Mr31FlavorsVette

"Prestone® Extended Life Antifreeze/Coolant is compatible with ANY antifreeze/coolant – regardless of color – for use in ALL makes or models of cars and light duty trucks. This patented formula provides a high degree of performance durability and carefully balanced protection against temperature extremes and rust and corrosion of all cooling system metals, including aluminum."

Did you do a total flush as others have posted or just a normal drain and refill?

killain

There is NOTHING wrong with DexCool chemical construction. The only problem anyone ever has with the coolant is if for some reason they fail to read their cars Owners Manual. DexCool is what GM wanted to be used in your 2002. There's only one problem with the coolant is if it is exposed to the atmosphere air. Then it does what it was engineered to do and that is become inert. If this upsets you direct your anger at the EPA as they are the ones who decided it's construction and it's use in all modern automobiles built in the United States and any imported.


I'm quite sure once you have done a really good flush it will be perfectly clean, but at that point stop, 1. Look over every single hose and your radiator and anything the coolant is passes through. Your cooling system MUST be completely leak-proof. Otherwise the new DexCool will suffer a similar demise as the current 11 year old stuff. And 2. Make sure you change the coolant every 5 years. Lets face it, changing your coolant every 5 years is pretty cheap, cost me $41 every five years to have it serviced. Good luck and please read your owners manual. If you have a 5 speed transmission, . . . I'll bet you clutch fluid is also way overdo for a flush and refill. Good Luck !

Camjamsdad

Funny. My owners manual is worded differently than one I found in PDF form. Its much more graphic in describing the evilness of other coolants, but still here's the wording about other coolants.

If coolant other than DEX-COOL is added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the
engine coolant will require change sooner -- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first.

Notice the word "may", as long as you use silicate free antifreeze you're ok for 24 months, 30,000 miles. Dexcool is a 5 year fluid. I wouldnt leave any type of fluid in any loacation in my car for 5 years.

85corvettec4

could try the pure glycol stuff. i would if it wasnt so darn expensive

JETninja

Mine could have had the original fill (bought my '04Z with 17K on it) so I drained it as much as I could and refilled with a Dex-Cool/Water mix and its been fine. Orange in the Vette, and BMW Blue in the M3....

thealien

My mechanic said no need to flush, but I did.

baxsom

Aren't our radiators aluminum? green coolant is not compatible with aluminum radiators.

hougland

Totally agree with you, we have 18 mechanics in the company and none of them like Dex cool.

84REDCROSSFIRE

I just drain and refill the radiator every two years with 50/50 in the corvette, and every year on my higher millage driven vehicles. About 1/2 of the coolant comes out that way. I have done this with all my vehicles that have a "extended life antifreeze" and never had a problem yet. It only takes a few minutes, a lot easier than doing a complete flush.

RedC5

This is why I drill pump siphon the overflow to get fresh coolant in the system every year --easy ultra fast job!

_r2h

I just pull the rad plug every two years and replace whatever came out. Refill with Dex. Always looks fantastic. 2003 with 71k on it, nothing in the bay has been touched since it left the factory.

C5R USA

Can't argue with this, green has never been unreliable.

crazystevex

At 90k miles and 12 years the factory dex looked normal coming out and fresh dex went back in. no issues here.

killain

Not wanting to be sarcastic, but why would you drain the DexCool every two years ????? The fresh DexCool coolant is good for 5 years. I mean why would you cut yourself short just because it's half the time it is good ? If you don't have any leaks and the coolant never comes into contact with the air, it won't fail you ? Not judging, . . . just wondering.

BAKnBLK2010

You are the "nut" my friend.....

TGO

LOL no it wasn't. Or your motor would be toast.

grsweet

TOTALLY agree!!!!! I've been advised to do the same thing with my '98 by a very knowledgeable person who owns his own Corvette shop and has had personal experience with this.

4deatr

Evans coolant is what I use.
http://www.evanscooling.com/products/coolants/