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Which Coolant?

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Old Sep 20, 2004 | 01:06 PM
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Default Which Coolant?

My coolant is green and when I look at it it looks kind of filthy but I dont think it is because I just got a new radiator and they would obviously have to flush it right? Question is, is the right coolant being used in my system? My 1999 Grand Am used the pink stuff Dexcool so what should I use in this one. Do they make a green Dexcool?
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Old Sep 20, 2004 | 01:08 PM
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You should have the standard coolant, not the dexcool in your year can. I'n not sure when they switched, maybe 96?
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Old Sep 20, 2004 | 01:12 PM
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ok
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Old Sep 20, 2004 | 03:34 PM
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dexcool is bad, trust me my car came with green and the auto zone dip $*its told me to change it to the orange after i flush the system, well that was a mistake, two serpentine belts later after water pump was fixed i changed back to the green and thats the way its gonna stay .....plus the green is cheaper
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Old Sep 20, 2004 | 04:24 PM
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Four cars with the orange, four cars with no problems.
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Old Sep 20, 2004 | 05:29 PM
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I wanted to switch to dex cool when I flush the system, and I didn't feel like paying $15/bottle for something that is going in the trash within two months [flushing before winter].


-justin
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Old Sep 20, 2004 | 07:47 PM
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you guys should read the coolant article in techinfo, i think it basically says you can use either one without consequence
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Old Sep 20, 2004 | 09:40 PM
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It may be coincidence, it may not. I put the dexcool in 3 vehicles, a 91 Grand Prix, a 93 Bonneville, and a 94 Grand Cherokee. Two of the three have needed water pump replacements, and are now back to the green stuff. (The Grand Prix and the Bonneville). I'll be changing the Grand Cherokee back, too.
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Old Sep 20, 2004 | 09:47 PM
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It'* not the dexcool, but as I recall, a chemical reaction from the leftover 'green' stuff and the residue it leaves behind.
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Old Sep 20, 2004 | 10:13 PM
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I'd believe that. I had heard that the two coolants didn't like each other very well, so I spent a lot of time flushing the system out before putting in the dexcool. Even so, when I was flushing the Bonneville again to put the green stuff back in, there were several slimy globules of gunk that came out. Apparently it'* not easy getting all of the green stuff out. If I had to do it all again, I'd never have switched to the dexcool in the older cars, especially as it'* a PITA to replace the wate rpump on the Bonneville.
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