[~JC~]

Dex-cool or sometimes referred to as "Deathcool"

Dex-cool has been being installed in many of GM's cars since the mid 1990's. There is a current class action lawsuit in the courts about the dex-cool antifreeze being used. The complaint is that Dex-cool has caused major damage in many GM vehicles coolant systems. That if the coolant level is permitted to become low and or air enters the closed system the Dex-cool begins to gel clogging the entire system and making engine componets fail. This also occurs if Dex-cool is mixed with other forms of antifreeze like the green stuff.

As far as I can tell no V-8 engines installed in Pontiacs are listed in the lawsuit but the 3.8L used in many of the Grand Prixs are named in the lawsuit.

All this coolant talk got me to wondering about my own vehicle's coolant? GM says the coolant is recommended for 100,000 miles or 5 years before replacing. So, I went and took a look at the catch bottle dip stick and sure enough it had the muddy look sign that's the dead giveaway that it's going bad fast. So, I will be having my cars coolant system flushed ASAP. That runs between $75-$150 depending on where you have it done. A simple drain of the radiator will not surfice as that still leaves about 30% of the coolant retained in the engine block, the whole system needs to be flushed to be of any advantage. I recommend anyone who uses Dex-cool and hasn't checked their fluid in a while to do so. However, don't remove the radiator cap and have a peek that introduces air to the system all one has to do is look at the fluid in the catch can.

I believe I'll do a thread about coolant soon and post it in the mech forum as that would be useful to all us Pontiac owners.

[Stormin]

Is this in all 2002 TA's ?

[~JC~]

Originally Posted by Stormin

Is this in all 2002 TA's ?

Yes, It's been the standard antifreeze for GM vehicles since about 1996...

I'd check mine if I was you? As I stated earlier I looked at mine on the coolant level dip stick and while it's not terrible it has undergone the color transfer that idicates it needs replacing immediately. It sort of looks like a dirty white film color on the dip stick, it hasn't turned to the globbed jello sticky stuff yet but it's well on it's way. This is something that needs to be addressed post haste if you find the same condition. A flush and new fluid seems a bit high at basically $100 but that's a small price to pay considering having to replace a radiator, heater core, head & intake gaskets and possible an engine should it get into the oil...

I don't have nor see a problem with replacing the coolant again with Dex-cool. It's done it's job well and got 5+ years out of it, when the old style type coolant required changing every two years. I'll be going back with Dex-cool. Mostly from what I've seen and read is the Dex-cool had less to do with the problem of the 3.8L V6's and the 4.3L V6's than their poor gasket designs.

Dex-cool has a pinkish-red look to it but GM refers to it's color as orange.

Older cars used to use the old green stuff but that isn't good for Aluminum engines. The green stuff is fine for the old iron blocks but I wouldn't even use that stuff these days. Nearly 99% of the radiators in vehicles even those going back into the 1960's are aluminum. Furthermore when you start putting aluminum heads and intakes on iron blocks your just adding to the problem when using the green stuff. That green stuff really doesn't like aluminum it eats at it and turns it to swiss cheese around the ports where the coolant flows (I've seen the damge it does first hand and it looks like what battery acid will do to your favorite jeans). If I had an engine like that I can't say I would recommend Dex-cool but I sure as heck wouldn't use the green stuff, theres other products on the market that's aluminum friendly...

In our case since Dex-cool was orginially used it's best to continue with it's use. I'm not saying one has to use the Dex-cool by GM any other company that makes the Dex-cool type would be fine to use. Dex-cool is only a trade mark name and it was developed by Texxco in partnership with GM. I believe Havoline and Prestone make a Dex-cool product these days that would meet the same quality as the orginal Dex-cool. I just know it will be easier to have the GM Dex-cool put in since I will take it to the dealership to have the system flushed.

Plus the Dex-cool at the dealership comes in a pre mix of 50/50. I can't stress this enough and it might seem silly to some people but you really don't want to put tap water into a cooling system. We are all grateful that the water treatment plants do a fine job of making are water drinkable but tap water still contains way too many contaminates like metals and minerals. Distilled water is the only for sure fire way to get straight purfied water.

[gtovicki]

THANKS FOR THE INFO . . .
MINE IS STILL PINK, WILL KEEP AN EYE ON IT