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Anyone have any problems with Dexcool ( sometimes referred to as death cool!). I have a '97 Blazer that seems to need a new thermostat evry year and it may be dexcool related.
Posts: 1163 | From: Rochester Hills, Mi | Registered: Feb 2000
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I've always wondered if it wasn't at the root of the problem with the coolant level sensor problems so many of us have had in the Fbods.
After having a thermostat decide to close itself and never again reopen late at night far from the next town in a 76 MonteCarlo several years ago - I've adopted a practice of never replacing a failed tstat. Don't really need them down here - and one less thing to go wrong. Posts: 64 | From: Houston, Tx USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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Yep, had a 97 blazer that started having problems. The "death cool" would turn brown after a very short time, and I had to flush the heater core about every 6 months, seemed like the coolant was causing corrosion and plugging the heater core. I assume since you used the "death cool" name you've seen and are aware of all the stuff all over the internet about it? No longer have that Blazer though. Keeping fingers crossed that I don't start seeing any problems with the other 3 GMs I have with it.
Posts: 50 | From: Annapolis,MD | Registered: Aug 2003
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I know 2 class A mechanics and they both have LT1 cars. I just replaced my Dexcool with traditional Prestone. After an engine flush all my oils seals started leaking and replaced every seal in the front end of the block. This all started with my water pump leaking intermitently when I would first start it up some days after sitting for a bunch of days. They strongly recommended replacing the Dexcool. They said it can get acidic and eat away seals and gaskets. But I'm sure you will hear other people who love it.
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I had my head gaskets leak with this stuff. This week I am going to drain all of it out and fill with the old stuff. I dont mind changing it every 30000.
-------------------- 2002, Navy blue, T-top, T56, Black interior, K&N air filter, CAGS, SLP lid, SLP Mass airflow, new SLP smooth billows, Borla exhaust, SLP strut brace, Panhard bar, SLP FAI, Power antenna, LE1 upgrade, SLP subframe connectors, 4.10s, Baer rotors, SLP Torque arm, Kooks Headers, and lots of Zaino. Posts: 237 | From: Yorba Linda California | Registered: Aug 2002
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My '99 Blazer had a Dexcool problem at around 80,000 miles. It turned to clay sludge and clogged up the heater core among other things. Had to do a serious radiator flush with some special detergent at the dealership to get it out. Immediately afterwards had a head gasket leak and the water pump failed. I checked a Blazer board that had several mentions of this problem.
Posts: 198 | From: Orlando, Florida | Registered: Oct 2002
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I just replaced the radiator, thermostat and housing on my '98 Trans Am. The radiator was half plugged and the thermostat and housing was all gummed up. The death cool in there was only about three years old with about 100,000 kms on it.
On the other hand, it has been in my wife's '94 Vette a lot longer with no problems.
Makes me wonder if it isn't a death cool and aluminum compatibility problem (i.e.: aluminum block versus iron block....I realize that the LT1 has aluminum heads.....what I am getting at is the amount of aluminum surface area).
Posts: 383 | From: Oakville, Ontario Canada | Registered: Jan 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Bill Mason: Makes me wonder if it isn't a death cool and aluminum compatibility problem (i.e.: aluminum block versus iron block....I realize that the LT1 has aluminum heads.....what I am getting at is the amount of aluminum surface area).
I thought it was designed for aluminum parts. The older cars that had cast iron intake manifolds and cylinder heads never seemed to have a problem with the old green stuff.
Posts: 5682 | From: Dearborn,Mi. | Registered: Feb 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Bill Mason: Makes me wonder if it isn't a death cool and aluminum compatibility problem (i.e.: aluminum block versus iron block....I realize that the LT1 has aluminum heads.....what I am getting at is the amount of aluminum surface area).
I've had deathcool in my 84 Hurst Olds for about 15 months, and it turned my coolant overflow jug brown and gooky on the inside. Opened the cap and it was like chocolate. Opened the petcock to drain it, and it was almost plugged. Pulled the drain plugs out of the block and had to use a screwdriver to poke out the gunk to get any flow.
