crusty antifreeze?

[ptrfair]

Thats right...in the reserve tank of the impala we've got crusty antifreeze.

anyone see anything like that? Its building up around the top half of the tank.

[00Beast]

Um, sounds like time to flush the coolant/dex!! When did you get an Impy SS?

[ptrfair]

thats the first thing on my to do...Tomorrow morning. 3 weeks ago Friday. (Off topic...she FLIES!) Yeah 22k on the clock now. Why would it crust?

[00Beast]

Maybe if someone added green anti-freeze, but that usually causes sludge. I'm not 100% sure, to be honest.

[CMNTMXR57]

Very common with DexCool. While I don't disagree that a flush is in order (I'd just do it 'cause I'm a P.M. nut), it typically isn't necessary as it's usually just in the accumulation tank where this happens.

I had this issue on my GTP and now my Bonneville. Both were flushed many times (I've now done the GXP 4x in the 2+ years I've had it) and the coolant itself is as clean as can be. It's just the gunk in the overflow.

[willwren]

www.dex-cool.net

[ptrfair]

How hard is it to flush? I havent had time to do it, the car's parked. I know Prestone makes a great product, i had that in the Bonneville and currently in the LeSabre...no issues.

Just for facts - what if someone flushed their system and put the old school green coolant in opposed to the Dex? Curious. And with GM knowing of this issue...whyyyyyy do they proceed to screw us over?

[00Beast]

As long as you completely flush the system, it doesn't matter what kind you use, as long as you don't mix the two. The trouble occurs when someone tops off a system full of dex with the green stuff, not knowing any better. Then sludge occurs. But, if you flush all the dex out with water, you're safe to run green coolant (which I personally recommend).

[myfirstbonnie]

No matter what, make sure you get a coolant that is labeled as mixes with any coolant. I know Prestone makes it and that is what I use. No matter how much flushing you do, there is a chance that some of the dex can still be in the block, heads etc. There is only 1 way to make sure 100% that it is all out.

[SSEimatt93]

Matt hit the nail on the head, this is crutial that it is "mixes with any type" coolant. I flushed my Dex out in 2006. It was original, 9 years old and only had 72,000 miles on it. The rad was crusting, the overflow looked like a puke pale, and it was causing the thermostat to stick open.
I purged gallons of fresh water throught it, cleaned the overflow, got as much crust out as possible, then filled wih Green 50/50 mix. I am still on that green mix, still looks perfect, tests good for about -38. I can just see the orange staining in the rad if I look hard enough. Does a lot of damage if not kept up.