coolant qusetion???? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

54 jimmy · 03-25-2014, 09:14 PM

ok my 1997 chevy k1500 5.7 has dex cool coolant. I want to service the cooling system. do I put dex cool back in it or do I put the regular green coolant in it??????

Blue97 · 03-25-2014, 09:51 PM

I have always put the Dex back in it........I have already done the intake gasket upgrade so im not worried............

buddy_1 · 03-25-2014, 10:22 PM

Definitely use the Dex-cool. When you mix the green with Dex it causes a chemical reaction that makes a brown sludge like foam. It is next to impossible to flush out. I've had customers that did it and it took several complete drain out, flushes and refills with water to flush again. Depending on how much they added to the system, it would sometimes still get some signs of the sludge returning after all the flushing. Buddy

speedygonzales · 03-26-2014, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue97

I have always put the Dex back in it........I have already done the intake gasket upgrade so im not worried............

Is there some underlying point here?

Personally don't like Dexcool and got rid of it in mine the first time I had to change the intake manifold gaskets.

Now that I finally found the metal gaskets(I think the ones referred to above), all is great. Incidentally with the plastic OEM gaskets, it did not matter what coolant was in there, they fail too quickly.

54 jimmy · 03-26-2014, 10:30 AM

ok I will have to check but I think my truck still has the oe intake gaskets on it. 169000 miles on the truck. I will put dex cool back in it then.

likaroc13 · 03-26-2014, 05:42 PM

Hmmm...my '97 Tahoe has the green coolant. I do know that the intake gaskets were done not long after the previous owner acquired it. I assume they changed it out then.

61_FL_Apache · 03-26-2014, 06:59 PM

Mine came with the green stuff so I stick with that. Its clear and green..

**Boog** · 03-26-2014, 08:29 PM

From what I've been told the Dexcool is fine if no air is allowed into the system. I also hear it is corrosive. I have never had a problem with good old Prestone green. I flush my new purchases and refill with the green.
I just had a head replaced on my 06 and the guy put the Dex in it since that's what it originally came with. I will be draining that out as well.

54 jimmy · 03-28-2014, 06:41 PM

going with the good old green stuff. heard a lot of bad about the dex cool. thanks for the advice.

54 jimmy · 04-01-2014, 08:19 PM

well I swapped to the green. did a good flush and filled it up with green. all good.

400sbctruck · 04-08-2014, 10:15 AM

Dexcool has a bad rep due to some overlooked info.
Deionized water is the key.

You can actually mix green and dex if you use deionized water.

The intake gasket had nothing to do with coolant, it was a weak design. Ford 4.6 had same problem and they didnt use dexcool!
Thing about green is you can get by with improper engine grounding a little longer than dex. But antifreeze isnt a band-aid!!!

03-25-2014, 09:14 PM	#1
54 jimmy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: pittston,PA Posts: 1,184	coolant qusetion???? ok my 1997 chevy k1500 5.7 has dex cool coolant. I want to service the cooling system. do I put dex cool back in it or do I put the regular green coolant in it?????? __________________ There is nothing you can't fix with a BFH or a FIRE WRENCH. 1997 chevy k1500 ext cab z71 (daily driver) sold 1996 chevy k1500 reg cab 4x4(daily driver)totaled 2008jeep patriot (wife's daily driver 2008 chevy 1500 ext cab 4x4 sold 2011 chevy 1500 crew cab ltz (daily driver) 1996 chevy 1500 reg cab 4x4 project sold 2006 pontiac grand prix gxp (daily work commuter)

03-25-2014, 09:51 PM	#2
Blue97 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Fort Mohave/BHC AZ Posts: 349	Re: coolant qusetion???? I have always put the Dex back in it........I have already done the intake gasket upgrade so im not worried............

03-25-2014, 10:22 PM	#3
buddy_1 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Humble, Texas Posts: 185	Re: coolant qusetion???? Definitely use the Dex-cool. When you mix the green with Dex it causes a chemical reaction that makes a brown sludge like foam. It is next to impossible to flush out. I've had customers that did it and it took several complete drain out, flushes and refills with water to flush again. Depending on how much they added to the system, it would sometimes still get some signs of the sludge returning after all the flushing. Buddy __________________ I know the "VOICES" aren't real but they have some great ideas. 1978 GMC Sierra Classic C25 1983 Datsun 280ZX Turbo 1997 Chevy Cheyenne K2500 1999 Polaris Sport 400

