# Extended life coolant **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [November 10, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/extended-life-coolant/39266 "2009-11-10T01:05:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vincec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bcef8e/32.png) [@vincec](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vincec)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/extended-life-coolant/39266/1 "2009-11-10T01:05:32Z")
2006 GM truck has dexcool in it heard it has caused a lot of problems,should it b replaced with prestone or something or put dexcool back in . ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/extended-life-coolant/39266/2 "2009-11-10T01:25:12Z")
I would get the Dex out of there. I believe the best way is to have it put on a flush machine. Then replace with one of the universal coolants on the market, and drain and refill again after a few thousand miles. There are reasons that it is sometimes called “Death-Cool.” I don’t know about the gasket eating properties, but I can personally attest to the brown sandy sludge problem. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/extended-life-coolant/39266/3 "2009-11-10T01:34:15Z")
Yup! It happens if air gets entrained into the cooling system. DexCool turns acidic if this happens where other OAT coolants don’t. And then end up with the sludge/rust that cigroller describes. Bring it to someone who has a coolant exchange machine, and I guarntee you they’ll run it until the orange color of death is removed. Tester ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/extended-life-coolant/39266/4 "2009-11-10T01:37:16Z")
I’ve used dexcool in several vehicles including non GM cars and trucks. Never had a bit of trouble with it and I’ve kept it in two of the vehicles for 7 and 8 years respectively. GM has had gasket problems, as had Ford and the coolant isn’t the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Beadsandbeads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Beadsandbeads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beadsandbeads)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/extended-life-coolant/39266/5 "2009-11-10T01:53:06Z")
What is the Ford gasket problem that you refer to? ---
**Author:** ![Wha-Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9f8e36/32.png) [@Wha-Who](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wha-Who)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/extended-life-coolant/39266/6 "2009-11-10T04:01:28Z")
We have had several cars and have two right now with Dexcool. None have given trouble. Make sure that you always have a good radiator cap. My 96 ran well over 130K miles with the original cap and with Dexcool until I traded it. Other cars to trade time ran 35k and 70k miles; no problem with Dexcool. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 4:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/extended-life-coolant/39266/7 "2009-11-10T04:21:56Z")
I think if it is still under warranty, you should continue with GM’s recommended coolant. After the warranty expires, I would get the Dexcool out. I have heard horror stories about air getting in to the system, and I have heard horror stories about people accidentally mixing it with the wrong coolant. You may never have these issues, but I prefer to play it safe. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/extended-life-coolant/39266/8 "2009-11-11T01:36:45Z")
3.8l engine used in early to mid 90’s