Does it have to be dextrol
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Not sure if dextrol is suppose to be dex-cool, if not then the following won't apply and I'm wrong as usual.. If so, continue reading.
Here you go WGM: http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f12/power-coolant-flush-general-cooling-67605/
Read a bit of that, if you want the real reason I posted it go to the 2nd page and look at T.S.'s (Tomato Soup's) thread links, here is the correct one specifying the brand usage conflict people have: So, changing coolant and don't want Dex-Cool? Read on, you may be surprised...
And if you don't have time and just want the basic importance. Here:
"I started to do some research on-line about pros/cons of Dex-cool based on DDM's coolant change procedure thread (here: Coolant bleed procedure) where Dave said they tend to not use Dex-cool when they can, but use local auto-parts coolant instead.
For the pro/con Dex-cool argument, I found that no-one really knows... it's just religion. "Dex-cool ruins your engine" - "No it doesn't"; makes up pretty much all the arguments. Aggh.
BUT then I started seeing posts about how the majority (if not all) of the aftermarket AMAM (All Makes All Models) antifreezes are actually Dex-cool equivalent formulations, including the Advanced Auto stuff Dave said they use. It seems that Dex-cool boils down to (see what I did there?) really just the combination of Ethylene Glycol and corrosion inhibitors in the form of organic acid technology (OAT), generally either Potassium or Sodium 2-Ethyl Hexanoic Acid (2EHA).
Being from Missouri (not really) I started looking up MSDS sheets to see what actually was in the different formulations, and I found exactly what I saw claimed above. For example, for Advanced Auto's 50/50 AMAM antifreeze (actually made by Prestone), the MSDS shows:
Ethylene Glycol (107-21-1) 40-60%
Diethylene Glycol (111-46-6) 0-5%
2-Ethyl Hexanoic Acid, Sodium Salt (19766-89-3) 1-5%
[Water 40-60%]
Thus, at least in general, possibly for all, the store-bought versions of AMAM antifreezes around, are all basically Dex-cool formulations. Almost no getting away from it!
Now there ARE non-dex formulations out there, but you actively have to look for them (and they are NOT classified as AMAM). An example is Peak's "Peak Global" Antifreeze (note: NOT the 'all makes' or 'Dex-cool' type). But those may well not be compatible with our cars anyway."
All credit goes to T.S. and his work, he also has references/research on his thread. :thumbs:
However, it does mention in the thread that Dex-Cool is silicate free... not sure what that impacts or if other anti-freezes are, but just more information!
***Edit: Dextrol = dex-cool; disregard my first sentence!***
Also I managed to find this: http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f11/waterpump-woes-58947/index3.html which explains the WaterPump (WP) issues that go with the delayed changing of the coolant (anti-freeze). So like mine, my Sol is 07 and has 25k mileage on it, I don't believe they have changed the coolant on it yet, so I will do that the next couple of months before my WP fails. You should do the same soon if you're still running on the first batch of coolant.
However, some have had the WP failure, some have gone 100k and not had it, I'm not sure if it's the year of the model/mod additions/etc, but maybe someone more experienced can help. - Psst Rob, Ghost, etc.
Here you go WGM: http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f12/power-coolant-flush-general-cooling-67605/
Read a bit of that, if you want the real reason I posted it go to the 2nd page and look at T.S.'s (Tomato Soup's) thread links, here is the correct one specifying the brand usage conflict people have: So, changing coolant and don't want Dex-Cool? Read on, you may be surprised...
And if you don't have time and just want the basic importance. Here:
"I started to do some research on-line about pros/cons of Dex-cool based on DDM's coolant change procedure thread (here: Coolant bleed procedure) where Dave said they tend to not use Dex-cool when they can, but use local auto-parts coolant instead.
For the pro/con Dex-cool argument, I found that no-one really knows... it's just religion. "Dex-cool ruins your engine" - "No it doesn't"; makes up pretty much all the arguments. Aggh.
BUT then I started seeing posts about how the majority (if not all) of the aftermarket AMAM (All Makes All Models) antifreezes are actually Dex-cool equivalent formulations, including the Advanced Auto stuff Dave said they use. It seems that Dex-cool boils down to (see what I did there?) really just the combination of Ethylene Glycol and corrosion inhibitors in the form of organic acid technology (OAT), generally either Potassium or Sodium 2-Ethyl Hexanoic Acid (2EHA).
Being from Missouri (not really) I started looking up MSDS sheets to see what actually was in the different formulations, and I found exactly what I saw claimed above. For example, for Advanced Auto's 50/50 AMAM antifreeze (actually made by Prestone), the MSDS shows:
Ethylene Glycol (107-21-1) 40-60%
Diethylene Glycol (111-46-6) 0-5%
2-Ethyl Hexanoic Acid, Sodium Salt (19766-89-3) 1-5%
[Water 40-60%]
Thus, at least in general, possibly for all, the store-bought versions of AMAM antifreezes around, are all basically Dex-cool formulations. Almost no getting away from it!
Now there ARE non-dex formulations out there, but you actively have to look for them (and they are NOT classified as AMAM). An example is Peak's "Peak Global" Antifreeze (note: NOT the 'all makes' or 'Dex-cool' type). But those may well not be compatible with our cars anyway."
All credit goes to T.S. and his work, he also has references/research on his thread. :thumbs:
However, it does mention in the thread that Dex-Cool is silicate free... not sure what that impacts or if other anti-freezes are, but just more information!
***Edit: Dextrol = dex-cool; disregard my first sentence!***
Also I managed to find this: http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f11/waterpump-woes-58947/index3.html which explains the WaterPump (WP) issues that go with the delayed changing of the coolant (anti-freeze). So like mine, my Sol is 07 and has 25k mileage on it, I don't believe they have changed the coolant on it yet, so I will do that the next couple of months before my WP fails. You should do the same soon if you're still running on the first batch of coolant.
However, some have had the WP failure, some have gone 100k and not had it, I'm not sure if it's the year of the model/mod additions/etc, but maybe someone more experienced can help. - Psst Rob, Ghost, etc.
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2,252 Posts
WOW Mehran, I think you actually answered your 1st post on your own and gave some good advise. I'm impressed. Yes, it's Dex cool and that's what you are supposed to use.
Very good.
Very good.
Ahaha.. I was honestly about to put "no worries guys, I got this since y'all have taught me so much" but decided it would be bragging so I didn't include it 
Thanks though, for everything everyone has done and taught me on this forum. Glad to own my Sol because this community is great!
Thanks though, for everything everyone has done and taught me on this forum. Glad to own my Sol because this community is great!
Joined
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20,173 Posts
Dexcool is recommended by GM. If you use another formulation, know that some coolants are incompatible with Dexcool and in fact can form a semi solid foam if mixed with the wrong coolant. If you change to another type, make sure you flush ALL the Dexcool out first
Thanks Jeff, and yes I'm coming on fast! Eager to learn, learning to be eager! :thumbs:
- The Missouri "pun" had nothing to do with me, all credit given to T.S. as that was a quotation of his post. I was merely just reciting sites to give WGM the research behind my answer that most anti-freeze is the same as calculated by T.S.'s formula.
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8,145 Posts
... and I said all that without moving my lips!
(Thanks mehran!)
(Thanks mehran!)
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395 Posts
FWIW, I just changed my coolant right at 100k miles. I'm pretty sure it had not been done before.
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2,252 Posts
hey Nathan, what methood did you use to burp it? I did the air gun trick and it worked very well.
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