CobaltItaliano

I am running a bit low on coolant right now, and I have some Peak extended life 50/50 antifreeze. I know the current coolant is dexcool, but the Peak bottle says it can be mixed with any coolant in any make/model.

So does anybody know if its safe to add to the dexcool or should i just go buy some dexcool and add it in?

Thanks

Coblasts

Stick with the dexcol,
I think using one of those so call compatible brands was the demise of the intake gasket on my Safari van.
It's takes along time but the gaskets are dexcol compatible and the other coolant types may rot the gaskets out or worse yet turn the coolant into syrup.
This is my opinion

mexi_loco

iTrader: (7)

if you want to use the yellow ****, drain out the rest of the dex-cool first via the plug in the radiator. Don't mix different colors. But then again, I wouldn't be putting that **** in my car to begin with. Dex-cool is what they put, so dex-cool is what I put.

nhanson

iTrader: (1)

Just use dex. Either from the dealer or the Prestone specific dex bottle

nizzle

iTrader: (7)

DO NOT mix. Use dexcool only or COMPLETELY flush system before changing coolants

CobaltItaliano

Thanks guys. This work?

Prestone/1 gal. 50/50 Dex-Cool antifreeze and coolant (AF850) | Antifreeze | AutoZone.com

mexi_loco

iTrader: (7)

that'll work, but you're basically paying for half a jug of water as well. I'd rather buy the concentrate and add water later. But if you don't have a constant source of purified distilled water, then just get that and call it a day.

CobaltItaliano

Prestone/5/100 extended life antifreeze and coolant (AF888) | Antifreeze | AutoZone.com

Thats the other one they have. It says concentrate, but not sure what the 5-100 means?

johnccc

I would actually get the Prestone Dex-Cool (GM logo on package) non premixed and make a 70/30 mix for even better protection, but 50/50 will work fine however.

Remember to flush your system with radiator flush if you plan to drain it anyway, a few more dollars makes a cleaner cooling system.

CobaltItaliano

Never done a radiator flush before. Ive got a 07 with only 27k miles on it. And the coolant is still good in color and not at all sludgy. Is it safe to just add a 50/50 mix of the above stuff or no?

mexi_loco

iTrader: (7)

you should perform a coolant flush every 1-2 years, or every 30,000 miles (which ever comes first), irregardless of how it "looks" (that's a subjective measurement). When you jack the car up, find the radiator and look at its bottom. You should notice a plastic screw at its lowest point. That is the drain plug where you will drain the coolant system of all its coolant.

To do this, you will have to turn your car on (after unscrewing the plug), and run the heater at its highest setting. The minute you see the stream reducing, immediately turn the car off (otherwise, you'll probably hear the car misfiring or even knock). Reinsert the drain plug and fill the overflow tank with the recommended amount of coolant/water mixture (check out your owner's manual).

CobaltItaliano

Guess I should just do it the right way and do the flush instead of just adding to the fill line then?

mexi_loco

iTrader: (7)

it's up to you. I mean if it's never been flushed before then yeah, it's way overdue for one.

CobaltItaliano

Yeah never been flushed before since the manual says every 5 years 150k miles. But might as well just flush it now since Im in need of coolant. No time this week..hopefully next weekend. Thanks man.

heathkidder

iTrader: (20)

Do u guys use same coolant for h/e also or two diff kinds incase you have a leak ull no what it is

CobaltItaliano

Not sure. Ive got a 2.2

mexi_loco

iTrader: (7)

5 years, 150k??? awe lawdy any half-way decent tech will tell you 1 year, or 30k miles.

I ran straight dex-cool for awhile, but honestly, 50/50 water-dex cool is what's recommended. Wish I had datalogs to compare how it ran between the two, but never got around to it.

heathkidder

iTrader: (20)

Ok then yes use the gm orange kind i thought u might be sc bc i used the yellow stuff for my h/e bc i didnt want to use same color

heathkidder

iTrader: (20)

I use gm orange kind for main coolant and yellow kind for h/e which iv never used before but i didnt want both systems orange

mexi_loco

iTrader: (7)

Use dex-cool for the s/c as well. I just wouldn't use anything but what came from the factory.

heathkidder

iTrader: (20)

But does it come in another color than orange all i found was yellow 50/50 but i thought there was a pink

mexi_loco

iTrader: (7)

no sir. Someone either:

(a) diluted their dex-cool coolant too much and appeared pink, or;

(b) you saw automatic transmission fluid somewhere (which is red/pinkish).

Only use dex-cool in your cooling system and s/c system with clean, distilled and purified water.

heathkidder

iTrader: (20)

Hmm i judt didnt want them both same color Incase of a leak id no where to start

heathkidder

iTrader: (20)

Well ill ask u another dumb ? Then uno how u can see the temp gauge on ur cluster well is there anyway to find out temp for the h/e system

mexi_loco

iTrader: (7)

they are independent systems of each other. It will not matter what color the coolant is; it's already going to be an easy way of determining if the block is leaking or the s/c system.