I just got a 2001 Blazer LS. It has the 4.3l V6, and an auto. (I don't know that a manual is even an option in these)

Anyway, I don't have the owners manual to it, and need to add some coolant. Since it's fairly new, I'm not sure if it takes DexCool or regular coolant. I haven't added any yet because I don't much feel like making jello in my radiator.

Also, is there actually a difference in the expensive-ass serpentine belts and the cheaper ones? I don't know what the difference would be, so I bought two (One to install now, one to keep in the vehicle) $17.00 ones as opposed to the $34.00 and $44.00 ones AutoZone had as well.

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I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate.
And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.
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I believe they use Dex-Cool (the orange stuff, if I recall correctly, but I'm not sure on that one).

Dunno if there's a difference between the expensive serpentine belts and the cheap ones.

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Nick www.naskie18.com AIM: Naskie182010

Congrats on getting the new Blazer!

I think all GM vehicles by 2001 were using Dex-Cool from the factory. Just check the color of the coolant. If its a reddish brown then it is dex cool. If its green, its probably regular. I think one of the aftermarket coolants that is compatable with dexcool is a yellow color too.

Oh, and check around good for sludge! Dex-Cool will turn to sludge over time even if it is not combined with a non-dex cool coolant, and those 4.3L Blazers are some of the hardest hit GM vehicles from sludging dex-cool. You may want to just have a full flush and fill done to it.

In my experience, belts vary greatly in quality. I know the cheaper Fiero belts will squeel like hell and stretch out really fast, where as the more expensive ones seem to last a lot longer. If the serpentice breaks, your going to be stuck. I'd probably go with the pricey one and return the cheaper one, but its up to you of course!

Get that death cool flushed out and replace it with green. It will last just as long and provide the same cooling- without ruining your engine.

http://www.thecomplaintstation.com/cgi-bin/datacgi/database.cgi/Forum/Topic/TopicID=1435/firstrecord=0/finalrecord=14
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/gm_dexcool.html
http://www.imcool.com/articles/antifreeze-coolant/dexcool-macs2001.htm

I got mine flushed from my 99 Silverado in the nick of time. It looked like a someone was mixing sandy concrete in my overflow bottle.

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1986 SE 350 V8

Yup, get that junk outa there. And whatever you do, DO NOT put any kind of leak stop or water pump lube in dex cool, you'll have a cooling system full of sludge in no time. I just picked up a flush kit, solution, and some regular old-fashioned toxic-ass green antifreeze to do my 99 Blazer. Can't wait to git 'er done.

Id flush and fill with the old green.

I just talked to Chrysler the other day about the Dex in my new Magnum. The cooling system is covered by warranty for 36K and if any problems occur with it, and Ive changed to green, it wouldnt be covered. Ill wait till I get the 3 years / 36K mark, and then swap it for green. They said it didnt affect any other part of the warranty, only cooling system components. Drivetrain warranty is for 7 yrs / 76K.

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: Id flush and fill with the old green. I just talked to Chrysler the other day about the Dex in my new Magnum. The cooling system is covered by warranty for 36K and if any problems occur with it, and Ive changed to green, it wouldnt be covered. Ill wait till I get the 3 years / 36K mark, and then swap it for green. They said it didnt affect any other part of the warranty, only cooling system components. Drivetrain warranty is for 7 yrs / 76K.

Rog, I don't think that is the same stuff. Daimler and Ford both use a different long-life coolant than GM's Dex-Cool. My Jeep (2002 Wrangler) has this other stuff. Its a pinkish color, not nearly as dark as Dex-Cool, and it doesn't get brown like Dex-Cool. Now, I do not know if it will be as problematic, but both of them claim to have chosen their formula over that of Dex-Cool because they felt the Dex-Cool could cause problems down the road. They are a little different chemically.

However, I am not sure about the longevity of it. I think Daimler started using it in all of their cars beginning in 2001, so it has not been out there as long as Dex-Cool. At least on a large scale. I am not sure when Ford first started using it. However, all the problems I have seen and heard of to date have all been Dex-Cool related. So you should be ok running the Dodge stuff in your new baby. So far my Jeep has shown no signs of sludging up. Hopefully it doesn't!

I have a 96 chevy which is the year they started adding dex-cool and it's way better than the green death! I have never had a problem with coolant in the 8yrs I've owned my truck.

quote Originally posted by FavreFan01: I have a 96 chevy which is the year they started adding dex-cool and it's way better than the green death! I have never had a problem with coolant in the 8yrs I've owned my truck.

Just curious if you have followed the time limit/mileage maintenance requirements from the coolant? From what I have seen, there really is not much of a problem with it as long as you get it flushed every 5/100, whichever comes first. But the Dex-Cool really doesn't like old age, and thats one of the things that causes it to turn into pudding! But otherwise it cools the engine just fine.

quote Originally posted by Fformula88: Just curious if you have followed the time limit/mileage maintenance requirements from the coolant? From what I have seen, there really is not much of a problem with it as long as you get it flushed every 5/100, whichever comes first. But the Dex-Cool really doesn't like old age, and thats one of the things that causes it to turn into pudding! But otherwise it cools the engine just fine.

I've had the truck 8yrs it has 113k on it and I changed it out after it's 6th yr. I personally never experienced any pudding problems and as far as i've heard Dodge and Ford use the same thing on their newer vehicles. My engine always runs cool even in extreme heat it's great.

Ill have to check into that to see if its Dexcool or something else for sure. Ill see what it looks like when it hits the warranty mark.