Dex-Cool aka DEATH COOL

[slice60]

After experiencing several problems & needing repairs for coolant leakages, I searched the internet & discovered that there are class action suits against GM for using Dex-Cool. Thousands of motorists like me are having to pay for costly repairs due to corrosion in the coolant system possibly due to Dex-Cool.

For those who have had to repair your coolant system, radiator, etc. on your Saturn, were you aware of this? Did your dealer's service dept tell you about it? Of course not. Saturn of Glenview Illinois has left me in the dark & they gladly accepted my $1000 for repair work just two months ago.

Is there anybody out there who was able to convince Saturn to cover the cost of past or present repairs even after the warranty ended???

[spencerb]

I have never heard of a corrosion issue with Dexcool in a Saturn. The lawsuit is about Dexcool causing corrosion in specific GM engines; Saturn does not use those engines. Corrosion and leakage are not always related. Did yours corrode or just leak?

You can look at the Dexcool issue either way. Was it faulty coolant that corroded the engine, or was it a faulty engine design that was incompatible with the coolant?

Dexcool wasn't the problem, it was the engine design and/or the decision to use dexcool when it was not appropriate for that engine.

[Sp00ner]

How about the Ecotecs that are in every Saturn now? Are those part of it?

[binaryterror]

You guys need to read the class action law suits...the problem is people mix Dex-Cool and normal Anti-Freeze causing the rapid gelling as well as quick corrosion.

[slice60]

DEX-COOL was in my car when I drove it off the lot 34 months ago.

When the coolant low light came on, I went directly to the instruction manual which stated that ONLY DEX-COOL & WATER (50/50) should be added. So that's what I did.

When they fixed my car in December, the service dept used DEX-COOL.

When they found more problems recently, the service dept used DEX-COOL.

Regular anti-freeze has never been put into my car.

DEX-COOL may not be the cause for my problems...it may just be crappy quality. Either way, I'm the one getting hosed.
***
What is Ecotecs? Is this a different type of coolant that they are using now? If so, why would they have switched away from Dex-Cool if it supposedly works so well???

[TheSaturnKid]

The ecotec is an engine...

I love dexcool.

I have noticed on a few friends cars however, that old dexcool in them turns black after being left in the car WAY too long.

[slice60]

The manual says Dex-Cool should last 5 years or 150,000 miles. Maybe they need to take another look at those figures.

I find it interesting that GM's testing has claimed that Dex-Cool is not the problem-- low coolant levels & radiator caps are the problem. So why don't they install the proper caps & tell their customers to keep an eye on the coolant levels instead of telling that it will last for so long?

[lostwages_ls2]

Originally Posted by slice60

The manual says Dex-Cool should last 5 years or 150,000 miles. Maybe they need to take another look at those figures.

I find it interesting that GM's testing has claimed that Dex-Cool is not the problem-- low coolant levels & radiator caps are the problem. So why don't they install the proper caps & tell their customers to keep an eye on the coolant levels instead of telling that it will last for so long?

Just because the manual says it will last 5 years or 150K doesn't mean you can IGNORE it for that long. Hmmm.. Maybe that's the problem


P.S. The reply is not aimed at you slice60. Just a general observation.

[binaryterror]

Yeah I'd still flush and fill every 2 years at most, but I am in a cold winter climate where proper mix can be important to a cars survival in the winter.

[Specialist]

I thought most of the Dex-Cool issues were from older engines (3.1/3.4/4.3/5.0/5.7) which had the water cross over in the cylinder head (right next to the air intake ports). Between the lack of sealing land, poor material choice, design of the gasket, and the enormous tolerance stack condition of these joints, oil and coolant were mixing - resulting in sludge.

There was a previous thread in the S-Series group that discussed which coolant is the right one for their vehicles. However, I believe that you are not to mix the Dex-Cool with "normal" ethylene glycol coolant, as the additive packages are not compatible.


Here is a website with a bunch of pictures and some links to the class action pages:


http://www.gm-v6lemons.com/

[BobL]

The DexCool issue had to do with chemical reactions that take place when cooling systems get low on coolant and air reacts with the Dexcool.

Haven't heard of it in Saturns though.

[ricksLS1]

No problems with the L with Dex-Cool and at 79,000 miles. I did have the coolant changed at 70,000 miles along with the hoses for piece of mind.