Question about Dexcool coolant

RAS43 wrote:

edbehnke wrote:
you shouldn't have to top it off at all. if a little low just add water.

Not a good answer as adding just water will weaken the strength of the coolant which can cause problems. I think Ron has the right answer-have the dealer top it off as it is still under warranty.

Sorry, but this guy has (edbehnke) has the best answer (next to mine of course LOL).

Coolant is in a sealed system and is non-evaporative within that system. If you are losing coolant, or the amount becomes low, then you have a leak. Not all leaks are bad. If you had to top off your vehicle once every 6 months, then you have a leak that's not bad. You'll spend a lifetime trying to find a leak that small.

However, back to point. If you have a leak and need to top it off in order to get somewhere (like home or the service station), then feel free to use plain ole tap water. Why? Because you have to fix the leak. In order to fix the leak, you're likely going to end up draining most of the coolant anyway, unless the leak is on the upper-end. Coolant mix precision isn't so important that being slightly off will hurt anything. My 1 ton truck takes about 5 gallons of coolant. A little mix precision error won't be the end of the world.

Its not worth having a $15 jug of dexcool sitting on your shelf for the "maybe" scenario where you have to top it off. Under warranty you say? Then take it to GM and make them chase the leak down. Considering that coolant is a poison and only takes one drop to kill an animal (and is severely toxic to humans), I don't like taking the chance of having it sitting around. Even unopened plastic bottles can develop a leak just sitting there.

For a fun fact of the day, my 1/2 chevy with 5.3L engine has about 205K miles on it. I've NEVER touched the coolant in it. Never added a drop, never flushed it, nothing. Some would suggest that this is negligent on my part. I say to them, it doesn't overheat and doesn't leak and doesn't freeze up. I'm not going to fix something that's not broke.

Best to use the manufacturer's recommended coolant as it will not cause problems with seals as others might do. It only needs to be changed out every 5 years so not going to save much by buying something else. No need to buy it from the dealer though unless you are having them do the flush and recycle the old coolant.

Excessive coolant usage can be a sign of a failing water pump or radiator cap or hoses or a head gasket so good idea to monitor carefully if you should find yourself having to add coolant.

Tystevens wrote:

GeoBoy wrote:
If there was a problem with Dexcool do you really think GM would risk their reputation on all their vehicl lines by still using Dexcool. Other manufacturers have changed their type of coolant over the years and nobody cares, so why wouldn't GM change if there was a issue?

Probably not, but then we couldn't play armchair quarterback anymore, could we! ;)

I have about 300k miles on GM vehicles w/ Dexcool, no problems. I would definitely not recommend changing it out on a vehicle under warranty.

Just get a bottle of premix from any parts store. Zerex, Prestone, whatever if you notice it a little low in the reservoir. Or, just wait until your next top off at service by your dealer.

When I was on our 6 week trip out west this year that is exactly what I did. I stopped by a friendly NAPA dealer and picked up a gallon of premix Zerex Dexcool to top off my 9 year old truck.

GeoBoy wrote:
If there was a problem with Dexcool do you really think GM would risk their reputation on all their vehicl lines by still using Dexcool. Other manufacturers have changed their type of coolant over the years and nobody cares, so why wouldn't GM change if there was a issue?

Probably not, but then we couldn't play armchair quarterback anymore, could we! ;)

I have about 300k miles on GM vehicles w/ Dexcool, no problems. I would definitely not recommend changing it out on a vehicle under warranty.

Just get a bottle of premix from any parts store. Zerex, Prestone, whatever if you notice it a little low in the reservoir. Or, just wait until your next top off at service by your dealer.

RAS43 wrote:

edbehnke wrote:
you shouldn't have to top it off at all. if a little low just add water.

Not a good answer as adding just water will weaken the strength of the coolant which can cause problems. I think Ron has the right answer-have the dealer top it off as it is still under warranty.

Tap water no, but distilled is fine. WHen you factor in how much coolant is in the entire system "topping off" with water is not going to affect the ratio. Its perfectly fine...

My experience is that it is very important to stay with Dexcool if that is what the factory put in.

As Wishin stated, I would also buy the Havoline Dexcool if I needed some. I also don't see a problem with having one on hand in case you need it.

In regards to all of the deathcool comments/issues...when did Dexcool come out? Mid 90's and by 1996 right? That was 18 years ago and yes there were some issues when it came out. They have rectified the issue and sticking with and using the Dexcool doesn't seem to be an issue anymore. Just like Chrysler doesn't have transmission problems anymore right?

Because my Cruze is going to be 3 years old and has 50k miles on it, the last time it was in for an oil change at the dealer I asked them if I needed to flush the system and they told me no. They assured me they don't have the issues like they did in the late 90's. I guess I took their word for it because I don't know why they didn't want my money.

GeoBoy wrote:
If there was a problem with Dexcool do you really think GM would risk their reputation on all their vehicl lines by still using Dexcool. Other manufacturers have changed their type of coolant over the years and nobody cares, so why wouldn't GM change if there was a issue?

Yes they would risk it, because they don't like to admit when they're wrong! Ala ignition switch fiasco.

I had a co-worker that kept the deathcool in her blazer for 100000 miles before having problems.
Repairs were $2400 and it sounded like they basically replaced everything it touched.

If there was a problem with Dexcool do you really think GM would risk their reputation on all their vehicl lines by still using Dexcool. Other manufacturers have changed their type of coolant over the years and nobody cares, so why wouldn't GM change if there was a issue?