what type of coolant do i use?

[gride300]

i have an 05 210 with closed loop cooling. the dealer installed the system and it came with green. i was just on pcm's site and it said use the pink or orange 50/50 with my system. the left over bottle is straight up, not 50/50. did i get screwed and either way what should i use to refill. thanks alot.

[kevfran99]

RE: what type of coolant do i use?

on the automotive side of things.......GM invented the dexcol (red or orange) coolant. There are many mechanics out there that think this stuff is awful! If you don't change it consistantly it will sludge up on you. If you have green now there's nothing to worry about as long as the red was flushed completely out. I would stick with the green. It's known not to eat up gaskets like the red stuff! GL

[gride300]

RE: what type of coolant do i use?

thanks, i've always had green. do i need to go get the 50/50 stuff or use the regular(what i have) and just dump it in

[gride300]

RE: what type of coolant do i use?

i just read the manual. i'm going to take back the stuff i bought today for some dexcool 50/50. thanks

[kevfran99]

RE: what type of coolant do i use?

I wouldn't! Keep the green stuff. Call some of your local mechanics and ask their opinion about the red coolant and you'll find out for yourself!

[gride300]

RE: what type of coolant do i use?

is the 50/50 green too

[AirTool]

RE: what type of coolant do i use?

The 50/50 is the ratio of antifreeze to water and unrelated to your question/problem. I can clear all that up later but first we need to resolve the color issue.

Before I tell you facts plus my opinion, what brand / type is the green antifreeze you have now?

AirTool

[gride300]

RE: what type of coolant do i use?

i have some havoline long life that came from the dealer(they left it in my boat after putting it in). i was doing some reading trying to resolve this myself and on the coolant fill station of my e ngine it says use 50/50 dex long life or whatever, which is not what was in my boat that the dealer poured in. i live in mobile, al and it is starting to get down to low 50's already. i am planning on using the boat sunday, then taking it to the dealer to be winterized and stored. i checked my oil today and it is normal color, texture, level, etc as to my prior questions about the coolant leak.

[DanielC]

RE: what type of coolant do i use?

I too have heard about the Dex-cool jelling in cooling systems if it gets contaminated.
I would continue to use it, if it was necessary to keep any engine warrenty. Consult your dealer.
If the warrenty period of your boat is past, I would use the green stuff.
I would change the coolant, and flush the system every year.
It is not worth the problems and parts replacement that would be necessary if the coolant jells, and plugs something up.

[AirTool]

RE: what type of coolant do i use?

Some bullets:

1. If you have the long life "dex cool", you should be "officially" okay....especially if the dealer put it in. I'm not sure if you are still under warranty. The only long-life I see on the website is the dex cool and the MSDS states it is orange.

2. Havoline states newer GM cars which specify DEX-COOL cannot run the "green stuff" or even yellow-colored hybrid coolants like Havoline Custom Made. The other two Havoline coolants are not titled "long life" so I'm confused.

http://www.texaco.com/yourcar/havoli...ghtCoolant.asp

3. GM came out with dex-cool and everyone else a "long life" antifreeze to be more compatible with aluminum intakes, heads, etc. I think they also reduced the pH to be more acidic...which I feel is the most important part. I have seen "green" non-dexcool that state okay for dexcool use.

4. I still haven't figured out which antifreeze you have.

5. The ratio of antifreeze to water determines the freezing and boiling points. Google it and there will be good write ups to explain. If you run dex cool at 50/50 it has a certain freezing point, you'll need to read the label. 60 dex / 40 water will have a lower freezing point and higher boiling point. BUT as others have stated, dexcool starts sludging above 60/40. The sludge will dissolve later with clean antifreeze...but we should avoid it to begin with.

6. AutoZone will lend you a pressure tester to pump up your system and look for leaks. Not sure, though, they will have the right adapter to screw on your reservoir.

7. You can check the freezing point of your fluid "mix" by measuring the specific gravity. There are at least three types of tools:

a: a real hydrometer is best...needs to read 1.0 to 1.1 or so.

b: a $5 antifreeze checker with a float - better than nothing.

c: a 99 cent "eye dropper" type with plastic balls in side...useless!

AirTool

[gride300]

RE: what type of coolant do i use?

i'm confused, if i get 50/50 do i have to mix it with water or can i pour it in? for the temp's right now that's what i want. i just dont want to pour the 50/50 in needing to have added water. no warranty.

[gride300]

RE: what type of coolant do i use?

so it's Havoline extended life anti-freeze/coolant 5 year 150,000mile dex-cool gm approved on the back it says coolant concentration:60coolant/40water protects to -62'f boil over 270'f and a 50/50 mix is -34'f freeze protection and 265'f boil over based on 15lb pressure cap. please hook it up with step my step instructions.

-forget the post before this about temperature. i didnt notice it was negative for the freezing point.

[AirTool]

RE: what type of coolant do i use?

If you have 50/50, just pour it in.

If you have the pure stuff, mix it half and half with distilled water.

What most of us do is save one of the empty bottles from the pure stuff and pour half of a new pure one in and then fill both bottles with distilled water to get 50/50. Then write 50/50 on the bottles with a sharpie.

AirTool

[gride300]

RE: what type of coolant do i use?

thanks, airtool. i'm just going to get some 50/50 but i appreciate it.

[AirTool]

RE: what type of coolant do i use?

You need to also find the leak.

You might want to look for it next trip out....look just before your system heats up fully. "Pressure" will be high but leaks won't evaporate so quickly because the temp is not so hot.

AirTool