well its low and rusty colored coolant was put in at 153000 now at 169854 im hoping its just time to change as the back side of the oil cap only had oil on it. and i have not noticed any warnings, leaking or overheating whatso ever i just noticed when it was warm it was about an inch below the cold line i took pics will post them once up on google +

 

bump!

 

 

You can flush and change your coolant as frequently as you want. If it's looking in bad shape, I would say don't question it, just do it.

I forget what the recommended interval is, I want to say it's 4 years, but I'm not sure. If you have the owner's manual still with your car, I believe GM puts the recommended interval in there.

 

well im assuming its a bunch of loose crap frrom when it sat so itlll get done as well when its oil change time and new windshield time. coolant was swittched like 2 years ago now when we first started her

 

What does the back of your oil cap have to do with changing your coolant? If there is coolant in your oil you've got a bigger problem than just needing to change your coolant. If it looks orange there is a good possibilty its got dex cool in it. Like Jason said above, change it as often as you want.

 

if theres a leak in a head gasket or any coolant in oil youll see stuff on the cap i was wondering if it burning it

 

Typically the LIM will leak before the headgasket. And as far as a head gasket leak, depends how much coolant would dump in the oil to determine if you'd notice it.

When my old Grand Am had a head leak, it just blew small amounts of coolant out the exhaust.

But the LIM gaskets can throw lots of coolant into the oil, resulting in a milky appearance on your oil cap and inside of the valve covers (but may not be noticeable in the oil dumped out during an oil change).

DEX coolant looks orange (some think pinkish, either way not green). But when it ages it will get "sludgy" (more so then the old green stuff). You can safely run green stuff in a DEX car (recommended to flush the DEX first). Also, you mentioned you changed the coolant after the car sat for a number of years. There may have still been old crap in the system.

Go to the auto parts store pick up a Prestone or Peak Anti-Freeze Flush additive and follow their directions on the back. That should help clean out alot of the remaining crap in the system.

 

should i add flushing stuff for when it gets changed mid may?

 

A coolant tester is available to check your anti-freeze quality. Most cars should be every 2 years, the Dex Cool is supposed to be about 4 years. Yet like others have posted as often as you like, perhaps once a year if your **** about these types of things to limit corrosion. But for sure do it and not run it for 10 years with the same ol coolant...