the low coolant light came on, I checked the overflow tank, and sho nuff, I need to add coolant. I googled DexCool to see if I can pick it up at PepBoys ect, and all kinds of links appeared involving lawsuits and consumer complaints involving DexCool. I read a few mechanics and consumers testimonials and stuff and many of them give DexCool a bad rap, citing poor anti-corrosive properties, and even chewing up aluminum. one guy even said DexCool being exposed to oxygen has a debilitating effect on it. the articles said GM has been using it since '96 so you'd think if it was that bad they would have stopped using it eons ago. anyway my question is: do yinz guys use DexCool? or did you drain and flush it and switch to a different coolant?

 

I am using Dex-cool right now only cause i'm under warrenty until 100,000 miles..but after my warrenty is up, i'm switching to Prestone All Make All Model Coolant. I've heard that they fixed the problems with Dex-cool, and use better gaskets in newer models now, and that it should be fine...But i've had bad luck with it, and don't trust it, So like I said, as soon as I hit 100K, that junk is gone....

If you need to add coolant, it must be leaking from somewhere...I don't think your problems are as simple as just adding coolant....Could be as simple as a water pump, but could also be an intake gasket...Very common problem.

I would find out why it is leaking coolant in the first place, and fix that...once you fix the problem, I would switch to one of those ALL Make ALL Model coolants...

And just and FYI, Dex-Cool can be found at any automotive store...

 

I changed the coolant in both Montes and DexCrap didn't go back in - I'm running regular coolant in both cars. I drained and flushed the system out really good before I put the new coolant in.

 

I just use Prestone Yellow when I need to add stuff. I still run my Dex-cool though.

 

If I wasn't under warranty I'd be switching coolants too. I don't like the DexCool crap.

 

If you change your coolant once a year, Dex-Cool is fine. The problems arose because GM initially claimed that Dex-Cool was good for 100,000 miles before you needed a cooling system flush. Well, that's absolutely not true. After ~2 years, Dex-Cool starts to gunk up- not good to gunk up your coolant passages. It also becomes acidic and begins attacking your gaskets.

I still run it- it's less toxic than traditional "green" anti-freeze and I change it once a year anyway, so eh, why not I guess. Haven't had any problems due to it yet.

 

Yeah, I only have 22K and my oil change place told me that I need a flush because the dex-cool was getting gunky. I saw it for myself. I was pretty pissed off.

 

that's the problem with dex-cool. Nothing is really wrong with it as a cooling agent, but it needs to be flushed yearly like most other coolants.

It kind of sucks though that it costs more because it's supposed to last longer than that year. If you want to though, without switching to green, you can just run Prestone Yellow through, and change that every year. If it mixes with the dex-cool it's okay, so you don't have to worry about them touching like if you switch to green. It's cheaper and you just flush each year and never have a problem.

 

Prestone yellow for me, after a thorough flush to get ALL the Dexcool out.

 

when i got my monte i had them change the coolent at 36,000 miles. the tech that does all the work he was shocked that he had to flush it longer than normal. and he said that he put the preston all makes coolent in because all of the crud that came out of the raideator. thats why it took longer because he said it came out like ooz and he showed me what came out of it. it was nasty he said he didnt want what was coming out to be still in the radiator to float around and damege the motor. p.s he wants me to drop my monte off with him so he can pull it in when he is at work so he can take a look at it for the miss fire. because the coolent thing