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#4392000 - 04/29/17 09:17 AM
Green coolant put in place of dex cool...
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Registered: 09/27/15
Posts: 508
Loc: Alabama
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I had the motor swapped in my 03 Buick century and just noticed that the mechanic drained the old coolant and filled it with green coolant. The manual calls for dex cool. Should I drain and fill with dex cool or am I ok with the green coolant.
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2013 Honda Civic LX 1.8L 127k M1 EP 0w20 with Fram XG7317 2003 Buick Century 3.1L 196k Maxlife 5W-30 with Fram TG3387A
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#4392027 - 04/29/17 09:47 AM
Re: Green coolant put in place of dex cool...
[Re: NavyVet88]
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Registered: 03/31/10
Posts: 5354
Loc: Iowa
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Most any coolant will be fine. IF it truly is "green" coolant then the biggest thing is shorten your drain intervals to 2-3 years and approx 30-50k miles- down from the much longer Dex recommendations.
Now... it may not be just "green" as many shops will use some type generic all makes type coolant which may have a totally different and pack than "green" and therefor not mix well with other coolant brands or types. It would be wise of you to find out what the shop used if you anticipate having to add coolant or if you plan to do drain and fills as part of your regular maintenance.
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2005 Lincoln Aviator 4.6 DOHC 2000 Honda Accord 2.3 2001 Hyundai Elantra 2.0 1979 Ford F-150 351M
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#4392028 - 04/29/17 09:48 AM
Re: Green coolant put in place of dex cool...
[Re: NavyVet88]
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Registered: 06/05/03
Posts: 16524
Loc: Deplorable in apple valley, ca
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It most likely is a universal coolant. Those are a Dexclone. Same as Dexcool but different dye.
If it is old school conventional greeen he did you a favor.
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02 Wrangler super-s 10w30 87 F250 proline 15w40 04 Tahoe super-s 10w30 Z400 Lucas 10w30 KLR250 Maxima 10w40 Can am maveric edge 5w40 57 case tractor 15w40
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#4392038 - 04/29/17 09:56 AM
Re: Green coolant put in place of dex cool...
[Re: NavyVet88]
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Registered: 12/11/16
Posts: 98
Loc: NC
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If it was flushed beforehand, it'll be just fine; if it's just drained and filled then it's likely to be just fine too. There are two main types of 'green' coolant, and you shouldn't only go by color anyway. The old conventional type (90s formulation) has a shorter service life but I'm confident that he put in the prolific Any Make/Any Model-type long life antifreeze. They're usually called Dexclone antifreeze because it has the same active additives as Dexcool, just maybe slightly different in concentration or maybe to avoid the GM licensing.
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#4392045 - 04/29/17 10:00 AM
Re: Green coolant put in place of dex cool...
[Re: NavyVet88]
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Registered: 09/27/15
Posts: 508
Loc: Alabama
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Oh it is VERY green indeed. I'll give the mechanic a call and see what he put in it
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2013 Honda Civic LX 1.8L 127k M1 EP 0w20 with Fram XG7317 2003 Buick Century 3.1L 196k Maxlife 5W-30 with Fram TG3387A
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#4392120 - 04/29/17 11:37 AM
Re: Green coolant put in place of dex cool...
[Re: NavyVet88]
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Registered: 08/14/10
Posts: 12867
Loc: Northern Kentucky
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They did the same thing to my Buick when I replaced the engine, he used conventional green. I ran it for a little bit before flushing it throughly and now I run Zerex G05
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2012 Chevy Cruze LT 1.4T - 50k 2002 Buick Century 130k - Built 4T65e(Maxlife) - Edge 0w40 + Fram XG3980
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#4392129 - 04/29/17 11:52 AM
Re: Green coolant put in place of dex cool...
[Re: NavyVet88]
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Registered: 03/21/04
Posts: 20242
Loc: Upstate NY
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Color only means its not plain water. I would have asked the mechanic before posting.
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2015 Subaru Forester 2.5 engine/CVT 2015 Ford F250 w/Powerstroke 2016 Subaru Crosstrek CVT (wife's)
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#4392141 - 04/29/17 12:10 PM
Re: Green coolant put in place of dex cool...
[Re: NavyVet88]
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Registered: 12/22/13
Posts: 1963
Loc: socal
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Either way, I would flush it after about 2 years, then go back w Dexcool and distilled 50/50
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06 Cadillac Escalade Ext 17 Cadillac ATS (wife) 05 Toyota Camry (daughter) 11 GMC Canyon off-road (daily)
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#4394613 - 05/02/17 11:28 AM
Re: Green coolant put in place of dex cool...
