Anyone changed their coolant yet? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

BowlingSS · 12-29-2010, 02:21 PM

Anyone changed their coolant yet?

Bill

blackknight · 12-29-2010, 02:23 PM

I said no, but i only have 6500 miles on my car...

1BADLS3 · 12-29-2010, 10:50 PM

No, but if you do, remember that certain kinds of coolant are incompatible with the Dexcool stuff that's in there. Best scenario is to replace it with Dexcool (same stuff). Otherwise, unless you really know what you're doing, you can run other coolants, but not until after an extensive flush...

Ron66Vette&10SS · 12-30-2010, 01:29 AM

Why would anyone change it so soon?

clg_98ta · 12-30-2010, 10:21 AM

Dexcool lasts 5 years, but its essential to flush/fill the coolant every 5 years. Dexcool is a good product, but it can gum up after five years which can cause severe engine damage.

For more info, just google "dex cool lawsuit"

Moriartii · 12-30-2010, 10:41 AM

While many of us are looking at doing transmission and rear diff fluid changes, there is no need to change the coolant. As Clg said dexcool is good for five years if you must change it I would do it at a minimum of 2 ~ 2.5 years so you still have a while yet.
Cheers
K

BowlingSS · 12-30-2010, 01:09 PM

I have always changed my coolant every year on all my cars/trucks. I would not keep any fluid in my car for five years. That is just IMO.

Bill

Sturmer · 12-30-2010, 11:06 PM

Soon

We dont have Dex Cool around here.

Anyone have any tips how and where to flush DexCool out?

Cam 427 · 12-31-2010, 02:06 AM

Prestone in all my cars, all GM... no problems. I would have kept the Dexcool in the Camaro for five years but did engine mods so the coolant was changed.

Texhawk · 01-11-2011, 10:38 PM

Even though Dexcool is supposed to last 5 years, I never let mine go over about 2 years without changing. I still have not figured out why Dexcool forms a brown sludge in some cars and not others. We had a Malibu with a closed and pressurized overflow tank and it formed brown residue no matter what I did. My Z06 is a closed reservoir and has always been as clean as when I put it in. Our Impala has a vented reservoir, and it also stays clear.

Some have speculated it may have to do with keeping air out of the cooling system, and keeping the system full.

clg_98ta · 01-13-2011, 10:44 AM

I've always waited 5 years on Dexcool, and have flushed it from GM vehicles about 6 times now. Its always come out looking clean and I've never seen any signs of thickening or sludge. I just never go past 5 years due to all the reported problems.

GM used to specify 100K miles for changing Dexcool. They now say 5-years/100K miles whichever comes first, stressing the 5-year limit. They determined that the sludge problem occurs after 5 years (regardless of mileage).

btw Cam 427 - Prestone makes a Dexcool product for GM cars - if that's what you're using the same 5-year warning applies.

Russell James · 01-13-2011, 11:05 AM

Ever watch David Letterman's - Will it Float skits?

In the green stuff, rust and crap sinks. After a bunch of years all that crap is in the bottom of the block and nobody sees it. Plus it's just sitting there doing nothing.

In the orange stuff, rust and crap floats. It will show up as a rusty blob in the highest point of the system. That's why some cars you see it in the tank, some you see it under the rad cap, some you don't see it.

If that rusty blob forms, and if that system is low, rust loves air and will quickly grow to a monster blob in a low system. Plus the older style of rad caps were prone to be not so great after a few years. The metal cap + rust + air = sludge city.

If you look at a Camaro rad cap, plastic not metal (no rust), big O ring seal.... and while your peaking at it you'll notice the Coolant is nice and orange. They've made a lot of progress, no need to change the coolant after one year.

Keep it full and clean. Any gunk under the rad cap, wipe it out.... then change it at 5 years. 4 if your anal about maintenance. 1 if your just really bored.

CyberPredator · 01-14-2011, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sturmer

Soon

We dont have Dex Cool around here.

Anyone have any tips how and where to flush DexCool out?

normal flush + draining the heater core is the way i did it on my GTO. BTW I had Dexcool in my GTO for 3 yrs without touching it and had absolutely no problems. I changed it when I had the motor rebuilt

Orange Krate · 01-15-2011, 11:20 PM

Bill I just added the Royal Purple radiator treatment. I noticed an immediate decrease in operating temperature. Pretty amazing.

View Poll Results: Anyone changed their coolant yet?
Yes	5	7.04%
No	57	80.28%
I am not going to!!!	9	12.68%
Voters: 71. You may not vote on this poll

12-29-2010, 02:21 PM	#1
BowlingSS Camaro Owner Since 1987 Drives: 2011 2SS/RS L99 RJT Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 2,185	Anyone changed their coolant yet? Anyone changed their coolant yet? Bill

12-29-2010, 02:23 PM	#2
blackknight Camaro Lover Drives: 2014 GMC Sierra 5.3L Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Chicago 'Burbs Posts: 709	I said no, but i only have 6500 miles on my car... __________________ No Camaro right now. But I'll be back in one in a few years.

