This is only my 2nd post here, so please bare with me if this has been asked before. I want to get rid of the 150,000 mile antifreeze in the cooling system and want to put in regular antifreeze. I've had too many problems in past with other vehicles with this crap in the cooling system. By removing this, will it void the warranty or have any effect on the operation of the engine or cooling system?

thanks.....

 

If any parts fail from a direct result of you changing out the anti-freeze, it will not be covered by warranty. I suggest you keep the anti-freeze that came with the car. What sort of problems have you had in the past?

 

I believe it's called "Dex Cool" and I have had 3 GM vehicles in the past that used this stuff, gummed up the cooling system within 40,000 causing cooling problems. I just want to head off this before it happens again. I was hoping that GM had stopped using this.......

 

I think there were problems in the past (the late 90's) with dex cool. It had to do with deteriorating intake manifold gaskets for one thing.

If this was still an issue why would GM give you a 100k powertrain warranty? It's on them now, if it fails you are off the hook.

 

If you are concern about dex-cool. I suggest you change it out every 2 years or 50K miles rather than every 5 years or 150,000 miles. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 

I could be wrong, but I think that 100,000 miles powertrain warranty is just on the engine/trans. Not the cooling system or items attached.

Just wondering if anyone else has had an issue with this stuff and using regular antifreeze hurt my warranty......

 

HHRcheater.....

Can I ask which engines AND what year, make of vehicle they were in????

I have some LIMITED knowledge reagarding the previous warranty issues and DEX-COOL. You do realize.......

the formulation of the present Dex-Cool is completely different since those problems (probably because of those problems).

the Dex-Cool....cooling sludge/engine failure problem.....was limited to certain types of engines (other vehicles, in the GM product line, experienced no problems with Dex-Cool.

I would suggest, because of the design and components of this engine, you have nothing to worry about. Especially since the formulation is different.

You do what you think is right. But as a warning, the entire change of the type of coolant specified COULD void any related warranty issues. From simple but expensive things like radiators, water pumps, to heads, valves, and entire engines.

Oh, and as I mentioned some time ago (in a related thread), I was one of the field test vehicles (personal vehicle) for Dex-Cool. Have had it in EVERY car since then...never experienced a problem OF ANY KIND>

 

I had it in a 99 Grand Am and a 2001 Malibu, both with V6 engines and both had corrosion/sludge problems. In the Malibu, it had even ate threw the head gasket. Now, if GM has indeed changed the formula, then that's good and will leave it alone. I just don't want any problems with this HHR.

 

I had a 99 Buick GS with dex cool..no prolems in seven years and 100,000+ miles. As I understood, you never mix dex cool with the other antifreeze types or you face the sludge problems.

 

One of the instrumental issues.....DO NOT ADD ANYTHING to the Dex-Cool. No rust inhibitors, lubricants, etc. Once contaminated it can cause problems.....read your Owners Book, GM is very specific.

Also, with the previous problem......it almost always occurred in vehicles with iron blocks. The Ecotec block, as well as many other GM engines, are now alloys. AND MANY TIMES, owners added various components to the solution in those iron blocks......even "regular" anti-freeze.