mixing antifreeze

[rodgernbama]

I've got a 2001 lesabre that the label under the hood says to only use the orange dexcool(GM) antifreeze in it. I was looking at antifreeze at the parts store and most of them said you could mix with any type. Does anyone know if that would be a problem mixing them?

 

[rossow (mn)]

Others may not agree, but I live in Minnesota where I need lots of protection, and I have mixed green with orange for years without any problems.

 

[Stephen Newell]

Its just a con to get you to buy their overpriced stuff.

 

[glennster]

dexcool, like some people, dont get along well with others. dexcool can gel up and turn in to a globby mess if mixed with other antifreezes. if you have dex in there, either just add dexcool to it, or flush and refill with a universal antifreeze. if you are mixing yours with water, use distilled water. it keeps the minerals out of the system , and a neutral ph balance.

 

[wolfman]

Sometimes when the jug says can be mixed with any ... it goes on to say any Ethanol Gly...

 

[Anonymous-0]

Just get a good anti-freeze like Prestone that says mixes with all colors of anti-freeze.

 

[old]

From what I was told unless it says mixes with any type do not type to mix or you will end up needing a new engine. The orange stuff and the green stuff mixed will gel up and then you loose coolant flow and then you over heat and blow to engine

 

[ss55]

I don't mix types of antifreeze. The first time I need to replace the antifreeze in a vehicle I flush the cooling system and replace all the orange dexcool with standard green antifreeze and distilled water. Fewer problems and less expensive that way.

 

[Brian Schmidt]

Most coolants are blended to mix OK with one another. But for optimal performance, it is always best to run whichever product straight. Any coolant will only perform as well as the worst product it is mixed with. So don't buy a long life coolant and mix it with a traditional green coolant and expect long life.

Your best bet is to flush with clean clear water until it comes out clear. Then allow all water to drain out. Fill with a good coolant and distilled or otherwise low mineral water or the newer preblended coolants. Once you have circulated the coolant well in the engine, check your freeze point to verify you have the protection you need for your region.

Good maintenance includes annual testing with coolant test strips and for freeze protection.

 

[danofarming]

Ditto Glennster I have a stopped up truck radiator because of the red Dexcool stuff.

 

[barnE]

Dexcool is bad news anyhow. Dave

 

[Charles (in GA)]

If you want to know how bad Dexcool is, just Google it.

Never mix any other anti-freeze with it, as it turns to goo.

Best thing is to thoroughly flush the system, several times with water, and fill it with ethylene glycol or propylene glycol (low tox).

Charles

 

[Anonymous-0]

Dexcool is orange not red. I think some Japanese cars use red anti-freeze though.

 

[scotc]

Cat's long-life antifreeze is also red.

 

[Texasmark1]

I do and I do and I don't (have any problems).

Prestone changed their formula best I can tell when GM started using the pink/orange long life AF. If Prestone can make a statement like that, you can bet your bippie it will work unless something else is wrong. I trusted them and they have not let me down.

Course flushing and a complete new fill is bullet proof, but costs a lot of money and I choose to add Prestone. Course owners manuals of current autos say to do it ever so often (forget the stats) with their aluminum core radiators . Okaye Fine. Change it.

Mark

 

[BrianJasper co. Ia]

If the coolant you want to use says it's compatible, go ahead and use it.
For those who say Dexcool is so bad, think about this; Chrysler, Ford, and Caterpillar have used it. Every Duramax came from the factory filled with it and they don't have cooling system problems. I've never heard of rampant cooling system problems on any Fords or Chryslers that used it. GM vehicles don't have repeat cooling system issues when you replace the plastic intake gaskets with metal...