[Re: NavyVet88]
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Registered: 09/27/15
Posts: 508
Loc: Alabama
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I do plan on flushing it and going back to the 50/50 dex cool formula
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2013 Honda Civic LX 1.8L 127k M1 EP 0w20 with Fram XG7317 2003 Buick Century 3.1L 196k Maxlife 5W-30 with Fram TG3387A
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#4394655 - 05/02/17 12:29 PM
Re: Green coolant put in place of dex cool...
[Re: NavyVet88]
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Registered: 06/23/14
Posts: 1980
Loc: Phoenix, Arizona - USA
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Before you flush it out, I would go back to the mechanic and ask him what specifically he put in.
I say this because if he used anything like the current Prestone/Peak/WalMart/etc.. "Universal antifreeze/coolant" - which is a bright green - then it is, for all intents and purposes, a "clone" of dexcool.. or a "dex-clone". It may look the same as the old-school 'conventional' stuff, but it's not.
If this is what the mechanic put in, then I'd say you're good, at least for a couple years.
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2010 Ford Fusion SE - 2.5 liter/6F35 Trans - 253,000mi 2014 Nissan Altima SL - 2.5 liter/CVT - 52,000mi
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#4395248 - 05/03/17 08:25 AM
Re: Green coolant put in place of dex cool...
[Re: NavyVet88]
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Registered: 11/07/09
Posts: 2390
Loc: Oconomowoc Wi
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I would bet he used a Prestone like antifreeze that is good for 5 years/150K miles... Conventional green coolant usually only goes in cars made 1995 or before.
Edited by Boss302fan (05/03/17 08:26 AM)
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John P Wisconsin 2018 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited 2006 GS 430 2006 Lexus LS 430 1990 Jaguar XJS V12 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe V6 Other fun cars
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#4403441 - 05/12/17 10:39 PM
Re: Green coolant put in place of dex cool...
[Re: Chris142]
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Registered: 04/29/17
Posts: 12
Loc: Pennsylvania,USA
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It most likely is a universal coolant. Those are a Dexclone. Same as Dexcool but different dye.
If it is old school conventional greeen he did you a favor. Wrong wrong wrong.... The OAC EG coolants have about 15% better thermal transmissivity than the old green EG formulations... Going backwards to Green actually results in a slight net LOSS in cooling performance. The green is better myth really needs to stop. .
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#4405821 - 05/15/17 11:52 PM
Re: Green coolant put in place of dex cool...
[Re: NavyVet88]
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Registered: 03/18/15
Posts: 482
Loc: Australia
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A lot of the coolants you get today are a sort of "hybrid" coolant that use both the newer organic additives in addition to older types.
I think the main thing to figure out is whether the Dexcool has silicates, nitrates, phosphates & amines (I think thats the main set) and match whatever you put in with those.
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'93 BMW 320i 217,000km - Valvoline Engine-Armour 15w40, Mann Filter.
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#4415623 - 05/27/17 03:34 PM
Re: Green coolant put in place of dex cool...
[Re: NavyVet88]
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Registered: 01/13/13
Posts: 1245
Loc: Texas
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Loss of coolant heat transfer capacity may or may not be a problem .
Are you in a hot climate + use A/C a lot ?
Is radiator air flow good or is it stopped up with bugs / debris ?
Mostly highway driving or mostly city stop and go .
Are the tubes / tank of the radiator clean or stopped up enough to diminish coolant flow / heat transfer ?
Cooling fan / fans operating properly ? Water pump working properly ? Hoses not kinked / collapsing ?
Block / heads clean / clear or are they stopped up ?
I gave run 100% AF coolant for years . I have been flamed numerous times , " 50/50% cools better than 100% ! " . Probably so . But I mainttain , if there is no water in the system , no rust .
Only time I have had heating problems is if a leak developed . And we had a 100F day earlier in the week . Currently 94L & sunny .
God bless Wyr
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Wyr God bless
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#4447909 - 07/02/17 10:58 PM
Re: Green coolant put in place of dex cool...
[Re: ruhroh]
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Registered: 01/13/13
Posts: 1245
Loc: Texas
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If it was flushed beforehand, it'll be just fine; if it's just drained and filled then it's likely to be just fine too. There are two main types of 'green' coolant, and you shouldn't only go by color anyway. The old conventional type (90s formulation) has a shorter service life but I'm confident that he put in the prolific Any Make/Any Model-type long life antifreeze. They're usually called Dexclone antifreeze because it has the same active additives as Dexcool, just maybe slightly different in concentration or maybe to avoid the GM licensing. What are some of the different brand names of Dexclones ? Are they OK to mix with Dexcool ? Thanks , :-)
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Wyr God bless
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