flushing out coolant: switch from dexcool to green coolant? (2024)

FAQs

Flushing out coolant: switch from dexcool to green coolant? ›

If you're asking about flushing it, I'd just drain it, fill it with water, then draing it again and refill with 50/50 antifreeze and distilled water (or a garden hose).

The green stuff will work, BUT make sure you COMPLETELY flush all the dex-cool out before putting a drop of the green in. They do not play well together. The coolants chemically react and form a gel rather than a liquid.

Inadequate Cooling:

Mixing green and orange anti-freeze coolants doesn't lead to efficient cooling in the engine. Both coolants are designed differently and are made for specific engine types. If they are mixed, they might not perform well and can create a dangerous, hazardous solution.

The *only* coolant you can use to top off the system is DexCool formulated coolant; it will be orange or salmon-colored. If the coolant is any other color, do not use it.

The easiest way to tell the difference between Dex-Cool and regular antifreeze is that Dex-Cool is usually orange/red, and regular antifreeze is green/blue. Dex-Cool is made up of combinations of different phosphates and silicates as well as an organic acid technology that helps minimize corrosion in aluminum engines.

As a general rule, you shouldn't mix different types of coolant. However, nowadays, with new vehicle models, the colour of the coolant you choose doesn't always matter. Whereas on older models, using the wrong type of coolant could cause damage to the cooling system and engine.

IAT (Inorganic Additive Technology) is bright green, typically used at the factory in cars that are older than the early 2000 models. OAT (Organic Additive Technology) is orange. If you were using green (or just plain water), you're seeing effects of significant corrosion.

Functionally there is really no difference between the orange and green antifreeze. It's two separate chemicals so you should use one or the other but don't mix them. If you want to use green antifreeze then you should flush the cooling system and then make the change.

How Much Does a Coolant Flush Cost? The cost of a coolant flush depends on your vehicle's coolant capacity, and whether or not you are flushing the system with chemicals or soap before refilling it. Typically, you can expect to pay between $100 and $150 for this service on most vehicles.

It is recommended that your cooling system be flushed every five years or 240,000 kms. Our Bennett GM Certified Service Technicians will flush the coolant from your car, truck or SUV. We will also make sure everything is operating as it should and replace the fluid with AC Delco Dexcool.

What happens if you mix Dex-cool with regular antifreeze? ›

Firstly, Dex-Cool and traditional anti-freeze don't mix well. Though they can work together in a pinch, after extended use, they can react and create a gel, which can be very damaging to multiple components of the cooling system. For that reason, the best thing for your Chevy or GM vehicle is to stick with Dex-Cool.

Do I need a particular type of coolant?. For a couple decades now, GM has used a type of coolant known as Dex-Cool. Despite not being called antifreeze, it still accomplishes the same task, so you don't have to worry about replacing Dex-Cool for the winter months or anything like that.

Can ordinary antifreeze be used in a car that says dexcool only? - Quora. You should not mix the 2. They react and will gel up. So if you don't want to use dex-cool, the system needs to be drained and thoroughly flushed.

Which colour does what? What colour do you need? Green coolant is the conventional coolant (Ethylene Glycol base) and is the most popularly used coolant. Red coolant typically has a base of Organic Acid Technology which is designed to be more suitable for aluminium radiators.

ACDelco Dex-Cool 50/50 Premix Coolant/Antifreeze is an orange, silicate and phosphate free, premium-grade coolant with a chemical composition that reduces breakdown of metal components in contact with the fluid.

They react to each other, so it's not recommended to mix them unless you're really low on coolant and need to add some. Then once you've fixed the leak you drain, flush and fill with one or the other coolant.

Damage to Cylinder Gasket: The mixture can create a strong acidic effect, wearing down the cylinder gasket and potentially causing leaks. Clogging the Water Pump: Incompatible elements in the mixture can interrupt the coolant distribution, leading to overheating and potential engine damage.

The two antifreeze types are not chemically compatible. They can chemically react with each other causing a viscosity increase and even gelling in the cooling system. This will render the coolant less effective and can even damage your cooling system. Don't ever mix the two coolant types.

They have quick-acting silicate and phosphate corrosion inhibitors that do a good job of inhibiting corrosion on both iron and aluminum surfaces. This familiar green liquid has proven its worth in all the temperature extremes of North America. Virtually any vehicle can use this fluid.