Putting dexcool a bad idea?

**ThunderWuss** · 01-14-2013 09:41 AM

I was wondering if putting dexcool coolant in instead of the g12 would harm the vehicle at all? only asking because I have an unlimited free supply of dexcool.

**A62TURBO** · 01-14-2013 09:45 AM

You might as well just use coffee.

**Austonwerner4** · 01-14-2013 09:45 AM

Don't.

**OHS4** · 01-14-2013 09:47 AM

Just never Mix

**Jibby** · 01-14-2013 09:50 AM

The orange GM Dex Cool works great.

**britishturbo** · 01-14-2013 10:04 AM

Dexcool is perfectly fine.
Its what I'm using. Its essentially the same as the German stuff
They are both meant for aluminum and iron mixed engines to stop corrosion.

**ThunderWuss** · 01-14-2013 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by britishturbo

Dexcool is perfectly fine.
Its what I'm using. Its essentially the same as the German stuff
They are both meant for aluminum and iron mixed engines to stop corrosion.

Thanks for your imput. I know the gm dexcool is really good stuff, just didn't know if it would mess with anything in these 10+ year old cars.

**Monty23** · 01-14-2013 11:08 AM

Can Dexcool and g12 be mixed or do you need to drain the g12 before filling with dexcool?

**ThunderWuss** · 01-14-2013 11:13 AM

It's not recommend that any coolant be mixed. Anytime coolant is changed the vehicle cooling system should be completely flushed before exchanging fluids.

**britishturbo** · 01-14-2013 11:14 AM

Yeah I wouldn't mix them.

**Monty23** · 01-14-2013 11:18 AM

Cool thanks!

**Scotty@Advanced** · 01-14-2013 11:31 AM

I'd flush the system a few times, as the pink stuff can leave crystallized residue.

**bigern45** · 01-14-2013 02:03 PM

dont use dexcool.
ever.

**mr.awesome** · 01-14-2013 02:08 PM

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...nt-amp-Testing

**Das General** · 01-14-2013 02:21 PM

I've used GM Dexcool for years.

**Scotty@Advanced** · 01-14-2013 02:27 PM

What does dexcool cost? A gallon of G12 is ~$25.00 and you have to flush your system every 2 years?

**derwolf** · 01-14-2013 02:50 PM

I would use G12. I have seen nasty results from other coolants. It should be available locally from auto parts store (Pentosin brand) or oem from dealer.

**slow ride** · 01-14-2013 02:51 PM

A gallon is under $10 and thats full strength. Seen many lsx type engines torn apart and no internal issues with dex.

**laserb5** · 01-14-2013 03:24 PM

That nasty sludge was not just the dexcools fault, that is sludge caused by mixing of coolants, seen it many times with many different kinds of coolant. If you make sure to completely flush the entire system including the heater core you won't have an issue. I have put 60k miles on my engine with only dexcool in it, just disassembled the entire engine a few weeks ago and there is not one bit of sludge in it. For the price difference it's unbeatable, ESP if you drain it often since you can fill the system for just a little more than one gallon of g12.

**ElliottG** · 01-14-2013 04:09 PM

edit..

**somebody5788** · 01-14-2013 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by mr.awesome

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...nt-amp-Testing

This is all anyone really needs to see. I'll have to show this to my techs at work.

**jasonsowers** · 01-14-2013 05:02 PM

just flush the system if you are going to use it. If you mix coolants sometimes they get and it can lead to a huge pain in the ass.

**Taloras** · 01-14-2013 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by jasonsowers

just flush the system if you are going to use it. If you mix coolants sometimes they get and it can lead to a huge pain in the ass.

+1, been running dex-cool for like 20k miles now with no issues. As long as you flush out ALL the old stuff and don't allow any mixing at all, it'll be fine.

Flushing ALL the old stuff=you've drained, added water, and run the car up to temperature enough times such that the last drain before coolant fill is clear.

I run dex-cool not because it's significantly cheaper (a gallon of G12 every two years is not much at all), but because, if I ever need coolant on the road for some reason, dex-cool is very readily available. It's also remarkably similar to G12: silicate/phosphate free, OAT additives.

