Buttoning up the 67 coupe Butternut Bomb. Installed a new US Radiator 4-core; got all the hoses connected up and am probably several days away from firing it up, but I was going to buy coolant. Vintage Air said to use a 50/50 mixture.

Can anyone explain the difference between "Dex-Cool" approved antifreeze/coolant and the regular green stuff? I want to use what's best for the engine.

Thanks,

Mike H.

They use different chemical compounds, but sorry, I don't know the differences...

I think the new Dex-Cool is supposed to last a lot longer than the old green stuff...


BUT, they are not compatible

If you have a new motor, I guess you could use the orange stuff, but if you still have the green stuff, you shouldn't add the orange stuff... I am not sure exactly what happens, but i have heard it will gum-up the system... I don't know how well flushing your system will help (does it get everything, and if a little is left, is it okay?).

Use a quality green anti-freeze. I work in a radiator shop and see nothing but problems with Dex-Cool. If you are a typical Chevelle nut you will do something within the next two years that will require you to change the anti-freeze anyway.

There are no inherent advantages to Dex any longer. The additive packages in Ethylene Glycol is as good as Dex, and Ethylene Gylcol carries more heat than Propylene Glycol or Dex. There is also acidity stabilization in EG too. Something PG used to be better at.

Go to http://autorepair.about.com/library/weekly/aa052601a.htm for more info.



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Steve Jack
-Concept One Pulleys and Brackets
-Engineering & Marketing Technologies
-Northern/Southern Rodder Magazine's "Jack'Stands" technical column author/originator

from what i understand from a delco instructer is. dexcool is made for engines that use aluminum such as heads and radator, heater core. what dexcool has are some chemicals that resist creating voltage in your radiator from 2 different metals. aluminum heads steal block. also what i was told if it came with green put green in if it came with orange put orange in. no advantage to put decool in an all steal engine setup. hope this answers your question.

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fast as fast can be!!!

Working for a GM dealership, I would personally stay away from Dex-cool. Here's why, Dex-cool if it gets low in the cooling system will airiate and form a goop similar to rust jello. It does last longer. It is NOT compatible with anything other than Dex-cool or water. some one accident puts green coolant in the system it's no better than green and needs to be serviced that way.
Hope this helps, Rob

Green it is! Eventhough I've got aluminum heads, a good grade of green sounds like it will be fine....

Thanks,

Mike

The orange stuff came OE in my 1997 Grand Prix GTP. It sucks. It gummed up my whole system within 10,000 miles, exactly as described by Rob (a36chevy)

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Mike Newby

69 Chevelle 355/TH200-4R
97 Grand Prix GTP
64 Chevy C10 Pickup
79 Suzuki GS550

[This message has been edited by Georgia69 (edited 08-01-2002).]

Rob stated as a GM Tech he has seen problems with Dex-cool. There have been several tech bulletins out that point fingers at radiator caps and low coolant levels contributing to this problem. We see radiators every day that look like someone spit a big wad of chewing tobacco in it which causes problems not only for the radiator, but the engine and heater core as well. If one uses Dex-cool they should be prepared to monitor the system. If not stick with a good name brand green coolant. Plus as aformentioned mixing the two is a no no.