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View Full Version : OK to use regular Antifreeze / Coolant?


Redog
04-22-2009, 09:51 AM
Doing the manifold soon.

What to know if it's OK to flush out all that Dexcool crap and run regular, good ol' American, killing the deer that drink the stuff leaking out of the car, green coolant

:drunk:

jackal2000
04-22-2009, 09:56 AM
just use the all make/model stuff. you can't go wrong.

CactusWill
04-22-2009, 10:05 AM
Use whatever you want, just don't mix em.

Nate's Alero
04-22-2009, 10:54 AM
i used all makes/models.... seems fine for me

meadus101
04-22-2009, 11:11 AM
Yea, I'm using the green stuff, My engine is running cooler actually.

guiguilandry
04-22-2009, 12:25 PM
yeah no problem to run on the green one, I run on it on all my car... I always flush the dex-cool because it is too acid for the engine.... but remember to do a full flush to get rid of all the mud the dex-cool leaves into the rad and water jacket in the engine....

Ryan from Ohio
04-22-2009, 12:33 PM
I only run the green stuff.

Nate's Alero
04-22-2009, 12:40 PM
yeah no problem to run on the green one, I run on it on all my car... I always flush the dex-cool because it is too acid for the engine.... but remember to do a full flush to get rid of all the mud the dex-cool leaves into the rad and water jacket in the engine....

i know, im still flushing out the mud in the engine, three flushes later and still muddy

Cliff8928
04-22-2009, 01:28 PM
I always run Dex-Cool with no issues yet..

But either way, you can do it. However you just have to change your coolant sooner.

You might also consider G05 coolant. Many other manufacturers use it, it's not as acidic as dex-cool but doesn't have all the silicate of the green stuff.

Redog
04-22-2009, 07:09 PM
I know about the green stuff and what it leaves behind.

OK I will be doing the switch, along with a new Stainless Steel Upper raditor hose :cool:

zzyzzx
05-19-2009, 12:01 PM
After doing a bunch of reading, I'm pretty much convinced that I should flush out the Dex-Cool and start using the regular stuff. I assume that is what everyone here does eventually?

CactusWill
05-19-2009, 12:11 PM
I haven't had any problems with it YET, it seems to be only certain dex cool that causes the problems. My dads impala blew up from the limg and dexcool, my moms saturn is caked with dex cool, but when I look in the coolant reservoir of the alero its clean as a whistle while being full of dex cool. Only do the swap if you see the sludge.

whiterider00
05-19-2009, 10:20 PM
same here. i have over 170k on my engine, and its got dexcool in it, and it looks brand new. no idea when it was last changed, but there doesnt seem to be anything building up, so if it isnt broken, dont fix it.

Redog
05-19-2009, 10:56 PM
LIMG gasket change in less than 40,000 miles, I'd call that broken :cry:

Gr1m
05-19-2009, 11:38 PM
After doing a bunch of reading, I'm pretty much convinced that I should flush out the Dex-Cool and start using the regular stuff. I assume that is what everyone here does eventually?

yea most people including myself wait for when they are doing the gasket swap and just drain/flush the system and put the new coolant in with the new gaskets.

zzyzzx
05-20-2009, 08:12 AM
My internet research seems to be indicating that I should switch to regular anti-freeze at some point so, I will. Yes, I probably will wait until I'm doing something else to the car. Someone here said they know of a failure at 8,000 miles, but I have also found people complaining about it at 167,000 miles too (and I have to wonder about that person). If Dex-Cool is so bad, how come it's only a problem on the V6 Alero's? I would think it would be just as bad for the 4 cylinder models as well.

Nate's Alero
05-20-2009, 08:52 AM
My internet research seems to be indicating that I should switch to regular anti-freeze at some point so, I will. Yes, I probably will wait until I'm doing something else to the car. Someone here said they know of a failure at 8,000 miles, but I have also found people complaining about it at 167,000 miles too (and I have to wonder about that person). If Dex-Cool is so bad, how come it's only a problem on the V6 Alero's? I would think it would be just as bad for the 4 cylinder models as well.

you do know, that all coolants eat the orig. gaskets..... they will go no matter what

surreal_awakening
05-20-2009, 08:58 AM
If Dex-Cool is so bad, how come it's only a problem on the V6 Alero's? I would think it would be just as bad for the 4 cylinder models as well.

The problem on the V6 is not the Dex-Cool, it's the gaskets that were used. But for the record, i switched away from the Dex-Cool a long time ago. I'm using the yellow "mix with any type" stuff right now.

Nate's Alero
05-20-2009, 09:01 AM
The problem on the V6 is not the Dex-Cool, it's the gaskets that were used. But for the record, i switched away from the Dex-Cool a long time ago. I'm using the yellow "mix with any type" stuff right now.

yellow?? lol im waiting for the rainbow antifreeze

cherrington17
05-20-2009, 10:17 AM
yellow is the ford standard. pretty sure its generic stuff. (both of my parents cars came w/ that)


I'm pretty sure when nate said 8k.. he meant 80k. i've never heard of anyone having a dead gasket at 8k miles.

K8TEK
05-24-2009, 09:40 PM
The problem on the V6 is not the Dex-Cool, it's the gaskets that were used. But for the record, i switched away from the Dex-Cool a long time ago. I'm using the yellow "mix with any type" stuff right now.
Yellow stuff? Like the stuff they used in Red Dawn?

dhurst765
05-24-2009, 09:59 PM
im seriously thinking about going to the green cause mine keeps overheating a little and my dad said that dex cool isnt worth a shit

jrim
05-26-2009, 11:49 PM
im seriously thinking about going to the green cause mine keeps overheating a little and my dad said that dex cool isnt worth a shit

ditto, mine runs a little past half on the temp. gauge lately. and bad mpg. :(