Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 19:33:42 -0800
Reply-To: Mark Dorm <mark_hb@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Dorm <mark_hb@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Dexcool
Content-Type: text/html
<html><DIV>
<P>Is this why our rear heaters are problematic. Mines dead. <BR><BR></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>>From: jhlauterbach <JHLAUTERBACH@MSN.COM>
<DIV></DIV>>Reply-To: jhlauterbach <JHLAUTERBACH@MSN.COM>
<DIV></DIV>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
<DIV></DIV>>Subject: Re: Dexcool
<DIV></DIV>>Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2000 23:45:07 -0500
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Ed's warning is right on. My other van is a '98 Pontiac Montana running on
<DIV></DIV>>Dexcool. I took a look at the pink stuff in the expansion tank and it had
<DIV></DIV>>little brown spots floating around in it. I called my friendly local
<DIV></DIV>>Pontiac service mgr. and asked what he knew. He finally admitted that there
<DIV></DIV>>were problems. He says his "fix" is to power flush the cooling systems and
<DIV></DIV>>add a "non-GM" coolant additive to the system when they refill with Dexcool.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>John Lauterbach
<DIV></DIV>>Macon, GA
<DIV></DIV>>'84 DL running on Sierra and Bars Leak
<DIV></DIV>>----- Original Message -----
<DIV></DIV>>From: "Ed @ Automotive Consulting" <EDVF1000R@AOL.COM>
<DIV></DIV>>To: <VANAGON@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
<DIV></DIV>>Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2000 10:57 PM
<DIV></DIV>>Subject: Dexcool
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>> > Hey folks - As a GM dealer tech (Saturn/Chevrolet) for the last 6 years,
<DIV></DIV>>my
<DIV></DIV>> > experience with dexcool is thus:
<DIV></DIV>> > It fails. Early,often. It gums up heater cores and radiators. Lasts
<DIV></DIV>>nowhere
<DIV></DIV>> > near 100k as advertised, usually it goes away around 20-25k miles. It gets
<DIV></DIV>> > floaters in it and turns a sick brownish color.
<DIV></DIV>> > GM has issued a couple of TSBs on this, saying the fix was to replace
<DIV></DIV>>the
<DIV></DIV>> > dexcool with more dexcool after a thorough flush.
<DIV></DIV>> > According to GM, dexcool should never be used in cooling systems
<DIV></DIV>> > containing any soldered joints (I.E. brass radiators or heater cores)
<DIV></DIV>>because
<DIV></DIV>> > the organic acid base attacks the soldered joints. This to me says
<DIV></DIV>> > "underdeveloped product" .
<DIV></DIV>> > I, personally, would never use dexcool in anything, as i have never
<DIV></DIV>>seen
<DIV></DIV>> > it last over 45,000 miles, ever, in any application. I have seen an
<DIV></DIV>>average
<DIV></DIV>> > of 6 cars a day five days a week for 6 years.....
<DIV></DIV>> > Just my 2 cents, and YMMV. - Ed
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