03-26-2014, 10:30 AM	#5
54 jimmy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: pittston,PA Posts: 1,184	Re: coolant qusetion???? ok I will have to check but I think my truck still has the oe intake gaskets on it. 169000 miles on the truck. I will put dex cool back in it then. __________________ There is nothing you can't fix with a BFH or a FIRE WRENCH. 1997 chevy k1500 ext cab z71 (daily driver) sold 1996 chevy k1500 reg cab 4x4(daily driver)totaled 2008jeep patriot (wife's daily driver 2008 chevy 1500 ext cab 4x4 sold 2011 chevy 1500 crew cab ltz (daily driver) 1996 chevy 1500 reg cab 4x4 project sold 2006 pontiac grand prix gxp (daily work commuter)

03-26-2014, 05:42 PM	#6
likaroc13 Rollin' Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 5,371	Re: coolant qusetion???? Hmmm...my '97 Tahoe has the green coolant. I do know that the intake gaskets were done not long after the previous owner acquired it. I assume they changed it out then. __________________ _____________________________________________ Phillip My Build threads: 1966 Chevy C-10 "Black Betty" shortbed, fleetside, BBW, 327 V8/ Powerglide (under construction) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ighlight=betty 1997 Chevy Tahoe, 2dr/2wd, mild custom (Daily driver) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=601142 Pics: '66 C-10 https://flic.kr/s/aHsjHWD4h9 '97 Tahoe https://flic.kr/s/aHsjGZ7wKP '93 C-1500 https://flic.kr/s/aHskxdpdnQ '88 S-10 Blazer https://flic.kr/s/aHsjYGx4Md Previous Rides: 1993 Chevy S-10 ext. cab, 4.3L, 4/5 drop (Sold) 1993 Chevy C-1500 short/step Retro-Rod (Sold) 1988 S-10 Blazer 2dr/2wd mild custom (Sold)

03-26-2014, 06:59 PM	#7
61_FL_Apache Who Me? Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Royal Palm Beach, FL Posts: 4,067	Re: coolant qusetion???? Mine came with the green stuff so I stick with that. Its clear and green.. __________________ Steve 1997 Tahoe LT 4D 2WD (DD) 2001 Blazer 4D 2WD 1961 Apache 10 (sold) 1965 C10 Stepper (sold)

03-26-2014, 08:29 PM	#8
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,698	Re: coolant qusetion???? From what I've been told the Dexcool is fine if no air is allowed into the system. I also hear it is corrosive. I have never had a problem with good old Prestone green. I flush my new purchases and refill with the green. I just had a head replaced on my 06 and the guy put the Dex in it since that's what it originally came with. I will be draining that out as well. __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

03-28-2014, 06:41 PM	#9
54 jimmy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: pittston,PA Posts: 1,184	Re: coolant qusetion???? going with the good old green stuff. heard a lot of bad about the dex cool. thanks for the advice. __________________ There is nothing you can't fix with a BFH or a FIRE WRENCH. 1997 chevy k1500 ext cab z71 (daily driver) sold 1996 chevy k1500 reg cab 4x4(daily driver)totaled 2008jeep patriot (wife's daily driver 2008 chevy 1500 ext cab 4x4 sold 2011 chevy 1500 crew cab ltz (daily driver) 1996 chevy 1500 reg cab 4x4 project sold 2006 pontiac grand prix gxp (daily work commuter)

04-01-2014, 08:19 PM	#10
54 jimmy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: pittston,PA Posts: 1,184	Re: coolant qusetion???? well I swapped to the green. did a good flush and filled it up with green. all good. __________________ There is nothing you can't fix with a BFH or a FIRE WRENCH. 1997 chevy k1500 ext cab z71 (daily driver) sold 1996 chevy k1500 reg cab 4x4(daily driver)totaled 2008jeep patriot (wife's daily driver 2008 chevy 1500 ext cab 4x4 sold 2011 chevy 1500 crew cab ltz (daily driver) 1996 chevy 1500 reg cab 4x4 project sold 2006 pontiac grand prix gxp (daily work commuter)

04-08-2014, 10:15 AM	#11
400sbctruck Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Jackson,tn Posts: 70	Re: coolant qusetion???? Dexcool has a bad rep due to some overlooked info. Deionized water is the key. You can actually mix green and dex if you use deionized water. The intake gasket had nothing to do with coolant, it was a weak design. Ford 4.6 had same problem and they didnt use dexcool! Thing about green is you can get by with improper engine grounding a little longer than dex. But antifreeze isnt a band-aid!!!



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