Coolant type Green or Dex-Cool

I'm on Dex-Cool also. I've used it in my '96 C1500 since '96. I agree, I think most problems are from mixing two coolants and/or not changing it periodically over years.

Not sure what came factory in my 2005 Jeep Wrangler 4.0L
.... but whatever it is, I'd try it. Never been changed and has 140k miles on it.
When the water pump goes.... I'll replace everything with original stuff..... (hoses, pump, thermostat, etc)

98chevy2500SS said:

Conventional green for me. Dexcool is nicknamed "Dexkill" for a reason.

All of the farm stores in my area carry the Preston green 50/50 stuff, so that's what I use.

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The common Prestone is not conventional green, its the long life 5 year stuff. Conventional is only rated for 3 years. The only conventional I see on their website is labled "Prime by Prestone", which is something I've never heard of until now.

Here's what I use, it's recommended for GM '95 and earlier. This only shows shelf life of 3 years in an unopened container. They don't say how long it'll last in the truck. Click on specs to see this (the .pdf is too big to import here).

https://peakauto.com/products/antifreeze-and-cool/auto/conventional-green-full-strength-antifreeze/

Vortec engine/ stock GM intake manifold gaskets are not green antifreeze friendly. It turns them into jelly causing them to leak, sometimes into the cylinders then causing O2 sensors to throw codes. If you replace gaskets with quality brand like felpro you will be fine with either. If you have a aftermarket radiator (with the two overflows, you should use a closed system... the one underneath radiator cap) for non closed system you cap off lower one and use upper outlet at radiator cap. If you do any racing then I would suggest closed system as it will not pour on the track after each race and get the officials annoyed

you've been using the green so keep using it, I've seen some really stopped up systems after people switch over and don't do a geed cleaning, it'll look like mud !

Rick Reid said:

you've been using the green so keep using it, I've seen some really stopped up systems after people switch over and don't do a geed cleaning, it'll look like mud !

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You should probably re-read the OP's post.

Dirty Bird said:

Vortec engine/ stock GM intake manifold gaskets are not green antifreeze friendly. It turns them into jelly causing them to leak

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I've never heard that before. Where does this information come from?

... sometimes into the cylinders then causing O2 sensors to throw codes. If you replace gaskets with quality brand like felpro you will be fine with either. If you have a aftermarket radiator (with the two overflows, you should use a closed system... the one underneath radiator cap) for non closed system you cap off lower one and use upper outlet at radiator cap. If you do any racing then I would suggest closed system as it will not pour on the track after each race and get the officials annoyed

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The lower 5/8" port is for the heater core return line as some trucks have it there depending on year and engine. I've never seen anyone convert to a pressurized surge tank, but I did consider doing it using parts from the diesel cooling system.[/QUOTE]

When I bought the truck in 2005with 144,000 miles the previous owner had converted it to green.

shortly after I bought the truck I had a leak so I flush the entire system and returned it to Dex-cool.

Sence then heater hoses have blown, I had to AC worked on while they were in there I had them replace the heater core and I’ve also replaced the radiator at least once (One of the plastic tanks started leaking) and had no issues with sludge in the system or any leaks.

i’m replacing the radiator again now because the oil cooler is contaminated and I’m putting a new engine in didn’t wanna take a chance with trying to flush the oil cooler side out.

454cid said:

I would run probably run something besides Dexcool.... another long life coolant, not the conventional green. Dexcool really needs a sealed system, not an overflow bottle at atmospheric pressure like our engines use. Conventional green doesn't last as long, and is kind of hard to find. I bought some at Orielly the other day, and I think they only had the store brand. Non-auto parts places like Menard's or Meijer's don't have it.

I do have a Dexcool approved equivalent in my Saturn, so I'm not completely opposed to it like some people are. The Saturn has a sealed system, Though.

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So I thought my system was sealed it just has an overflow tank so when it needs coolant It takes it out of the tank and that hose is above the bottom of the radiator cap.

It has a hot and a cold level on the overflow tank.