**bigern45** · 01-14-2013 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by laserb5

That nasty sludge was not just the dexcools fault, that is sludge caused by mixing of coolants, seen it many times with many different kinds of coolant. If you make sure to completely flush the entire system including the heater core you won't have an issue. I have put 60k miles on my engine with only dexcool in it, just disassembled the entire engine a few weeks ago and there is not one bit of sludge in it. For the price difference it's unbeatable, ESP if you drain it often since you can fill the system for just a little more than one gallon of g12.

you would be wrong. you are correct in stating that mixing will cause that, and will accelerate this happening, but this happens as well on its own. im not even going to argue it anymore, if you want to do it, go right ahead. ive seen this many of times with using dexcool/water only.

**BlazinB5** · 01-14-2013 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by bigern45

dont use dexcool.
ever.

$100 says that coolant wasn't changed every 30,000 - or ever.

obviously G12 is top of the line, but ANY coolant is going to go to shit if you don't change it as often as you should - and some people virtually never do (until problems pop up)

**bigern45** · 01-14-2013 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by BlazinB5

$100 says that coolant wasn't changed every 30,000 - or ever.

obviously G12 is top of the line, but ANY coolant is going to go to shit if you don't change it as often as you should - and some people virtually never do (until problems pop up)

so? whats your point? have you ever seen conventional green do this? honda blue? audi pink? i havent. maybe at 200k+ miles and 12+ years with the green, but those are few and in-between.

agreed, cooling system was neglected in the pic i showed. was excessive and nasty to make a point and be helpful. ive seen them with regular dealer ship scheduled services, and 60k in, there are signs of the build up.

**Taloras** · 01-14-2013 11:45 PM

Or, you know, instead of hearsay, the several AZ members (including myself) who have run it for thousands of miles without incident. Absolutely no mixing and good cooling system maintenance is much more important than what you run.

**omgwtfbbq!** · 01-15-2013 03:52 AM

Originally Posted by Taloras

Or, you know, instead of hearsay, the several AZ members (including myself) who have run it for thousands of miles without incident. Absolutely no mixing and good cooling system maintenance is much more important than what you run.

Instead of hearsay, heres some different hearsay!

**ThunderWuss** · 01-15-2013 04:49 AM

Originally Posted by bigern45

so? whats your point? have you ever seen conventional green do this? honda blue? audi pink? i havent. maybe at 200k+ miles and 12+ years with the green, but those are few and in-between.

agreed, cooling system was neglected in the pic i showed. was excessive and nasty to make a point and be helpful. ive seen them with regular dealer ship scheduled services, and 60k in, there are signs of the build up.

We have trucks that come in with 150+ thousand miles that have had schedualed cooling system flushes and I have never seen that goo in any well maintained vehicle. The only cars that end up looking like that are the ones that the customers don't give a damn about their car and don't do any recommened maintinence. These are the same people that run 5,000 - 7,000 miles on conventional 5w30 oil before they come and get it changed. I'll heed your warning, thats for sure. But, I'm comfident that as long as I follow the recommended flush intervals that I will be fine. And if I do end up ruining anything, I'll have nothing to blame but my imcompitence.

**DiscoPotato** · 01-15-2013 06:33 AM

Do not mix

**BlazinB5** · 01-15-2013 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by ThunderWuss

We have trucks that come in with 150+ thousand miles that have had schedualed cooling system flushes and I have never seen that goo in any well maintained vehicle. The only cars that end up looking like that are the ones that the customers don't give a damn about their car and don't do any recommened maintinence. These are the same people that run 5,000 - 7,000 miles on conventional 5w30 oil before they come and get it changed. I'll heed your warning, thats for sure. But, I'm comfident that as long as I follow the recommended flush intervals that I will be fine. And if I do end up ruining anything, I'll have nothing to blame but my imcompitence.

yep.. just run it. i'm actually considering doing it, since i know for a fact that i'll keep up on it and change it every 30,000/3 years.

edit: why would i do this? there aint a damn place/store around here that sells it. then again, i wonder how much the dealership would charge for it, now that i think of it. does anyone know?

**BlackAudiB5S4** · 01-16-2013 12:32 AM

German cars are picky at best. I would never use anything but g12 or g12+ it's cheap insurance especially if your just topping off. g12 and dex cool are not the same. I have seen them gel on customer cars. We even did tests in school with prestone/dex cool/g 12 and g12+

http://www.blauparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=J4D2000

thats not bad at all for price and ships very quick.

Most people I know including me when looking at Audi/VW's for sale look at the color of the coolant..if its green I walk away. Yes you can flush the entire system and use green but most dealers and private sales do not flush the entire system and the two WILL gel over time if the two are mixed.