If it shortens the life of the dexcool i'm not worried. I change it enough not to worry, but if i add green stuff are they compadable.

 

First off, I don't think so...

Second, read the side of the bottle, it should say...

Third, if you change it often enough not to worry, why do you ask...

Fourth and final answer, if you change it enough not to worry, why don't you change it all over now...

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1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...

-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

dont even think about it. they are not compatable, a mix boils cooler and freezes warmer than either one of them alone, to convert flush repeatedly with heater on high until everything is clean, the advantage is dexcool last alot longer, 3 years vs 1 year. but no one changes either one till something happens anyway!!!!!

------------------
CMSII

 

around here target sells dex cool for $3.25, and regualr antifreeze is 3.96.
which would you buy

 

GM says they shouldn't be mixed, but if they are, the only side effect is that you loose the "5yr/150,000 mile" interval of the dexcool.

------------------
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I've heard its no big deal and i've heard you should flush before changing over. If it were me i'd flush the system then put in the dexcool.

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iso 91/92 camaro. 96Z M6 subframe connectors, boxed trailing arms, tubular panhard rod, BMR stb, SS rims, 6 point cage, other misc. debris

 

The ONLY one I've seen that allows you to mix them is the Prestone "orange" stuff. It's 5yr/60K mile stuff.

But mixing them would defeat the purpose of using the "longer life" stuff anyway. It's like putting water in your oil to make it thinner. Or mixing conventional oil with synthetic. Or putting water in you tires to make them run cooler. They're nice theories, but then again there's "happily married". Talk about an oxymoron!!!!

 

Oh yeah, GM doesn't reccomend converting older cars w/ dexcool if thats what you are asking. The lubricants (yes, antifreeze had lubricants in it) in Dexcool are "supposedly" not compatible w/ older bearings and seals (primarily water pump). If this is true or not, I don't know, but I don't want to risk my water pump while I'm away from home to find out.

------------------
If you live in Southeastern US, check us out!
South East Thirdgen

GM Master Tech
ASE Master Tech + L1
Savannah, GA

'87 Trans Am
S/D TPI retrofit including functional PassKey,
22# injectors,
Whatever chip I feel like burning,
JET AFPR, Ported Plenum,
TB Coolant Bypass, Custom Cold Air,
SSM SFC, KYB Shocks, Boxed LCAs, Wonder Bar,
8mm Accel wires,
Flowmaster Exhaust,
16" GTA rims,
Corvette Servo,
3.73 Posi
4wheel Disc Brakes
Summit 1-5/8" headers, 2.5" Dynomax catback.

Best 1/8: 9.519@72.74

'97 Bonneville SSE

 

What if you have a Stewart high volume water pump, Griffen radiator, new hoses, and rebuilt block from the 4-bolt mains to the roller tip rockers?

Is Dex really that much better then the good old green stuff?

------------------
1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...

-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

It doesn't really cool any better.. But it is somewhat more environmentally friendly than the green stuff. It's also more expensive, but not by much really, and you have the longer life protection part of it.

There IS, however, quite a few TSB's about evaporation problems. But I've personally never seen them.

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89 iroc-z 305 tbi
k&n filtercharger, open element air filter. nuffin' else

 

We use it (ELC) here at the ski resort on everything from liquid cooled 4 wheelers, to our fleet of snowcats. We have been running it for three years now, and the performance has been superb. It slashes cooling system maintenance, and costs less since you only have to replace it every 5 years vs every year for the "green". Plus the burden of getting rid of waste is eliminated because there is no waste. We do a pH test on it every 2000 hrs (once a year), and change the coolant filter every 1000 hrs (~twice a year). Prior to the change over to ELC, we did the pH test every 250 hours, and filter every 500 hours, plus colmpletely changing the fluid (5 gal!) every year on 12 cats. So as you can see, that one change saves us a significant amout of time.

We did notice better cooling out of the extended life when we switched, which I did not expect. The snowcats, due to packaging issues, have small radiators that are barely adequate in the warmer spring time weather. With switch to ELC, we noticed a drop in operating temp in these "warm" (for a snowcat) conditions.

You can go ahead and mix the two types, but as GMtech correctly pointed out, putting the green in will kill the "extended life" properties of the coolant, calling for an annual change again. Based on our service from ELC, I recommend it, and I use it in all my vehicles (with good results there too). But I wonder why someone would use it if they are going to change it annually anyway?

[This message has been edited by Tom 400 CFI (edited July 21, 2001).]

 

my mom recently bought a 98 chevy blazer. it overheated and she took it in under warrenty. the dealer said it over heated due to mixing of the green and dexcool. so they flusshed it and filled it with the dexcool for free since she bought it from them used. they wanted to charge 200 bucks for it but i pointed out their own used car inspection program and how they couldnt be following it and not have notticed the green antifreeze in her blazer. any way look in the owners manuel under schedualed maint. and yes it is 5 year anti-freeze but your still supposed to flush cooling system every year!

 

Dude, maybe YOU should look in your owners manual. Quote from the manual;

"The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with DEX-COOL engine coolant. This coolant is designed to REMAIN IN YOUR VEHICLE for 5 years or 150,000 miles, which ever occurs first, if you add only DEX-COOL extended life coolant"

Notice the "remain in your vehicle" part? Further, in the maintenacne section, there is NO reference to cooling system maintenance untill 150,000 mi at which point and I quote;

"Drain, flush, and refill cooling system (or every 60 months since last service, which ever occurs firts)."

No where does it say to flush it annually. And why would it? Why on earth would they put ELC in there and then require you to drain it, save it, flush system and RE-USE(?) it yearly?! That would totally negate the point of having ELC.

 

I pointed that out too. Give me some credit please. It ain't often that I'm right.

AJ

[This message has been edited by AJ_92RS (edited July 22, 2001).]

 

I've always been told it isn't wise to mix your chemicals, so I stick to that train of thought. I'm nothing more than an novist it best though.

 

WHOOPS! Sorry AJ. You were right too! I just wasn't being very observant. Won't happen again! Sorry.

 

Thanks. I feel better now. I was starting to think I wasn't loved. HEHEHE!!!!!!!
I can't say that I didn't do it.
"My name's AJ and I'm a 'Dexcool/green stuff' user. I just didn't feel like walking to the parts store after I realized I didn't buy enough 'orange stuff'. So I mixed it with 'green stuff'. It's the Prestone 'orange stuff' that says you can mix it with the 'green stuff'. I'm sorry. I didn't realize I had a problem."

HeeHeeHee!!!!!! Seriously, I did do that, but nobody saw me do it, so it doesn't count right? I plan on changing the stuff again before winter. Just needed to get to work the next morning, so I did what I had to. I'm one of those guys who changes things every 2yrs. if it says it'll last 5. Change my oil every 2500 miles instead of 3000. Y'all know what I'm talkin' 'bout, don't cha?