Using Dexcool: can I top off my coolant with another brand?

[BZeto]

I've heard especially with Dexcool that you should not mix with other coolants, is this true?

 

[Vette73]

You can mix.

If the added coolant says longlife then you can still do the 100k change.

If it is regular coolant then you will need to change in the 30k? time frame.

But I only see long life stuff now. Hard to find the old "cheap" stuff.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

You can mix brands, but not types. There's the "green" and the "red" types. I've heard that mixing them causes it to become like a slushie, but never been able to confirm that.

 

[brblx]

color != problem. there's green, blue, red, yellow, pink...

you're worried about the chemical composition. i would buy something that explicitly says 'dexcool safe' or something to that effect.

i think the GM sluding problems were less a result of coolant mixing, and more a problem with old coolant turning slightly acidic and circulating through an engine with an iron block and an aluminum head- making a simple battery.

 

[BW86]

How much do you need to top off? You can always add a little bit of water if its not too much.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

color != problem. there's green, blue, red, yellow, pink...

you're worried about the chemical composition. i would buy something that explicitly says 'dexcool safe' or something to that effect.

i think the GM sluding problems were less a result of coolant mixing, and more a problem with old coolant turning slightly acidic and circulating through an engine with an iron block and an aluminum head- making a simple battery.

That's why I used the quotes. The real difference is the OAT/HOAT vs. standard. Much of what I read from the manufacturers says that mixing just lowers the lifespan to standard and the "slush" was caused by other things. So take it as you will.

 

[brblx]

multiple GM mechanics have told me it was a problem with the coolant + engine materials + lack of maintenance, but i don't know it to be fact.

i understand what you meant, i just wanted to point out that the replacement coolant didn't necessarily have to be red. a lot of the extended life parts store coolants are yellow.

 

[bruceb]

Prestone makes a coolant that is designed for use with all systems. And they also have it in a premixed 50/50 ratio so all you do is pour it in. They also sell a Dexcool version if you want just that (also in a 50/50 mix if you want it that way)

http://www.prestone.com/products/antifreezeCoolant.php