Dexcool color

**01NavyBlueSLPSS** · 04-24-2011, 10:59 AM

I opened my rad cap and noticed the coolant is rusty colored. The filler neck isnt coated with any sort of gunk and has never been run too low. The system was flushed just before I bought it( I have the reciept). I don't have much experience with Dex shit so is it supposed to look this way? It's not a clear red like in the bottle. It's more of a cloudy darker red..... I can get a pic later on

**thearborbarber** · 04-24-2011, 11:14 AM

It's an orange color

**01NavyBlueSLPSS** · 04-24-2011, 11:33 AM

Is it supposed to stay clear after being in the cooling system awhile? Like with green antifreeze?

**bigrondownhiller** · 04-26-2011, 02:54 PM

How long ago was it changed?

**01NavyBlueSLPSS** · 04-26-2011, 03:04 PM

Back in december

**bigrondownhiller** · 04-26-2011, 03:40 PM

Reddish orange is fine.

**01NavyBlueSLPSS** · 04-26-2011, 03:44 PM

Is it supposed to be sorta foggy or clear

**bigrondownhiller** · 04-26-2011, 03:49 PM

If it is a little foggy that is fine. If it looks thick then you might want to get it changed.

**redbird555** · 04-27-2011, 03:56 AM

It's probably fine but I dont see the reason why everyone runs dexcool over the years its been proven to breakdown inside the motor and buildup sludge. Just flush the motor out with a hose and refill with the green stuff and never look back

**Smittro** · 04-27-2011, 06:28 AM

+2 I have pics of how it rotted the LM gaskets on my motor..

I went back to the old green stuff too..

Just be sure to get all that pinkish-orange garbage is out first if you do switch..

**Smittro** · 04-27-2011, 06:30 AM

Top gasket is a new one..
The bottom 2 gaskets are the factory gaskets @ 80k..
Dexcool removed @ ~30k..
Damage was done..

**01NavyBlueSLPSS** · 04-27-2011, 09:41 AM

Shit then I'm screwed already.My car has 75k and has always been run with death cool

**Danger731** · 04-27-2011, 10:05 AM

I have sludge from that crap still at 120 k, I need to do another good flush, that crap is like mississipi mud mixed with molases.

**01NavyBlueSLPSS** · 04-27-2011, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Danger731

I have sludge from that crap still at 120 k, I need to do another good flush, that crap is like mississipi mud mixed with molases.

Any other problems besides sludge?

**bigrondownhiller** · 04-27-2011, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by 01NavyBlueSLPSS

Shit then I'm screwed already.My car has 75k and has always been run with death cool

At 10 years old if it is original it should be changed. I have never had a problem with my car. I don't push to the end of recommended change intervals though.

**Smittro** · 04-27-2011, 06:34 PM

Funny thing about mine was I was looking for a totally different problem..

I thought I had a head gasket issue as I could'nt pinpoint a intermittent misfire..

Upon pulling the UI and LM I dicovered a slightly dried and minute coolant trail in two of the intake ports on the heads..

Ruling out the head gaskets upon further examination of the factory LM gaskets..

Engine was'nt coding @ first for the misfire but the car was smoking like it had a very small head gasket leak and only showed when you would go WOT..

Scans did'nt show a weak coil just a random misfire @ #5..

Later after forcing the engine to code I discovered it was a $23 dollar 5-2 coil..

The smoke was likely raw fuel from the dead cylinder..

All of this was discovered after purchasing an entire top end rebuild kit and a set of new heads..

Oh well spare parts, but I will never use dexcool again..

I find myself not caring if it's fine for others.. I aint buying it after what I found..

Just my .02..do as yall will..

**redbird555** · 04-28-2011, 05:45 AM

Dexcool doesnt do as much damage to an ls1 as it does to smittros v6. ls1's dont have coolant running through the intake so there are no gaskets for it to rot out. Even the head gaskets are either graphite or mls so your ok just change it out because it does build up nasty sludge which is the main reason people hate it.

**Smittro** · 04-28-2011, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by redbird555

Dexcool doesnt do as much damage to an ls1 as it does to smittros v6. ls1's dont have coolant running through the intake so there are no gaskets for it to rot out. Even the head gaskets are either graphite or mls so your ok just change it out because it does build up nasty sludge which is the main reason people hate it.

Yeah you all aluminum guys suck..jk