LT1 Based Engine Tech 1993-1997 LT1/LT4 Engine Related

Dex Cool

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Old Jul 7, 2003 | 06:00 PM
  #1  
95 WHITE TRANS's Avatar
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Dex Cool

Time for a radiator flush would it be ok to use dex cool instead
of the regular green stuff. I heard dex cool is good for up to five years.



THANKS


NICK
Old Jul 7, 2003 | 06:28 PM
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If I recall, our F-bodies came with Dex-Cool... Just dont mix them together...
Old Jul 7, 2003 | 06:30 PM
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Isn't it 96 + uses dexcool. 95 and down is the green stuff ?
Old Jul 7, 2003 | 06:48 PM
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My '93 had dex-cool.....
Old Jul 7, 2003 | 06:55 PM
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All LT1's had Dexcool. It's better than the green stuff in many ways... its durability, lubricity, and heat transfer properties are all better than green coolant. It also doesn't have silicates, which mean a happier water pump.
Old Jul 7, 2003 | 07:12 PM
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My Lt-1runs the green stuff..no problems and half the cost ...just replaced the opti..93,000 miles. waterpump was still ok, but as suggested I replaced it also........

Last edited by Fast_89rs; Jul 7, 2003 at 07:15 PM.
Old Jul 7, 2003 | 07:26 PM
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i do not believe my car came with dex-cool. all GM cars that have it have it marked very clearly on the car. usualyl you can tell if its beeen switch over also, do to the fact that it never really looks green.

please listen to this, I have been working at a shop in AZ for about a year now, and we do lots of cooling work. DO NOT switch over. most of the time it turns out to be a huge hassle cause it is very hard to get all the coolant out of the engine block. i switched my 88 camaro over and it never cooled right or was orange, it looked like baby poo :P again this is my pesonal experience, dont jump me for statin my opinion or experience :P
Old Jul 7, 2003 | 11:07 PM
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Cool

General Motors has said ,dex-cool is not recommended for 93 and some 94's and older cars,as it eats the welds out of the radiator.I would stay green.My02.
Old Jul 8, 2003 | 07:39 AM
  #9  
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Originally posted by Fatdog
General Motors has said ,dex-cool is not recommended for 93 and some 94's and older cars,as it eats the welds out of the radiator.I would stay green.My02.
Show me the TSB. Why is the GM part number the same for '94-'96 radiators if GM didn't want Dexcool in the '94s? I'm 99% sure my '93 Z28 had Dexcool when I bought it new in '93. I know my '97 WS6 came with Dexcool when I bought that new. The silicates in green coolant will do a number on your waterpump. The fact that it does NOT transfer heat as well is a bad thing too! Mr. Horsepower gave a good writeup on the benefits of Dexcool...you should do a search.
Old Jul 8, 2003 | 07:55 AM
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Originally posted by Josh-'97 WS6
Show me the TSB. Why is the GM part number the same for '94-'96 radiators if GM didn't want Dexcool in the '94s? I'm 99% sure my '93 Z28 had Dexcool when I bought it new in '93. I know my '97 WS6 came with Dexcool when I bought that new. The silicates in green coolant will do a number on your waterpump. The fact that it does NOT transfer heat as well is a bad thing too! Mr. Horsepower gave a good writeup on the benefits of Dexcool...you should do a search.


I didn't think they even had Dexcool in 1993. It was most widely used in GM cars starting in 1996.

All LT1's had Dexcool.
Sorry, that's definitely a false statement.


The only problem I have seen with Dexcool is that it tends to sludge when exposed to air. If your cooling system is up to par, that should not be a problem. Though you might get some sludging in the remote reservoir, since it is not air tight.
Old Jul 8, 2003 | 08:29 AM
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Umm, no, Dexcool was around in '93, and it was used in Lt1's earlier than that. My 1 owner '95 Z has dexcool, the water pump has been replaced, and Dexcool went back into it. My buddies '93, that he bought in '93 had dexcool as well.
Old Jul 8, 2003 | 08:31 AM
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Let me rephrase that. It was around before '96, but it was not widely used. Lt1's received it as early as '95, and I know that the GM pickups received it during those years as well.
Old Jul 8, 2003 | 10:14 AM
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Mine did not come with Dexcool. If it came from the factory with Dexcool, it would have a sticker under the hood indicating to fill only with Dexcool. If it did not have this sticker anyone could have changed out the coolant over the years.

Sorry, I need more proof that a 1993 came with Dexcool. Then I will shut up.

Last edited by shoebox; Jul 8, 2003 at 10:24 AM.
Old Jul 8, 2003 | 10:25 AM
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I bought my 94 brand new, and it did NOT come with DexCool. I did convert it to DexCool in about 96, and had no problems with it until the engine and radiator was pulled for the stroker in 2000. I sold the 94 radiator to a guy with a 95 and he couldn't believe how much cleaner and more efficient it was than the filthy one in his 95. The block water passages were also exceptionally clean.

The shop that built my stroker insisted on DexCool, and so far my Griffen radiator is still like new, after 3 years.

I think most of the DexCool stories are urban legend. There was a problem with some GM trucks, which was traced to faulty radiator caps allowing excessive air into the system. This was extensively documented by GM/Texaco.
Old Jul 8, 2003 | 10:32 AM
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This could be an issue like the oil cooler. It was rumored that ALL cars with the "performance axle" came with an oil cooler, and there are many that did not-including mine. We may be beating a dead horse just to find out that GM did put Dex Cool in some cars and not others. Maybe mine's an oddity, because it came with Dex Cool, it tells me to use it in the owners manual as well as under the hood, but I did not get an oil cooler. Hmmmm



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