I am considering using Dexcool for my formula when I put the 3.4-liter engine back together. I have used this stuff before when I worked in a Cadillac dealership but I don’t know if it has the same thermal transfer abilities as a 50/50 mix of ethylene glycol. The only benefits I see are the extended coolant life and better lubrication. Does anyone know if Dexcool offers better thermal transfer of heat than ethylene glycol?

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I work for a GM dealer and would NEVER put dex-cool SLUDGE in any thing I wanted to keep. It is not what GM wanted it to be. Daily we are back flushing plugged heater cores at 30k or less. I have nothing good to say about dex cool. You would be very disappointed in dex cool-I am every day.

I know there are quite a few people on here who run DexCool, and with no problems. But I remember reading a tech article/bulletin about a year ago, about running the new stuff in systems originally designed for glycol. The article stronly urged readers not to make the switch. I've never had a problem with the green stuff, so have never had the urge to switch. I wouldn't do it though.

The only thing I know about the dex-cool in my dads truck is that it reminds me of the stuff in Ghostbusters 2. Also, in 22k miles since it was new, the level of it in the recovery tank has dropped more than an inch. Maybe its just the new truck eating some of it, or maybe it up an vanished. I dont know.

I have a 180 degree thermostat and have no problems with engine temps at all, running the green stuff.

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'87 Coupe 5spd.
AIM:FieroJoe87

Well I can't argue with a guy who works with the stuff every day. fiero56 you’re right about the Ethylene Glycol, I didn't have any problems with it either so I may as well keep it.

Thanks.

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The best all around antifreze product is made for Mercedes-Benz. It has excellent heat transfer properties and is the best you can get for protecting aluminum (not a big consideration in the Fiero since it has iron heads) I ran it in my Eagle Talon Turbo and it peformed as well or slightly better than a 70/30 water/eg mix with Redline water wetter. The M-B fluid costs about 1.5x the price of Prestone or equivalent. The only other problem is that you can't mix it with regular af, so you need to keep some handy for top ups.

Dexcool is still ethylene glycol. It has a diferant additive package than traditional antifreeze. For one thing it doesn't contain silicates which are a major portion of what spoils in traditional coolant.

quote Originally posted by fiero56: I know there are quite a few people on here who run DexCool, and with no problems. But I remember reading a tech article/bulletin about a year ago, about running the new stuff in systems originally designed for glycol...

I'm among those. I've converted an '86 305, an '88 262, and a '94 LT1 - all with no problems. The key is getting a complete flush and having a very tightly sealed engine. I store several cars for several months a year, and I was getting very tired of changing heater cores that rotted out from sitting idle. I do know that the aditives in DexCool make it less viscous, and it has a slightly better heat transfer (and the tendency to leak) because of it.

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"Let the bodies hit the floor!"

There is a guy around here who owns his own shop and has a radio talk show about cars/car problems. He never likes to give bad recommendations on anything since every company is a potential sponsor of his radio show. However, he makes an exception with this Dexcool. He says GM is having problems with the stuff and its not lasting as long as advertised. For this guy to say that I wouldn't touch that stuff with a 10 foot pole, he never bad mouths anything.

[This message has been edited by Black88GT (edited 05-29-2001).]

quote Originally posted by Black88GT: There is a guy around here who owns his own shop and has a radio talk show about cars/car problems. He never likes to give bad recommendations on anything since every company is a potential sponsor of his radio show. However, he makes an exception with this Dexcool. He says GM is having problems with the stuff and its not lasting as long as advertised. For this guy to say that I wouldn't touch that stuff with a 10 foot pole, he never bad mouths anything. [This message has been edited by Black88GT (edited 05-29-2001).]

Is this the orange, 'long lasting' coolant, or is this something different?

I've heard that this stuff leaks easier, and that older cars not designed for it don't like it.

88, thanks for asking this question, I had been thinking about the change, but after hearing all the bad, I think I will stick with the green stuff.

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85 Fiero GT
3.2 Liter Under Construction

fierobear, I believe Dexcool is the red coolant.

I would call it the orange stuff. Looks like Mcdonald's orange drink