When I went to buy some coolant to "top off" my overflow... I was sold something that is supposed to be compatible with both the Green and the Dexcool. Does this make sense to anyhow? If you can't mix the green with the orange, then how can they make a product that can be added to either?

It'* true. Don has been touting it'* use for quite a while for those that are concerned about Dexcool use.

As a matter of fact, you really have to search for the orange stuff. Everything now is the mixable coolant. I just went throght this hassle this past weekend when I replaced my LIM gaskets. I ended up using the mixable Prestone coolant.

The only problem I see with a court settlement is that GM will try to weasel themselves out easy. Instead of paying money to the victims, they will probably pay a fine to the government and then give out a voucher for a discount on your next GM purchase.

Honestly Joe...i wouldn't be paying on the coolant. when it'* probably a plastic gasket issue.

Bill, I know what you mean...I have a friend that used to work at the GM Proving Grounds..he has a lot of stories of testing he had to do for product liability cases.

Old owner of my 97 called me today, took it in, had a new rad cap installed, it was leaking, and had the entire cooling system flushed for 250 dollars.
no cost to me at all
what a nice guy, im pretty happy anbout that.
one less thing to worry about

I've heard/read etc that Dex-Cool was introduced as a long life coolant for vehicles that featured 50-60K mile first tuneups. Apprently its better suited for all aluminum engines as opposed to engines that use a combination of aluminum and cast iron materials.

I've never heard of all aluminum engines have DexCool problems, only cast iron/aluminum. Its ok to switch to antifreeze/green coolant after a complete flush, however it has to be maintained for acidity and degredation over miles of usage. DexCool eliminated that babysitting of the cooling system.

From the IMCOOL website:
1. Keep the cooling system filled. In fact, fill the reservoir bottle to “Hot” level when the system is cold. Problems arise when a system’* coolant level is not maintained. (Fleet vehicles receiving regular maintenance, and with reservoirs kept slightly above normal, do not show signs of contamination. This even applies to the specific “problem” vehicles.)

2. The coolant problems found in this survey were caused by system contamination, and not due to the breakdown of DEX-COOL.

3. Check and keep the pressure cap clean and functioning. A contaminated and/or malfunctioning cap causes low coolant levels, which in turn causes overheating and a greater loss of coolant: the notorious vicious cycle. No matter what the vehicle, if the cooling system acts suspiciously, test the pressure cap.

4. On the ST vehicle models mentioned in the GM DEX-COOL video, you “must” replace all suspect radiator caps, especially those with a Drop-Center design, with a Stant Model 10230 or 11230 (Spring-Center type). (Just do it.)

5. Make sure that the coolant is at a 50-50 mix. Often, the flush water was not being removed from the engine block. Consequently, when a 50-50 mix is added to the system the resultant mixture could approach 30-70. Like any fluid that has been diluted beyond its recommended levels, the lowered level of inhibitors will not be able to protect the coolant system effectively. Low levels of inhibitors can cause pitting on aluminum surfaces and general corrosion of cooling system metals.

6. A safe method of achieving a true 50-50 mix is to first determine the actual capacity of the system (use the owner’* manual). Then add 50% of “that” amount of undiluted DEX-COOL (or any coolant), and top it off with water.

7. Mixing a “green” coolant with DEX-COOL reduces the batch’* change interval to 2 years or 30,000 miles, but will otherwise cause no damage to the engine. In order to change back to DEX-COOL however, the cooling system must first be thoroughly drained and flushed.

8. Bacteria cannot live in a hot, Ethylene Glycol environment and is therefore not a threat to DEX-COOL.

9. While there have been intake gasket failures on CK Series, V8 powered vehicles for various reasons, DEX-COOL has never been found as a cause.

10. Use a refractometer to check the condition of DEX-COOL. Its inhibitor package is strong enough that if the batch still provides proper freeze protection, it is probably still providing proper corrosion protection as well.

11. DEX-COOL can handle the minerals in hard water better than silicated conventional chemistry coolants. Drinkable water is suitable for top off.