Rep Power: 0

Hey everyone,

Just had my headgasket done at a local shop. I am happy with the job they did, no issues at all. However, he mentioned that they filled the car with AcDelco premixed coolant. I have always ran honda coolant in the car before this. Will this be an issue, or do you recommend I flush and refill the cooling system with Honda?

On their website, they claim its aluminum approved and compatible with most makes and models. From reading on the net, people have alot of complaints about this brand of coolant. What do you guys think.

Thanks.

 
Rep Power: 517

I assume you meant Dex-Cool coolant, and not some other type of coolant marketed by AC-Delco.


Might hurt something.
Might be fine.
I can't predict the future.

But
I'd get rid of it ASAP.

Honda uses a non-silicate, non-borate formula coolant.
Dex-Cool does not fit that bill.

Hondas current pre-mix has a blue color. (Note that not all blue coolants are the same.)
Dex-Cool could be orange, pink, or maybe red. Depends on the dye. (Note that not all orange/pink/or red coolants are the same.)


I have read that wrong coolant can damage the seals in the water pump, and some plastics/nylons aren't compatible with Dex-Cool.

Honda (and many other Asian brand manufacturers) feels that silicates are an abrasive (sand is silica, right?). There are other issues possible too, like cavitation damage.

What else did your mechanic shortcut, or decide he knows more than the engineers about?

 
Rep Power: 0

Thx ezone for the info.

The mechanic told me it was acDelco, but my coolant is a green-yellow colour. From what I can find they make Dex-cool (orange/red) as well as a universal coolant. Not like it makes the situation any better, but is this universal stuff any better than dex?

Last time I changed the coolant, I wasn't able to drain the block since my block heater is installed in the drain hole (super tight, can't reach with socket or wrench). If I did did do a flush, I am not too sure if I'll be able to get all the coolant out.

 
Rep Power: 517

That sounds like the color of the universal stuff.

I know it isn't "right", but I really can't say how "wrong" it may be either.

With something like 20+ different specialty formulas for coolant these days, there is no possible way anything can truly be universal.
(These aren't exactly "marketed", either. Many are truly engineered for specific applications and/or conditions. The only ones that are marketed are the ones pushed toward the DIY/Autozone type crowd that probably doesn't know any better.
A well informed professional should know better, IMHO.)

Example: Some manufacturers specify WITH silicates, others specify WITHOUT. You cannot cover both in one bottle. Ain't no effin way.

You may not see immediate bad effects. It will probably take a long while before anything is noticed. Long enough that the warranty mentioned on the bottle will be long gone.


You don't know what is in it. I don't either.
I'd get rid of it.
Use something that is definitely correct for your vehicle.



"Creative flushing" might be needed.

 
Rep Power: 0

Right on, thanks man. I Appreciate the advice.

 
Rep Power: 811

stick with honda coolant. in a pinch, zerex asian coolant is okay too.

 
Rep Power: 252

If it was dex cool youd be in some trouble.

Sounds like regular coolant to me, however if you wanted honda coolant why didnt you tell him that way he could put what you wanted.

Most mechanics outside of the dealership buy what comes cheap in bulk.

(Oil, coolant, brake fluid etc..)

 
Rep Power: 517

The well informed ones can go to great lengths to always use proper products.

 
Rep Power: 208

drain the entire system and replace it right away with honda OEM "blue" coolant

 
Rep Power: 199

Everyone is entitled to their own thoughts on the subject, but the greatest killers of cooling systems is not green, red, blue, (insert color and type desired), it is lack of maintenance and refilling with TAP water, not distilled. The green stuff is supposed to last at most 2 years. By mileage most people's cars would be lucky to make it even close to that. Dex cool is supposed to last 5 years or 150k, but I can't be convinced to let ANY coolant stay in any car of mine that long. Don't care what it is and wether or not it is "recommended". Dex cool is ok in theory, but I was a GM mechanic and here is why I don't like it. It sludges up like crazy if air of any kind touches it, (ie leaks) etc. If you pull intakes off that use the green it "eats" the ports, I suspicion mainly due to cavitation. Dex cool does not do this, to be honest don't know about the blue Honda stuff, haven't worked on stuff that had it in it. Mine had green in it when I bought it and I have had the water pump and head off of it both. I saw no damage of either. It has 178k now, it was my little sister's before I got it and it was maintained religiously by her. She followed the book. Tap water is a huge culprit. Doesn't matter where you live, your tap water has crap in it and it will clog stuff up. Heater cores and radiators are usually the first to get it. It is not expensive to either first off buy the pre-mix, which takes the guess work out of mixing. Or go buy concentrate and DISTILLED water. The second is the cheaper route, but if you don't think you can mix it right get it pre-mixed. Either way it is way cheaper than repairs down the road that could have been prevented. Leaks etc, sometimes can't be avoided, but 100% of the time stopped up cooling system components are caused by a lack of maintenance. IMO which coolant you use is kind of a mute point. The real point is maintain it....

 
Rep Power: 252

They are few and far between.. at least where I live.

I see oils that I havent even heard of being used..
I did see one Mercedes Benz mechanic stocking Mobil 1.
But I am sure thats why he charged top dollar as well..

 
Rep Power: 208

i agree with most of what you said,

for what its worth, the original coolant in my 05 was in there for 7 years and 240,000 km, when i drained it, it looked like it was new, i couldnt believe how clean it was, and when i removed my water pump and thermostat there was absolutely no sludge or build up anywhere to be seen, i was very impressed and really believe it is high quality stuff, i wouldnt use anything else

 
Rep Power: 517

The coolant doesn't "sludge", the way that Dex-Cool can when exposed to air. That stuff can be just like MUD.

Corrosion and erosion, micro-erosion and cavitation damage, calcium and lime buildup are issues that shouldn't be of much concern when using the prescribed formulas of coolant and proper clean water, replaced at the prescribed intervals...... The prescribed intervals may be overkill in some cases, but better safe than sorry...Right?



Wondering why I am at work on a Saturday morning......
Reading the back of a one gallon jug of Honda coolant #0L999-9011 (Type 2, the pre-mixed blue stuff):

5 years/60,000 miles.
Non-silicate/non-borate
Formulated with de-ionized water.
(Plus a bunch of numbers that nobody cares about.)

FYI, since I wasn't doing anything.