All this with a NEW radiator, freshly rebuilt engine, and new water pump 15 months ago, etc. Death cool was the only coolant installed. Iron block/heads with aluminum water pump and intake.
It was always topped off and never run low. As far as I'm concerned, Deathcool sucks wind and I'll never buy it again.
I'm going to go have the Camaros flushed out and replaced with the green stuff. F** what GM says, they're wrong about it but will never admit they've made a very bad mistake with this crap.
Posts: 577 | From: Aiken, SC | Registered: May 2002
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I always heard if the car didn't come with it don't put it in. I've always used the green stuff and changed it on schedule and never had a problem. I know a guy that the dealer put it in a GM car that didn't come with it and his head gaskets started leaking.
Posts: 113 | Registered: Nov 2002
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No problems yet with my '98. Only one low coolant sensor malfunction this summer. I've changed the fluid twice in 6 years - due to age, not mileage (22,000 km).
-------------------- Hawkeye: SSOA F98-C98
1998 SS - Black All Options - Mods Whisper Lid, K & N, Lou's Short Stick, Shift Light, Skip Shift, SLP Y, Borla, 4:10's, BMR STB, SLP SFCs, Granatelli MAF, Hypertech III, 160 Stat, Mallory Billet Pedals, Metco Aluminum LCAs,Fast Toys Ram Air Mod, Spohn Panhard Bar, BMR Torque Arm, free EGR mod,power antenna, BMR LCA brackets, Gentex Temp/Compass Auto Dim Mirror, AllMaxx Strobe and Wig Wag, BAER Eradispeed rotors,PPC Headers with Random Technology Hi Flow Cats, BMR Drive shaft Loop,FAST 78MM Throttle Body, FAST 78MM Composite Intake, Mobil 1 & lots of Zaino.
Wife & Best Friend Mary - copilot. Posts: 5558 | From: Windsor, Ontario. Canada | Registered: Feb 2000
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To Avoid any problems with "deathcool" flush out you entire coolant systems every (3) years,it is very cheap insurance.It seems to "gel" in the S10 vehicles and the 94-96 Impala SS.I do my SS every (2) years regardless on the mileage.Roughly 4-5k miles Posts: 173 | From: Nashua,NH USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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quote:Originally posted by JeffY: Anyone have any problems with Dexcool ( sometimes referred to as death cool!). I have a '97 Blazer that seems to need a new thermostat evry year and it may be dexcool related.
Jeffy:
There's a TSB on dexcool for blazers - it recommends a complete flush with the prestone flush system and then replace the dexcool.
Posts: 3403 | From: Woodcliff Lake, NJ, USA | Registered: Dec 2000
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Well, he was just here. I opened up the hood, which needed a shot of WD40, and the overflow tank has green stuff in it! He says that the guy at the oil change place just topped off the tank yesterday and now its fine! I wound up putting another half-gallon of Prestone in it-couldn't see any orange anywhere. I vaugly remember (that's what happens when you get old) flushing it out last year for him but I can't remember what I put back in it. I've got bottles of Dexcool and Prestone in the garage-theDexcool wqas opened but the Prestone wasn't!
Posts: 1163 | From: Rochester Hills, Mi | Registered: Feb 2000
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I guess I better do a full radiator flush before going to Bowling Green this year. I have 70K miles on the original Death Cool. Any suggestions on the Brand to use?
-------------------- 01 Sunset Orange SS ,T-Tops,Neutral Leather,ASR,Hurst 6spd,SS Grill. SSOA # MO1 4843 Mods: Lou's short stick, Corsa exhaust, BMR full suspension. SLP Y-Pipe, SLP Lid, SLP Smoothe Bellows,SLP 85MM MAS,Hotchkis Springs, Bilstein Shocks,Hypertech 178º Thermostat,TA Girdle, Brembo Slotted Rotors, Hawk HPS pads, Goodrich G-Stop SS brake lines. AC Delco Irridium plugs. HID's. ADR M82 18" wheels, Optima Red Top, Royal Purple throughout. 407 SAE Net HP/423Net TQ www.proformance-motorsports.com proformancems@bellsouth.net Posts: 260 | From: Coral Springs, Florida | Registered: Dec 2000
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quote:Originally posted by JeffY: Anyone have any problems with Dexcool ( sometimes referred to as death cool!). I have a '97 Blazer that seems to need a new thermostat evry year and it may be dexcool related.
ive put 4 thermostats in HER HAWK in 75k miles, Jeff.
