Cooling system Flush

[Clem Z.]

Re: Duke, Duke, Duke...

honda had trouble with their motorcycles, the aluminum water impeller would get eaten away by the green stuff and they went to the pink stuff.

[Chas Henderson #28127]

Then what to use?

What is best for a thirty - forty year old car? I thought the pink stuff wasn't good for them and that you should stick to the green anyifreeze.

Chasman

[Duke W.]

Re: Then what to use?

You thought? Okay! What are your technical arguments for or against an inorganic inhibitor package? Organic inhibitor package? Or a hybrid?

Anyone else is welcome to jump in. Let's keep it at a level of good science!

Duke

[Bill B.]

Re: Cooling system Flush

Thank you all for the inputs. I will be draining and adding Dexcool. I learned quite a bit from this thread.

Bill Bonnichsen #32446

[Dick W.]

Re: Then what to use?

From what I have read in atuomotive trade publications, the manufacturers recommend using the Dexcool in the vehicles that came with it and eythelene gycol in the ones that came with it originally. Low silicate antifreeze is available and has been for years. I use a premimum grade antifreeze, using the reagent strips to test the PH everytime that I cange the oil. If needed I add Pencool or the equivilent. I just sold a Chev PU with 175,000 miles on it still with the antifreeze that came in it. Cooling system very clean. Water pump went at 150,000, reused antifreeze. Impeler was like new and area behind pump looked like new cast iron.

[Christopher R.]

Re: Then what to use?

Is Dexcool the orange stuff?

(I know you can't determine type and compatability solely by color.)

[Chuck S.]

Re: Then what to use?

Texaco's product is orange...I assume the other brands are orange as well.

[Duke W.]

Re: Then what to use?

Dexcool is ethylene glycol based, however Dexcool has an organic corrosion inhibitor package versus the inorganic inhibitor package of the "green stuff". Zerex G-05 is a "hybrid". The inhibitor package is basically organic, but it has some inorganics including a small does of silicates.

All of the above are ethylene glycol based.

The residue that green stuff leaves if it seeps is the same material that will eventually clog up the radiator tubes. Dexcool leaves no solid residue from leaks and there is nothing in it that can precipitate out and clog the tubes. The green stuff does provide good corrosion protection, but it will also clog up radiator tubes. So your aluminum (or brass) radiator will not corrode through, but it will eventually clog up. No way around that except to use Dexcool. Dexcool provides at least as good and probably superior corrosion protection and it will not clog up the tubes.

Dexcool is color coded orange and is made by several manufacturers. If the label says "Dexcool" it is the real McCoy regardless of the brand. Dexcool is a patented forumulation with a trademarked name, and a license is required to both produce the product and use the name, so if you use Dexcool the brand name is not important. The only thing to look for is the name "Dexcool" on the package.

Duke

[Terry M.]

Re: Actually...

Just this morning I was in a store, Blaine's Farm and Fleet (not in the city, as you might guess). This is a Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois chain. They had a whole shelf of jugs labeled DEXCOOL. Black bottle, orange cap and the Shell logo on the label. Regular price $6.99.

[Chuck S.]

Terry, It Wouldn't Matter To Me...

If there was a 15000 sqft warehouse locally that was stacked from floor to ceiling with the stuff, and they were passing out free gallon samples in the parking lot, I wouldn't be interested...But I'm glad that all you guys that like it can buy all you want, and cheaply.