Is Mixing Dexcool Antifreeze And Universal Coolant Okay?

  • Try not to blend Dexcool with standard liquid catalyst! Dexcool is an exceptionally refined GM coolant that won’t blend in with universal antifreeze and was utilized in different GM applications up through the 2004 model year
  • GM suggests coolant exchangers as the correct strategy to trade the old Dexcool antifreeze in your vehicle with universal antifreeze
  • Regardless of whether you are running Dexcool or ethylene glycol, examine the coolant level and the condition of the coolant during each oil change or have your trusted mechanic make it a normal part of the inspection
  • GM prescribes any vehicle mixing Dexcool with green antifreeze be flushed more than once to guarantee all debased coolant has been completely removed

If you’re like me, then your garage is full of things that are only used occasionally. This includes old coolant. The last time I checked, my garage had over 10 gallons of unused antifreeze…enough for a small car at least!

When it comes to mixing Dexcool and universal coolant, there’s no need to worry about the proportions or anything else—just shake them together before pouring them into the radiator.

Universal coolant is a chemical that is commonly used in vehicles to keep the engine at an optimal temperature. It’s often combined with Dexcool Antifreeze, which helps protect your car from rusting and corrosion. If you are unsure about what type of chemicals work best for your vehicle, consult with your mechanic or call up a local auto parts store to see if they can help you out.!

Most cars made before 1998 may run cooler with Dexcool coolant, while those manufactured after 1998 only use the universal stuff. If you mix both types of chemicals together and put them in your old car with a pre-1998 engine, it might cause damage to the radiator (the radiator is also not designed for such a mixture).

However, if you own a late ’90s model, your car actually calls for a 50% mixture of Dexcool and universal coolant.

When mixing the chemicals together in a large container, add 10 gallons of coolant to 1 gallon of antifreeze. Once you have the liquids mixed well, pour them through a funnel into your car’s radiator. In other words, it’s a one-to-one ratio for each gallon of antifreeze and universal coolant.

What is engine coolant? Coolant (once in a while alluded to as liquid catalyst or radiator liquid) is utilized to manage your motor temperature and keep it from overheating. Is simply mixing Dexcool and universal antifreeze together safe?

Is Mixing Dexcool Coolant With Green Antifreeze Possible?

Of course, it is and it is done when there are few to no other options. The green and orange coolants don’t blend. At the point when combined, they structure a gel-like substance that stops the coolant stream, and thus, the motor overheats. This is one of those inquiries typically posed sometime later, and as a rule, the motor most likely has been damaged.

There are a few universal types of antifreeze that guarantee similarity with Dexcool, however, I would prefer to blunder moderately and include what the framework should take as opposed to bet. To prepare for significant motor disappointment, read on.

old radiator fluid change immediately

What Exactly Is Dexcool Coolant?

During the 1990s, GM presented a motor coolant called Dexcool. It should last 5 years or 150,000 miles, yet there have been issues with this coolant. The cooling framework is specially designed to work against corrosion when the coolant level gets low and oxygen is allowed to enter the framework.

Corrosion and rust will destroy your engine long before a head gasket or admission gasket is ever at risk. The damage that these problems cause to an internal combustion system is significant enough, but they’re just the start of it!

Dexcool’s corrosion inhibitor not only prevents metal from deteriorating in its natural state; as heat builds up within certain parts due to increased pressure levels inside the motor-vehicle unit over time – guess what? That means more excessive wear on both belts…and gears too (yes!).

That’s why it’s so important to check your vehicle from time to time. It’ll save a lot of money in the long run. Changing belts and oil before they’re needed will cause you more financial hardship than doing preventative maintenance – because if you do need a new belt, eventually you’ll have to pay for what happens when it goes.

Here are some of the most common noises, symptoms, and indications that may be caused by trouble within your engine’s intake or exhaust system:

  • A loud hissing sound that won’t go away; especially when the vehicle is idling at a stoplight (or has been shut off after driving). This could indicate the presence of pressure within the system due to a broken/blocked hose or pipe.
  • An extremely loud sound when accelerating (or decelerating); could be caused by an obstruction in either intake or exhaust; if it’s the latter, don’t worry about your vehicle – because this can happen whenever there’s heat build-up inside the motor-vehicle unit due to excessive pressure levels within the system.

So don’t delay; make an appointment with your mechanic today (or tomorrow, if it’s an emergency). You won’t regret it!