-------------------- 1997 SLP Cars: Mine - Comp T/A #139 (sold and gone) Mine now - Firehawk #132 (For Sale - maybe, but maybe not......) 2003 Envoy - Loaded (hers) 2004 Envoy - Loaded (mine)
posted
OK.............after reading all your posts and the one on the class action suit, I just couldn't stand it any longer. My SS is the only car I have with Dex Cool. It is a little over 4 years old with about 10,000 miles. I have test strips to check acidity so I did this and it is still in the "safe" range.....but just barely. Next, I siphoned out some of the coolant to look at it and it is still crystal (pink) clear. So I have concluded that so far it is not causing me any problems. But just to be on the safe side I think I will change it out.
Now a question for the do-it-yourselfer's. After reading my factory shop manual on the flushing procedures, it says to pull the plugs out of both sides of the block.........but naturally they don't show you where these plugs are located. Since I haven't yet crawled under the car, doeas anyone know if they are readily axcessible?
-------------------- Dave S Black 2000 Camaro SS Posts: 502 | From: Fort Mill, South Carolina....Charlotte | Registered: Aug 2003
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Very 'interesting' thread. I'm with "SS CarGuy", ...and roughly in the same mileage range (just under 10K), ...original factory fill, ...and it's PINK. Prestone=Green Dextcool=Orange ? = Pink ...
For anyone here who works for GM (ie. Service dept.), ...WHAT IF...we switch over to the green, is there any legal wording that states we must use Dextcool, ...or your warranty could be in question? (just curious)
Posts: 1046 | From: Pine Bush, NY USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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I used to use the prestone 3/50 long life coolant that came out before the 5/150 in my '69. It was like golden in color and I mixed it with Distilled water and that system stayed crystal clean.
[ 08. July 2004, 06:21 AM: Message edited by: T TOPSS ]
Posts: 191 | From: Hudson Valley New York | Registered: Sep 2002
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I have found a number of threads in doing a Google search about "pink" antifreeze. Apparently VW and Mercedes use pink stuff but I have also found reference to pink DexCool. If anyone can provide any insight on what GM was using in 2000 (my car is a 2000 SS), please post it. In the meantime I will call the local dealer to see if they can help and if anyone else wants to check the color of their coolant and post it, I would appreciate it.
-------------------- Dave S Black 2000 Camaro SS Posts: 502 | From: Fort Mill, South Carolina....Charlotte | Registered: Aug 2003
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FWIW, I spoke with a good friend of mine who's a service writer at local Chevy dealer and I asked him if he'd seen any TSB's on a potential problem with the dexcool.
His repsonse to me was that they've been seeing problems with overheating in the Blazers that they've traced back to worn/defective radiator cap gaskets. Apparently the caps are cheap plastic and they've got equally cheap gaskets. The gasket deteriorates/melts over time and allows some air entry into the cooling system. This aspiration degrades the dexcool very quickly according to the service writer. They've opened up several radiators and found them full of sludge where this radiator cap gasket failure has occurred. Replacing the t-stats won't fix the overheating condition. He's run his own '99 Z28 to 58k miles over the last 5 years on the original fill of dexcool and has had no trouble. My wife's Cavvy is coming up on 75k and 5 years old this Fall and is still on the original fill of dexcool with no trouble. His recomendation to me for my 30k service next month was to drain the dexcool, flush the radiator with distilled water, and then refill with fesh dexcool.
Not sure if this is helpful, but I thought I'd share what I learned from someone who has seen it.
