coolant flush

[harley]

need to do a coolant flush pretty soon. is there any specific coolant to use? is the orange prestone dexcool stuff safe to use?

ive heard people use it with no problems and also people having problems with it

'92 1.6 in case it matters

I went ahead and bought GM prestone dexcool stuff last night and mixed it with distilled water, but then I wanted to make sure it was ok to use before I did the flush.

Should I just be safe and get the regular green stuff?

[jeepinbanditrider]

Don't use Dexcool. Just get the green 50/50 premix and change it once a year.

You'll never be able to get all of the green stuff out of your system and the Dexcool doesn't seem to play well with "regular" coolant. DEXCOOL claims you can mix the two but I wouldn't. I personally hate Dexcool and other than my GM vehicle would never run it in anything else. It works ok as long as it never gets mixed with anything else. I've never seen any good come out of Dexcool unless it was a factory fill coolant.

[harley]

Sounds like a plan. Id rather be safe then sorry. I've read some bad stuff about dexcool. Sucks I bought a jug already and cant return it

[black roadster]

Don't use Dexcool. Just get the green 50/50 premix and change it once a year.

I'd recommend a 30% reg coolant / 70% distilled water. We don't get cold enough in Texas long enough for a 50/50 mix.

[luis]

... as long as we don't get crazy ice/snow/freeze like the past winter

[EricJ]

What is the correct way to dispose of the old coolant? Can it be recycled? Where (Lewisville area)?

[jeepinbanditrider]

The local big Box auto stores here take coolant for recycling, at least here I think they do lol. Agreed on the 30/70 mix during summer but I run a supercharger with the automatic radiator in it. I need a bit of extra cooling help. You do need to keep an eye on the weather unless your car is garage kept as there are a few times during the winter where it'll dip low enough to freeze a 30/70 mix.

[Rob®]

A fresh 30/70 mix is good to what, 4°F? If you're that concerned about freezing in 4°F, I highly suggest getting a freeze point tester thing from an auto parts store - test before winter, if you think you'll be OK with what temp it says, leave it in the car *if you keep the car in a garage - all bets are off if the car is kept outside on near-0° days/nights. The tester I got from a Snap-On dealer over a decade ago was like $10, so I'm thinking a generic one will be about $3 locally. I test mine every year just before winter, even though I generally drain it and refill every spring anyway.

And like jeepin said, most auto stores take it. Walmarts with tire/auto service areas usually do too. They all complain a bit if the container is labeled something other than what it is (read: don't leave the cat litter label on a jug of old coolant or oil, even if it's a clear container). And don't mix coolant and oil in the same container - that really pisses them off..some will even refuse to take it at all.

[jeepinbanditrider]

yeah they are really cheap there is no reason for a half decent tool box to not have one.

[black roadster]

I run a 30/70 mix year round with no issues. Our winters rarely dip below freezing and usually don't stay below 32 degrees for long. YMMV

[POS Racing]

Our winters rarely dip below freezing and usually don't stay below 32 degrees for long. YMMV

I take it you missed last winter here in the DFW Area.

[Rob®]

I run a 30/70 mix year round with no issues. Our winters rarely dip below freezing and usually don't stay below 32 degrees for long. YMMV

Same, in all the states I've lived in. Even in Syracuse, NY where we'd be routinely below 0° for weeks straight, I never popped a freeze plug or anything. But my car was always kept in a garage (non-heated though) and never started during those months. If I kept the car outside, I don't think I'd have the same luck since I was right on the water: lake effect winds would get it *well* below 0° and would have been constantly blowing over the car.

But that's why I said get a tester and check it out. If the tester says it's good to 4° and the car is garage kept, I wouldn't even think twice about it. If the tester said it was good to only like 20°, I would personally replace it just to be safe (especially if the car is driven in the winter).

[pz93c]

I just flushed my radiator..... right out the "Cursed water plug".

Waiting on a new one at the dealership. I am going with green after I get mine sealed back up permanently.

Right now? It has a little redneck engineered piece of hose, a bolt and two hose clamps. Don't laugh, it's holding.