And don’t forget to make sure your vehicle is in top condition when you go in for servicing…because it will cost you more in the long run if they have to disassemble the motor-vehicle unit to fix what could’ve been prevented.

Is Universal Coolant Compatible With Dexcool Antifreeze?

Try not to blend Dexcool with standard liquid catalyst! Dexcool is an exceptionally refined GM coolant that won’t blend in with universal antifreeze and was utilized in different GM applications up through the 2004 model year.

A blend of exchange synthetic substances will void the GM support, will corrupt coolant uprightness, and perhaps harm the coolant arrangement of your GM vehicle. Dexcool is orange so it is in no way mistaken for conventional green shaded coolant.

Pro Tip: Blending green coolant will decrease the adequacy of Dexcool from 5 years/150,000 miles down to just 2 years/30,000 miles.

Buy DexCool to finish off your universal antifreeze. Privately owned businesses sell Dexcool including Shell and Prestone. Assess a coolant that meets GM’s Dexcool GM6277M specs, which ought to be marked on the side of the bottle.

You can get the proper coolant at a car parts supply store. If all else fails, request that a store representative assist you with finding the right coolant.

Utilize a coolant exchanger to supplant your Dexcool coolant. GM suggests coolant exchangers as the correct strategy to trade the old Dexcool antifreeze in your vehicle with universal antifreeze. Most car fix shops will have the option to deal with this administration for you, and handle the removal of the old coolant.

Can I Use Universal Coolant Instead Of Dexcool?

Yes. But make sure when you take your vehicle to a shop, have the universal antifreeze depleted completely on the off chance that you have blended in different coolants. Non-DexCool coolants will cause Dexcool to gel and become muck, which will prompt an assortment of motor issues.

GM prescribes any vehicle mixing Dexcool with green antifreeze be flushed more than once to guarantee all debased coolant has been completely removed.

The universal antifreeze synthetically responds and structures as a gel as opposed to a fluid. The universal antifreeze quits coursing through the framework, stops up coolant paths and water coats, radiators, and warmer centers.

The water siphon overheats and bombs because of an absence of ointment in the coolant. Head gaskets blow, heads twist, and the motor endures significant harm.

If I have Dexcool in my vehicle, can you mix Dexcool and universal antifreeze safely? Yes, temporarily.

GM recommends antifreeze flushing Dexcool at 150,000 miles.

padding green antifreeze mixing it is safe

Basic Tips For Radiator Maintenance

Here’s the primary concern with regard to cooling maintenance. Regardless of whether you are running Dexcool (the orange stuff) or ethylene glycol (the green stuff), examine the coolant level and the condition of the coolant during each oil change or have your trusted mechanic make it a normal part of the inspection.

Furthermore, top off your radiator at regular intervals or 25,000 miles whichever comes first (annually is highly recommended unless your car runs warm). These activities will mitigate issues related to mixing Dexcool and universal antifreeze.

What Happens If You Don’t Flush Coolant?

Possible engine damage if you don’t flush your radiator soon enough. The shade of sound motor coolant is green (for ethylene glycol) or orange (for Dexcool). A corroded shading demonstrates that the rust inhibitor in the coolant has separated and it can no longer control rust and scale development. Cleaned and flush the radiator with a crisp 50/50 blend of coolant to maintain proper operation.

A smooth shading shows the nearness of oil in the framework. This isn’t acceptable; it, as a rule, implies that a head gasket, consumption complex, or transmission oil cooler is spilling oil or transmission liquid into the motor coolant. This is a fatal blend that will execute a motor or transmission quite promptly.

healthy green radiator antifreeze coolant

Thick Coolant Is An Indication Of Good Coolant

The motor coolant should feel thick to the touch and smooth (like motor oil). If it feels coarse, the coolant is grimy and ought to be flushed and supplanted with a new 50/50 blend.

On the off chance that the coolant doesn’t feel like this it has lost its viscosity (the greasing up and rust hindering operators have crumbled) and the framework is in danger for rust and scale development, just as water siphon wear.

Check The Smell Of Your Antifreeze

Change the antifreeze on the off chance that it smells consumed. Additionally, change the inside regulator. It’s gone bad since if the car is overheating. Overheating harms the bi-metallic spring that opens and shuts the indoor regulator valve.