-------------------- Back Home Where She Belongs... 2001 SS #3122 M01-3122 Sunset Orange Metallic / Ebony Leather M6, All GM Options SLP Options:Bilstein, Dual-Dual, Chrome 10 Spokes, SS Grille, Mats, Key Fobs, Dash Plaque, Car Cover Posts: 214 | From: Pepperell MA USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I just measured the PH on my '02 SS with almost 30K miles using a calibrated PH meter. It read 7.76 PH, which is close to neutral. The color is very light pink. It's so light pink that I'm wondering what it's protected to (-32 degrees?). I'm going to check it at home later.
-------------------- '02 SOM SS Camaro #3111 M6, Hurst, every GM option Mods: !CAGS, SLP CAI, SLP lid, K & N filter, SLP bellows, power antenna, air temp module, 160 thermostat, Hotchkis sig. series STB, SLP bolt on SFC's, engine plaque, NGK 55 plugs, Mobil 1, Custom rear deck mat, MBA letters on back, Raptor shift light, Silverstar bulbs, Lou's short stick, QTP cut out, SLP decal,Auto Headlights Disable Mod, Decklid Hatch Spring Mod, Drill mod for clutch hydraulics, stronger M6 parts added, Painted calibers, 4 Drilled & Slotted rotors, SS floor mats, SSOA member M02-3111 Posts: 641 | From: northern Delaware | Registered: Jul 2002
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quote:Originally posted by RagSS: Very 'interesting' thread. I'm with "SS CarGuy", ...and roughly in the same mileage range (just under 10K), ...original factory fill, ...and it's PINK. Prestone=Green Dextcool=Orange ? = Pink ...
For anyone here who works for GM (ie. Service dept.), ...WHAT IF...we switch over to the green, is there any legal wording that states we must use Dextcool, ...or your warranty could be in question? (just curious)
There's been a good deal of debate on this. The TSB refers to the older 94 - 97 GM engines and had to do with contamination. Once flushed thoroughly, the dexcool works fine. My view is GM did a good deal of testing before putting it in our engines and if you keep it clean and replace it after 5 years or 75 - 100k miles it will be fine.
-------------------- 2000 SS Convertible, M6, Onyx Ebony leather, Hurst, Monsoon, 12 CD SLP Options: Syntech, Mats, Fobs, Plaque, Cover. SLP add ons:SS Grille, SLP Lid & K&N, smooth bellows, SLP CAI.... Other Add Ons: TTS LT headers Y Pipe and Cats, TR 220, LS6 Intake, GMMG, ASP underdrive pulley, Hypertech 180 stat, Granatelli MAF, Rapid Motor Sports custom tuning, BMR STB, LCAs, Relocation brackets, Adj. Panhard, Don Goetz bolt on SFCs, Hotchkis springs, Hurst Billet Plus shifter Appearance: FRCs with afterthoughts SS overlays, Mark's Caliper decals on black painted calipers, AR TTIIs (Gunmetal Spokes) with BFG Gforce T/A KDWs...
96 Impala SS Black Flowmasters SSOA, WCA, NAISSO Posts: 3403 | From: Woodcliff Lake, NJ, USA | Registered: Dec 2000
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My 99 has almost 38K miles on it and no problems, but after reading all this, I think I will be flushing and refilling soon!
Posts: 5946 | From: Litchfield, NH, USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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They (the engineers) figured out that the reason that Dex Cool would literally gum up was related to air entering the system... so if the brain cells recall correctly it was traced back to bad radiator caps (and not properly bleeding the systems of air). It also seems that earlier applications (early to mid 90's) with Dex Cool had more problems... now you never hear about problems. For the one person you didn't know if his 00 car had Dex Cool you can check your owners manual... but who reads that right?
[ 10. July 2004, 08:51 AM: Message edited by: MM ]
-------------------- 2002 SS #5973 Posts: 1045 | From: Seattle, WA | Registered: Nov 2001
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i never had any problems, but we have always flushed out the dexcool and run purple ice within the first 20K miles. what about redline water wetter? anyone use that?
Posts: 39 | From: New Orleans, LA | Registered: Dec 2003
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