Can I use regular antifreeze instead of Dex cool? Firstly, Dex-Cool and traditional anti-freeze don't mix well . Though they can work together in a pinch, after extended use, they can react and create a gel, which can be very damaging to multiple components of your cooling system. For that reason, the best thing for your Chevy or GM vehicle is to stick with Dex-Cool.
What happens if I put green antifreeze instead of Dex-cool?
The green and orange coolants do not mix. When mixed together they form a gel-like substance that stops coolant flow, and consequently, the engine overheats .
Can you change from Dexcool to regular antifreeze?
If you want to change over to the traditional coolant from Dexcool (I would, I've gotten to see some of the damage it's done on fairly new vehicles) then you need to flush the system . How I've seen shops do this is to start the car up and let the engine run a bit to build the coolant pressure.
What antifreeze is compatible with Dexcool?
Prestone® Prime® DEXCOOL® Compatible Orange Antifreeze + Coolant – Prestone® Total Protection.
Can Prestone antifreeze be mixed with DexCool?
The answer of whether or not Prestone antifreeze and Dex-cool can be mixed together. The answer is yes . They are both ethylene glycol-based types of antifreeze and will mix together without any problems.
Is all red antifreeze Dexcool?
One myth is that all red anti-freezes are Dexcool® . There are standard anti-freezes that are red and cars that have Dexcool® will be labeled as such. Another myth is that Dexcool® is not glycol based.
What happens if you put the wrong coolant in your car?
What happens if you mix Dex-cool with regular antifreeze?
Firstly, Dex-Cool and traditional anti-freeze don't mix well. Though they can work together in a pinch, after extended use, they can react and create a gel, which can be very damaging to multiple components of your cooling system .
How do I get rid of Dexcool?
When did GM stop using Dex-cool?
Dex-Cool, which is made by Texaco, is being used exclusively by General Motors in some buildout 1995 models and all 1996 cars and trucks except Saturn and Geo. GM postponed using Dex-Cool in Saturn cars until the 1997 model year because it did not have enough data to make use of the new coolant possible in 1996 models.
Is Prestone Dex Cool compatible?
Prestone® Dex-Cool® Premixed LongLife® Antifreeze/ Coolant has been approved by General Motors under their DEX-COOL® specifications and is compatible with other DEX-COOL® approved coolants .
Why does GM use Dexcool?
Is all orange antifreeze the same?
Coolant manufacturers updated the formula to combat corrosion in new materials and changed the color to orange . While OAT antifreeze is designed to last much longer than IAT antifreeze, it's still a good idea to have your orange coolant checked about every 50,000 miles.
What is compatible with Dex cool?
ACDelco DEX-COOL® is compatible with most other coolants based on ethylene glycol . Exclusive use of ACDelco DEX-COOL® is however recommended for optimum corrosion protection and sludge control.
Is green or orange antifreeze better?
The main difference between green and orange antifreeze is the ingredients. Green coolant uses inorganic additive technology while orange uses organic acid technology. Orange is better suited for newer cars with an aluminum block, while green is better for older cars .
Is it OK to mix coolant brands?
The short answer is that you can mix different coolant brands and mixtures as long as they are the same type of coolant . The color doesn't matter as much since it's just a dye.
Why is some antifreeze red?
Red antifreeze is produced from HOAT (hybrid organic acid technology), which is a combination of both inorganic acid technology and organic acid technology . Green antifreeze is produced from IAT (inorganic acid technology). Red antifreeze is more stable compared to green antifreeze.
Is Prestone Dex Cool premixed?
Prestone DEX-COOLTM 50/50 Premixed AntiFreeze+Coolant, 3.78-L.
Can I use green antifreeze instead of red?
What is this? In fact, if you were to mix green and red antifreeze together, it would end up creating a thick gel that would fail to flow through your cooling system properly . This can cause overheating, as well as damage to various components of your car's cooling system.
Does it matter what color antifreeze you use?
The truth is, color is not a reliable predictor for what type of coolant you have .
What color is universal coolant?
Traditional North American “ green ” antifreeze, the original “universal” formula that everybody used until the introduction of today's extended-life coolants.
How long can I drive with the wrong coolant?
Physical mixing is just putting a coolant into another coolant, while chemical mixing pertains to the proper combination of minerals in an isolated environment. However, hybrid coolants can take you for a total driving distance of 30,000 miles or more . This distance is only an estimation.
Can I mix green and yellow antifreeze?
The most important thing is to not mix coolant from a different color. If your engine has yellow coolant, you should leave it as it is, don't pour green or blue or red . This will possibly damage your cooling ability.
What antifreeze is pink?
Zerex Fully Formulated 50/50 Prediluted Ready-to-Use Antifreeze/Coolant from Valvoline is a complete ethylene glycol-based formulation designed to meet the harsher demands of heavy-duty diesel engines such as Cummins, DDC, MACK, Navistar and Paccar.
Is it OK to mix pink and yellow coolant?
You can mix two different colors of the same kind of coolant without any problem whatsoever . But if you mix a significant amount of one type in with the other type, you're weakening your corrosion inhibitors (it happened to my brother, and look at the condition he's in now).
How often should you change Dexcool?
No problems experienced with the cooling system and plenty of heat from the heater core. GM says that DEX-COOL is only good for five years / 150,000 miles before it must be changed out.
Will cascade clean a radiator?
Cascade needs to be dissolved in a solution of water when added so it will flow from the coolant tank to the radiator . Fill up a gallon jug with water and 2 or 3 cups of Cascade mixed up. Drain radiator. Then fill with tap water.
Can you use Dex cool in older cars?
93 was still the green stuff. You can use Dex-cool in any year, just make sure you flush it completely . The two coolants are not compatible with one another.
Is Prestone GM approved?
Does Walmart carry Dexcool antifreeze?
(3 Pack) Prestone DEX-COOL Antifreeze+Coolant; Extended Life -1 Gal- Ready to Use, 50/50 – Walmart.com .
Is Prestone Dex-Cool orange?
Prestone DEX-COOL (orange) antifreeze+coolant (AFC) is specially designed to work with All GM vehicles 1995 & newer; ‘GM approved formula' (GMC, Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, Pontiac, Saturn, Oldsmobile, Hummer), most Ford vehicles 2011 – 2018 (Ford, Lincoln, Mercury) and most FCA vehicles 2013 & newer (Ram, Dodge, Jeep, ...
What year did GM switch to Dexcool?
Is Dex cool the same as Ford orange?
The new Ford coolant is OAT and is not compatible with DEXCOOL . You cannot go by the color of coolant anymore an have to use only the one that meets the specifications of your vehicle. Using the incorrect coolant can damage cooling system components and cause engine components damage or overheating.
What engine coolant is orange?
One of the new types is “ organic acid technology ,” or OAT. It's orange. General Motors pioneered this chemistry starting with 1996 models in the U.S. and using the name Dex-Cool.
What can I mix with Dex cool?
On GM's own consumer site, the debate regarding its Dexcool antifreeze continues. And in mixing any antifreeze with water for a 50/50 mix, the use of distilled water is highly recommended. I mix it with distilled water and some water wetter from Redline . GM service procedures simply state ‘clean drinking water'.
What goes in Dex cool?
ACDelco GM OE Dex-Cool Antifreeze Extended Life Coolant Concentrate is an orange, silicate and phosphate free, premium-grade coolant/antifreeze that is formulated with a chemical composition that minimizes breakdown of metal components in contact with the fluid.