Above all, discover what made the framework overheat and fix it to maintain a strategic distance from significant motor harm.

So is mixing Dexcool and universal antifreeze together a good idea?

Ideally no, in a pinch, yes.

General Motors Class Action Lawsuits With Dexcool

GM stands firm in its confidence that Dexcool will not let them down. There were class-action suits against GM on this issue, and they agreed with certain proprietors starting in 2008

In order to avoid payouts from customers who may have been hurt by higher gas prices during an economic downturn when it was colder outside than it is now but still very warm inside your car.

General Motors engineer Clarence Darrow took matters into his own hands developing a product called “Dexcool”. He created a highly effective refrigerant system for cars that uses mineral oil as both coolant and insulator between metal parts where heat is generated due to pressure.

With the help of chemists, Clarence was able to come up with a unique blend that inhibits corrosion and rust in gasoline systems by fighting acidity – which would otherwise destroy metal parts over time while still protecting them from overheating. The new formula proved so effective, GM decided to use it across their entire fleet instead of just certain models.

According to an article by ABC News, Dexcool was so successful in fighting corrosion that it actually eliminated the need for other traditional coolant products. The new coolant blend also lowered manufacturing costs for GM because they no longer had to take the extra precautions of building cars with protective coatings on water pumps or air conditioning parts.

The new product was so popular that GM encouraged car owners to do “15,000-mile” service when in reality they should have been changing their coolant every two years. And because the Dexcool mixture is red in color, it’s pretty easy for your mechanic or even an astute everyday driver to notice when it starts to break down. That’s when the problems start to appear.

One of the biggest issues being that Dexcool doesn’t work at all in the winter months because the fluid becomes a gel-like substance when it gets cold, which clogs up lines and causes overheating – especially when it’s very cold outside. And if you have a car with a plastic intake manifold (like most GM vehicles), it will start to melt when the temperature drops below 50 degrees.

Since Dexcool has been in use, there have been many class-action lawsuits against GM for not only making false claims about how long this product lasts but also creating situations where overheating can occur due to clogged radiator lines.

Many court cases point to the fact that there were better options out there on the market for extended life coolants, but it’s believed senior executives at GM decided not to use these products because they wanted “their stuff” in every vehicle.

GM promised its customers that Dexcool would last longer than other traditional coolants and provide better protection from corrosion as well. But in reality, the company was forcing customers to come in for maintenance when they didn’t need it and paying for repairs when there was no damage.

Main Takeaways – Mixing Dexcool Antifreeze And Universal Coolant

But sometimes people have to make due. In an emergency, you rarely or never have an ideal solution. An emergency kit sitting in your truck is always a good idea and it is well worth the inconvenience of months or years of a hassle for the one single moment when it is your only option.

Dexcool is a great option for your car. If your car already uses Dexcool the best option will be to continue to use only Dexcool and not mix other types of antifreeze. This is a regular part of proactive car maintenance that will save you money, time, and headache in the long run.

If you’re going to mix Dexcool and other coolants, it’s best not to use a vehicle that has been through an extended period of high-temperature operation.

The main problem is the increased risk of corrosion at higher temperatures which can lead to a decrease in system cooling efficiency with reduced protection against freezing or boiling over. As always, when in doubt consult your owner’s manual for recommended mixing ratios.

The most important thing to remember is that the coolant must have a lower freezing point than water, so if you want to mix Dexcool with just any old antifreeze, it’s best not to do it at all! A good rule of thumb for making sure your new mixture will work well is this:

If one has a low boiling point and the other doesn’t (i.e., Dexcool vs straight ethylene glycol) then they should be mixed together in equal amounts; however, if both fluids share similar properties (both are high boiling points or both are Low), then adding up to 10% more of the fluid that boils at a higher temperature can help ensure adequate protection from corrosion.

Ethylene glycol is hygroscopic, meaning it has a strong attraction to moisture. This can lead to some issues if you are using ethylene glycol over an extended period of time. If the fluid becomes contaminated with water it will break down into several acids that can damage your cooling system.

The amount of water present in the coolant is dependent on several factors, including how clean the system was when it was installed and how well the system is sealed.

If you are adding coolant to your car every two years or drive in an area where there are large amounts of water on the roads during the winter months, then adding a corrosion inhibitor will help prevent this from becoming an issue. With proper maintenance, ethylene glycol-based fluids can last upwards of five years before needing to be replaced.