Ron
Enthusiast
I changed to Dex-Cool within months of purchasing my new Viper because (in order):
I wanted the water pump to last longer.
I wanted to take advantage of the lastest in coolant technology, including better thermal transfer.
I hate changing coolant (almost as much as ATF changes) and wanted to take advantage of the extended life characteristics.
I was fortunate to have "met" Tom, F&L GoR who worked for Texaco at the time, the sole maker of Dex-Cool, and picked his brain on the technology, field test results, the reported "issues" (lead solder disintegration, poor aluminum protection, cavitation issues and 4.3 sludge problem), and claims that you can't change from green to orange, etc.
I quickly became convinced that it was in fact a better coolant and made the swap. I purchased my GTS new in 2000. It sat on a Vermont Dodge dealer's showroom floor from November of 1996 through September of 2000 so the original green coolant was in the engine for 4 years. I drained the old coolant, refilled with 100% distilled water and heat cycled. Cooled, drained, refilled with distilled and heat cycled again. Did this three times then drained and filled 50% of system capacity with Texaco Dex-Cool then topped off with distilled.
In May of 2004 I had the typical oil leak in the timing chain cover repaired, so the coolant was drained and replaced with fresh Dex-Cool. Today, I decided to replace all of the systems hoses (10 years old, 19,000 miles) and hence another unneeded Dex-Cool change.
Below, you'll find images of various internals which in my mind clearly indicate the level of anti-corrosion capabilities Dex-Cool has. Would factory fill green coolant do as well? I assume so. Rather what I'm demostrating here is the Dex-Cool, despite all the bad press is doing a darn good job of protecting my engine.
Engine Block drain - Hard to focus, but looks nice in there.....
Water Pump (never changed) - Again, pretty clean
Thermostat housing
Heater Core - The silver lump on the right is a solder blob, not corrosion
The amount of coolant in available in the block if you use the block drains. Coolant Looks brand new, (In engine exactly 3 years, and 5,000 miles)
I wanted the water pump to last longer.
I wanted to take advantage of the lastest in coolant technology, including better thermal transfer.
I hate changing coolant (almost as much as ATF changes) and wanted to take advantage of the extended life characteristics.
I was fortunate to have "met" Tom, F&L GoR who worked for Texaco at the time, the sole maker of Dex-Cool, and picked his brain on the technology, field test results, the reported "issues" (lead solder disintegration, poor aluminum protection, cavitation issues and 4.3 sludge problem), and claims that you can't change from green to orange, etc.
I quickly became convinced that it was in fact a better coolant and made the swap. I purchased my GTS new in 2000. It sat on a Vermont Dodge dealer's showroom floor from November of 1996 through September of 2000 so the original green coolant was in the engine for 4 years. I drained the old coolant, refilled with 100% distilled water and heat cycled. Cooled, drained, refilled with distilled and heat cycled again. Did this three times then drained and filled 50% of system capacity with Texaco Dex-Cool then topped off with distilled.
In May of 2004 I had the typical oil leak in the timing chain cover repaired, so the coolant was drained and replaced with fresh Dex-Cool. Today, I decided to replace all of the systems hoses (10 years old, 19,000 miles) and hence another unneeded Dex-Cool change.
Below, you'll find images of various internals which in my mind clearly indicate the level of anti-corrosion capabilities Dex-Cool has. Would factory fill green coolant do as well? I assume so. Rather what I'm demostrating here is the Dex-Cool, despite all the bad press is doing a darn good job of protecting my engine.
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Engine Block drain - Hard to focus, but looks nice in there.....
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Water Pump (never changed) - Again, pretty clean
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Thermostat housing
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Heater Core - The silver lump on the right is a solder blob, not corrosion
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The amount of coolant in available in the block if you use the block drains. Coolant Looks brand new, (In engine exactly 3 years, and 5,000 miles)
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