12-30-2010, 01:29 AM	#4
Ron66Vette&10SS Plays with Hot Wheels Drives: '17 Jet Black ZL1 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Derby, Kansas Posts: 849	Why would anyone change it so soon? __________________ Previous Cars: '78 Z28, '92 Z28, '95 Z28, '85 Corvette, '01 SS, '96 Z28, '04 Z06 Corvette, '10 SS, '13 SS Hot Wheels Current Cars: '17 ZL1(daily driver), '04 Trailblazer (rain & snow), '66 Corvette (restoring)

12-30-2010, 10:21 AM	#5
clg_98ta Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,698 View My Garage	Dexcool lasts 5 years, but its essential to flush/fill the coolant every 5 years. Dexcool is a good product, but it can gum up after five years which can cause severe engine damage. For more info, just google "dex cool lawsuit" __________________ Black 2SS ordered 1/4/2010, received 2/19/2010

12-29-2010, 10:50 PM	#3
1BADLS3 Drives: Sold: 2011 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: United States Posts: 1,896	No, but if you do, remember that certain kinds of coolant are incompatible with the Dexcool stuff that's in there. Best scenario is to replace it with Dexcool (same stuff). Otherwise, unless you really know what you're doing, you can run other coolants, but not until after an extensive flush...

12-30-2010, 10:41 AM	#6
Moriartii Drives: 11 IOM 2SS/RS M6 w/Hurst Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 1,269	While many of us are looking at doing transmission and rear diff fluid changes, there is no need to change the coolant. As Clg said dexcool is good for five years if you must change it I would do it at a minimum of 2 ~ 2.5 years so you still have a while yet. Cheers K

12-30-2010, 01:09 PM	#7
BowlingSS Camaro Owner Since 1987 Drives: 2011 2SS/RS L99 RJT Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 2,185	I have always changed my coolant every year on all my cars/trucks. I would not keep any fluid in my car for five years. That is just IMO. Bill

12-30-2010, 11:06 PM	#8
Sturmer Drives: Chevrolet Camaro 1LT 2010 V6 A6 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Finland, Kerava Posts: 172	Soon We dont have Dex Cool around here. Anyone have any tips how and where to flush DexCool out?

12-31-2010, 02:06 AM	#9
Cam 427 Drives: 2010 2SS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Washington Posts: 677	Prestone in all my cars, all GM... no problems. I would have kept the Dexcool in the Camaro for five years but did engine mods so the coolant was changed.

01-11-2011, 10:38 PM	#10
Texhawk Drives: 69Camaro,87IROC,96 SS,Z06&Stingray Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Longview, Tx Posts: 275	Even though Dexcool is supposed to last 5 years, I never let mine go over about 2 years without changing. I still have not figured out why Dexcool forms a brown sludge in some cars and not others. We had a Malibu with a closed and pressurized overflow tank and it formed brown residue no matter what I did. My Z06 is a closed reservoir and has always been as clean as when I put it in. Our Impala has a vented reservoir, and it also stays clear. Some have speculated it may have to do with keeping air out of the cooling system, and keeping the system full.

01-13-2011, 10:44 AM	#11
clg_98ta Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,698 View My Garage	I've always waited 5 years on Dexcool, and have flushed it from GM vehicles about 6 times now. Its always come out looking clean and I've never seen any signs of thickening or sludge. I just never go past 5 years due to all the reported problems. GM used to specify 100K miles for changing Dexcool. They now say 5-years/100K miles whichever comes first, stressing the 5-year limit. They determined that the sludge problem occurs after 5 years (regardless of mileage). btw Cam 427 - Prestone makes a Dexcool product for GM cars - if that's what you're using the same 5-year warning applies. __________________ Black 2SS ordered 1/4/2010, received 2/19/2010

01-13-2011, 11:05 AM	#12
Russell James Drives: '15 SS 1LE, '69 Z28 drag car Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mich Posts: 4,482	Ever watch David Letterman's - Will it Float skits? In the green stuff, rust and crap sinks. After a bunch of years all that crap is in the bottom of the block and nobody sees it. Plus it's just sitting there doing nothing. In the orange stuff, rust and crap floats. It will show up as a rusty blob in the highest point of the system. That's why some cars you see it in the tank, some you see it under the rad cap, some you don't see it. If that rusty blob forms, and if that system is low, rust loves air and will quickly grow to a monster blob in a low system. Plus the older style of rad caps were prone to be not so great after a few years. The metal cap + rust + air = sludge city. If you look at a Camaro rad cap, plastic not metal (no rust), big O ring seal.... and while your peaking at it you'll notice the Coolant is nice and orange. They've made a lot of progress, no need to change the coolant after one year. Keep it full and clean. Any gunk under the rad cap, wipe it out.... then change it at 5 years. 4 if your anal about maintenance. 1 if your just really bored.

01-15-2011, 11:20 PM	#14
Orange Krate Not just any car! Drives: Orange Krate DOB - 11/22/2010 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 1,859	Bill I just added the Royal Purple radiator treatment. I noticed an immediate decrease in operating temperature. Pretty amazing. __________________ Simi Valley, CA email: jimeads@pacbell.net

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