. Because the car was just out of warranty GM told them to get lost so they took the car to my friends shop. I have never seen a five year old cooling system wrecked by the old green coolant.

I don’t think I have ever changed any ones mind about anything so keep on using what you are using.

 

I had a water pump replaced 6 months ago. I requested the shop put in the Green and forgo anything that has the Dexcool. I also did that on my 96 Bonneville and it ran just fine for years with the 3800 Series engine before the body started giving out due to rust. Of course there were other issues too like AC evaporator leak and then the heater not working right towards the end of that car.

 

I have just ordered a new AC Delco radiator cap as I suspect the current one is no longer working as it should and I have also filled the overflow tank up higher past the cold mark and I have decided to keep a close eye on this for the next few weeks to see if it makes a difference. If not then I will go ahead and make the switch.

 

I have never a problem with either! I have a an Alero with the 3.4 now pushing 12 years and two changes with the universal stuff added the last two drains and refills.

My 70 has to be done every other year! The regular green or silicate stuff is getting hard to come across at the big box stores. I do have the green stuff bulk at my work for $12.00/gal. for concentrate.

Pat

 

I think the new radiator cap is going to be a difference maker as the dexcool has been looking normal every since I replaced the cap. Very pleased now so I will not be exchanging any of the coolant at this time.

 

i had a thermostat go out around 100k miles. i had it changed and while it was drained down had a local shop do the radiator flush while they were there. they said they switched it due to the dexcool lawsuits (wasn't particularly happy they did it without consulting me first but decided to give it a chance) to the all makes all models aftermarket kind. 40k miles later, i've had no issues with any sensors or anything.