I'm running Prestone green mixed with distilled water. Seems ok so far on the LS, water temp hasn't gotten above 205 even on a 93° day.
What coolant are you guys using?
- Thread starter Tony1968
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I run Mercedes Benz coolant since the mid 00’s because when I did engine swaps in my Monte’s I had a friend who worked at a MB dealership and would get the coolant (and Mobil 1) oil for free. Still run it, don’t know the technical name but it’s always worked well. Can get the equivalent at auto parts stores too.
I honestly don't think it matters... Just don't mix it. And don't buy into the "universal" bull shiz. If you've been using one type, stick with it, it works. Mixing it is really bad, will turn into a mucky sludge.
Propylene glycol base is best though... Ethylene glycol base is poisonous and a disaster for the environment. Heard of rivers that used to freeze but don't anymore, or water that catches fire? That's not just ethylene glycol, but it has something to do with it. The newer propylene glycol stuff works just as well and isn't toxic.
Propylene glycol base is best though... Ethylene glycol base is poisonous and a disaster for the environment. Heard of rivers that used to freeze but don't anymore, or water that catches fire? That's not just ethylene glycol, but it has something to do with it. The newer propylene glycol stuff works just as well and isn't toxic.
I know somebody on here runs Evans waterless coolant and I considered it years ago for the Monte but never did it.
High Performance Coolant | Evans Waterless Coolant
Evans Waterless High Performance Coolant increases engine reliability and eliminates many issues associated with water-based coolants.
www.evanscoolant.com
I know a few guys that run Evans. Works well. Definitely not cheap but you get what you pay for...I know somebody on here runs Evans waterless coolant and I considered it years ago for the Monte but never did it.
High Performance Coolant | Evans Waterless Coolant
Evans Waterless High Performance Coolant increases engine reliability and eliminates many issues associated with water-based coolants.www.evanscoolant.com
I'm running the yellow "global" extended life coolant in everything. I switched from Dexcool based on the recommendation of a friend of mine who is a mechanic for a living. He runs a small three bay shop at a gas station down the street from my office. They do all the work on my company's trucks. He's been using the yellow in just about everything for years and has had good luck with it.
He switched over my 2008 Sierra back in 2016 when I was too ill to work on it. It got drained and re-filled about a year ago when I replaced all the hoses. Nothing negative to report.
We had Dexcool in Dad's Galaxie for years but suffered a heater core and heater control valve failure. Both had been replaced previously and should not have failed. They didn't look good when we pulled them. To replace them is a big job. At that point I drained the block and when we went back together, we went with the yellow. That's been more than a year ago, probably coming up on two years.
Earlier this year, when I replaced the water pump and all the hoses on the Roadmaster, I went back with the yellow.
I don't see anything wrong with the green but don't leave it in there any more than two years. If I ran the green I'd probably be more comfortable with changing it every year and I don't want to do it that often. With the extended life coolant, I only let it go about 3 years. Once the cooling system is dirty, it's hard to overcome so I'm very OCD about coolant.
If you read up on Dexcool, it gets blamed a lot for eating up intake gaskets on early to mid 90's GM stuff. This was the first generation of GM engines with integral O-ring seals in the gaskets. Then it is said that wheen the coolant level gets low, the Dexcool reacts with air and turns into the jelly.
We've run Dexcool in my brother's LS swapped 78 Z28 since putting it together 6 or 8 years ago with no issues so far. If you stay on top of it, I think it's fine but it does seem a little corrosive and I spent a lot of time reading up on it after the heater issue on Dad's car. Few have anything good to say about it so I've gotten away from it.
We've run Dexcool in my brother's 02 GMC Sierra since new with no issues, so again, I think it is a matter of proper maintenance. I wouldn't run Dexcool any longer than about 3 years without changing it for preventive maintenance.
A decent read on the subject....
He switched over my 2008 Sierra back in 2016 when I was too ill to work on it. It got drained and re-filled about a year ago when I replaced all the hoses. Nothing negative to report.
We had Dexcool in Dad's Galaxie for years but suffered a heater core and heater control valve failure. Both had been replaced previously and should not have failed. They didn't look good when we pulled them. To replace them is a big job. At that point I drained the block and when we went back together, we went with the yellow. That's been more than a year ago, probably coming up on two years.
Earlier this year, when I replaced the water pump and all the hoses on the Roadmaster, I went back with the yellow.
I don't see anything wrong with the green but don't leave it in there any more than two years. If I ran the green I'd probably be more comfortable with changing it every year and I don't want to do it that often. With the extended life coolant, I only let it go about 3 years. Once the cooling system is dirty, it's hard to overcome so I'm very OCD about coolant.
If you read up on Dexcool, it gets blamed a lot for eating up intake gaskets on early to mid 90's GM stuff. This was the first generation of GM engines with integral O-ring seals in the gaskets. Then it is said that wheen the coolant level gets low, the Dexcool reacts with air and turns into the jelly.
We've run Dexcool in my brother's LS swapped 78 Z28 since putting it together 6 or 8 years ago with no issues so far. If you stay on top of it, I think it's fine but it does seem a little corrosive and I spent a lot of time reading up on it after the heater issue on Dad's car. Few have anything good to say about it so I've gotten away from it.
We've run Dexcool in my brother's 02 GMC Sierra since new with no issues, so again, I think it is a matter of proper maintenance. I wouldn't run Dexcool any longer than about 3 years without changing it for preventive maintenance.
A decent read on the subject....
I have personally seen the mud, actually looks like grey modeling clay. All of the manufactures use some sort of long life coolant. My 2010 Challenger was red and my 2017 Challenger is purple, Ford is orange I believe. Does GM still use Dexcool? Maybe reformulated? I use the universal yellow 5 year life stuff and have mixed it with the red Toyota coolant with 0 issues.
My stuff, ethylene glycol
Customer's cars, OE coolant...not "oe type", OE. It only takes one customer ripping your *ss to get away from the "universal" coolants. Actually wasn't me, it was another tech that did it, and the shop owner that got his *ss ripped. I had advised against it, but they had all this "universal" coolant they bought on sale. They got away with it for a while, but one persnickity Nissan owner checked his radiator when he picked his truck up and that was all it took.
Ford uses at least 7 different coolants in the last 10 years, and not everything from one year gets the same stuff.
Mopar has at least 2 extended life coolants, one 5 year, one 10
Most of the imports make it a little easier and generally use only one type/color
I've trained the estimators so that when a radiator is figured, we order the coolant along with the other parts for the job.
Customer's cars, OE coolant...not "oe type", OE. It only takes one customer ripping your *ss to get away from the "universal" coolants. Actually wasn't me, it was another tech that did it, and the shop owner that got his *ss ripped. I had advised against it, but they had all this "universal" coolant they bought on sale. They got away with it for a while, but one persnickity Nissan owner checked his radiator when he picked his truck up and that was all it took.
Ford uses at least 7 different coolants in the last 10 years, and not everything from one year gets the same stuff.
Mopar has at least 2 extended life coolants, one 5 year, one 10
Most of the imports make it a little easier and generally use only one type/color
I've trained the estimators so that when a radiator is figured, we order the coolant along with the other parts for the job.
The dexcool was supposed to plug its own leaks when exposed to air. In reality, it just makes a mess.
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