[Ravant]

Well, it's been a good long while since I've actually even taken a look inside the coolant tank, and good thing I did, I'm running quite low. The car's not leaking it, and there's no coolant in any of my other fluids, so I know the car's fine. Here's the question... where's the cheapest place I can pick up some DexCool engine coolant? I'm too pressed for time this weekend to do a full flush and put in other coolant, and I don't want to deteriorate any of me hoses. Would places like Aid Auto Stores or AutoZone stock DexCool?

[Brandon]

Any auto parts store carries it. I even think Wal-Mart does as well, so you know it is probably cheapest there.

[Ravant]

Sweet. Gracias. From what I hear, there are multiple brands of dexcool now? I'm confused. Never actually even had to touch the coolant system of these cars before, so I'm lost. Any recommendations?

Also - a quick, strange side-note. My Dex-cool is about 65k miles old, yet still CLEAN. I thought it was supposed to get all sludgy and stuff? I mean, yeah, there's a small sludge buildup at where the top of the "Hot" line is, but other than that, near the pressure cap, and below the hot line, are all almost perfectly clean. This is a good thing, I know... but I thought there was supposed to be a sludge problem?

[MilzyZ34]

stay away from the stuff that claims you can use it for dex-cool or glycol.  i think i use Prestone dexcool if i remember right.  just make sure you get that, and non-dilluted b/c you'll save money, then go home and mix it 50/50.

[Ravant]

Well, I brought it to the stealership where I got it, and they ran a check of the system. The oil was just as crystal clean as the day it was put in 800 miles ago, so it wasn't dumping into the engine. There were no external leaks (that we could see) to speak of. Turns out, when that whole thing happened with my hood getting dented, something near my radiator took a small ammount of damage, but wasn't leaking. Finally, the pressure blew a tiny hole in it, and it leaked out into a tiny compartment under the hood that was fairly hidden from view (esentially near a fender.) All the coolant was emptying into this area before it filled up. When he started to flush the coolant system, the water started spraying out into that compartment, overflowing it, causing a nice waterfall. He unbolted one bolt, and a nice ugly sludgy substance poured out. Finally, after flushing the entire system completely, repairing the minor damage, and cleaning everything up, he filled the system with coolant. What a relief! He did all of this free of labor charge, and all I had to do was pay for parts. Pays to know people, y'know? Oh well... thus ends my coolant dilemma.

[jonesyno]

HAha thats funny.

 

That has been drilled into my head since I was like 10 lol.  Get the undiluted and mix it yourself.  Crazy 'rents.

[Dale3goodwrench]

Another tip when you dilute is to buy a gallon of Distilled water and mix it 50-50 with the distilled water. A  gallon is usually under a dollar. The water where I live is so hard no way would I put it in my radiator.

[97StockMonteLS]

yeah..i just had a problem with a ton of leaking in my coolant system.. i feel like an idiot now cuz it was my radiator cap that was leaking...DOH! at least it wasnt like a major thing

[azzkckr02]

I just borrowed a couple gallons of Dex-cool from the lube center I worked at. Ooopppss. I forgot to return them after I borrowed them.

[v6monte]

hmm that sounds formiliar to me....