I'm getting ready to put some heat in my car. It's a TPI motor and the original owner, in Florida had the heat disconnected. I'm gonna take coolant from the intake manifold and put it back at the W/P. My question is will the dexcool (orange) coolant I have in there now eat up my heater core? I've heard that it will, but thought I'd get some opinions.

ive never heard of that personally, but if you are concerned that it may, just drain it all out and use green stuff, its probably about time to change it anyway

I've never heard of this but I would like to know more. Who did you hear from that it would eat the heater core? And why wouldn't you just use Peak, why Dex-cool?

I've heard that you can't put Dexcool into a vehicle that previously had the normal green coolant. But I couldn't tell you why.

I heard it from a guy I work with... been a mechanic for quite some time. I use the dex cool because that's what came in the car . I guess just to be on the safe side I'll flush it and put the good ole green stuff back.

well its common knowledge that mixing the two color anti-freezes causes AIDS

All i can think is that the coolant would then be a very dark, brownish color and not very appealing, probably the only "real" reason

Do not mix the two types of coolant. If mixed they create a sludge that will clog up heater cores, radiators, etc. One or the other. If you want to switch, a complete flush, with the "water running clear" is the only way to go. Then use whichever you decide is best......

I won't be mixing coolant types.... it already has nice orange dex cool in it. I'm trying to find out whether or not it will eat the brass or copper or whatever non-aluminum metal it is that my heater core is made out of.

that and dexcool loves to eat intake gaskets away, aluminum parts and anything else it touches.

the world was open to it when it first came out in 95/96 but its problems became aparent.

theres atleast 1 GM car in our shop everyweek with a "Check out coolant leak" and its always a dexcool car thats eaten through its gasket or thermostat housing, or anything aluminum

just something to conside

Yeah, don't use dexcool. Don't mix it, don't buy it. After you drain it all out, make DAMN sure that you flush it until clear water comes out!

Dexcool is death to cooling systems yet perfect for people who SELL new cars. It's guaranteed to outlast the warranty and then bring the car to the shop after the warranty expires!

Well... I guess that settles it... green stuff it is! Thanks everyone for the input.

yeah completely flush it out, id then run it with plain water too. You have to make sure there isnt a spec of dexcool. Dexcool sucks, if you have a new car that already has it thats okay but for our cars stick with the green stuff. Prestone is my favorite antifreeze. You shouldn't have to use much of it if you are in florida. Oh and don't be surprised if the heater core is leaking, thats probably why it was disconected.

I'll tell you another thing; you may also want to think about adding nalcool to your antifreeze after you fill it with green stuff.

It's the inhibitor that we run in alot of diesels. It keeps everything inside corrosion free and clean. You can get it at NAPA and they call it napakool.

Hahahahaha!

Seriously though, be careful. I put dex cool in my old 91 3.1 after having had the green stuff in it. Clogged the sh*t out of my radiator.

Never heard of it, but I know prestone super anti rust works good, I run that with straight water in the summer.

Dex Cool SUCKS!!! Horrible nasty rust orange sludge. It seemed like a good idea when it came out until my car began to overheat. The radiator core became clogged. Took me forever to flush the engine completely. Back to the green stuff for me. Car runs cooler now too. Well at least the way it did before the Dex Cool conversion.

dex cool was supposed to be better for aluminum components. but from my experiences its just the opposite. i stick with the green stuff.

Dexcool is EXCELLENT stuff.

Where people run into problems with dexcool, is it doesnt like air and it MUST be used with deionized water.

If you put tap water into it, or you got air in the system, it breaks down, causing clogs and the other BS

I had dexcool in my 5.3L running through my heater last season, worked like a charm. Oh, and with my iron block.

People who think its no good, have no idea how to use it.

But who wants to have the inconvenience of finding deionized water?

Hello, I just bought a car from Florida, and it has NO HEAT. When you say it was "disconnected" what do you mean..???