anitfreeze

[76bonanza]

Any suggestions on brand or are they all about the same.

[8bolt]

I use prestone mixed 50/50 good for about -40 and never had a over heating problem.

[Longhorn Man]

just stick with a name brand, 50/50, and not the red stuff.

[Chrome8]

Longhorn man, why don't you like the orange(red) stuff? Just courious. I work at a GM dealership and can tell you it doesn't last for 150k, but will go for about 3-4 years.

[Longhorn Man]

I've chainged out way too many clogged heater cores from that dex-cool. I work on fleet trucks, and I see the red and the green go side by side and the vehicles with the red stuff is way more likely to clog up the heater core and fill the bottom of the rad with sludge.
You mention lasting 3 - 4 years... if you test the green stuff every year, and add some chemicals when the test strips tell you, then the green stuff can last just as long, if not longer.
We put regular green stuff in Over the road trucks and semis that get 100,000 + miles a year, and it stays there for years at a time. Typicly 3 years or so.

[MACO]

Funny thing you should mention the "RED" antifreeze
I work for Lexus/Toyota and all our cars come with red antifreeze
There has been a long standing debate as to which is better red or green coolant
According to the manufacturer of the coolant it is all he same just different color dyes, that is for the stuff we use.

[whitesswj]

There are only two or three mfgrs of antifreeze in the US. Prestone makes the walmart brand. That's what i've been using for years. and now prestone makes their green to mix with any color, even purple, yes purple
sw

[72freak]

I am involved with several big truck shops in the Metro Atlanta area and the first thing they do when a GM product comes throught the doors is drain the Red antfreeze out and put green in. They all say the red eats the engine seals (especially in a diesel) and clogs the system. I am sure that GM and the antifreze companies could NOT BE WRONG...but who do you trust? THE MAN or the man who has to fix it?????

[ACES]

I don't like Dexcool either, but when I replace it, I put in something compatible with Dexcool. I've heard that if you mix something not compatible, thats when you really have problems.

I like my antifreeze the same color as my beer on St. Patty's day. GREEN!!

[Longhorn Man]

you do have to flush the crap out REAL good or it will solidify in the system.


Very well put... but who do you trust? THE MAN or the man who has to fix it?????

[CochinoFilipino]

I use that non-toxic stuff, Sierra. It's green in color and green as in OK for the environment. But where I live, it's more about being anti corrosion than antifreeze. And not being a professional mechanic, I haven't seen the effects of various products to compare them.

[tcoop68]

I have always been told that the newer colored antifreeze does'nt eat on the aluminum that is on the newer motors,I have seen some intakes that got pitted up like it had acid poured on it where the coolant passes through.There is a lot of aluminum blocks out there now days.I think if you change your fluid every two or three years it should'nt cause any problems.If you have an old motor stay with the old green stuff.

[Longhorn Man]

Originally Posted by tcoop68

I have always been told that the newer colored antifreeze does'nt eat on the aluminum that is on the newer motors,I have seen some intakes that got pitted up like it had acid poured on it where the coolant passes through.There is a lot of aluminum blocks out there now days.I think if you change your fluid every two or three years it should'nt cause any problems.If you have an old motor stay with the old green stuff.

That is why you test your coolant for Ph levels and stuff. There's additives you can dump in that'll fix that.
Use bottled water and green coolant, and it'll be fine for 2 years without even touching.

[dougs69c10]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

I've chainged out way too many clogged heater cores from that dex-cool. I work on fleet trucks, and I see the red and the green go side by side and the vehicles with the red stuff is way more likely to clog up the heater core and fill the bottom of the rad with sludge.
You mention lasting 3 - 4 years... if you test the green stuff every year, and add some chemicals when the test strips tell you, then the green stuff can last just as long, if not longer.
We put regular green stuff in Over the road trucks and semis that get 100,000 + miles a year, and it stays there for years at a time. Typicly 3 years or so.

couldnt have said it myself, Ive seen way to many cars sludged up with that dex cool crap.

Im surprised gm hasnt been nailed for false advertisement on that stuff, 150k my ass