anti freeze question etc

[Corbusa]

Guys ,I dont remember exactually - but what is the bad antifreeze we dont need? does anyone know what is in the bad stuff that our head gaskets dont like? I am still tempted to get the Evans waterless coolant , but the company was also wondering about our head gasket situation..
Bugs Bunny would say if you want to make anti-freeze to take her nighty off - that wont work here

[GOLDCYLON]

Originally Posted by Corbusa

Guys ,I dont remember exactually - but what is the bad antifreeze we dont need? does anyone know what is in the bad stuff that our head gaskets dont like? I am still tempted to get the Evans waterless coolant , but the company was also wondering about our head gasket situation..
Bugs Bunny would say if you want to make anti-freeze to take her nighty off - that wont work here

Just use the standard green stuff. Stay away from the red or anything else fancy the name you were looking for to stay away from was Dexi-Cool or Dex-Cool. Ive seen it both spelled both ways however avoid.

[Corbusa]

Got it !!! Thanks Bro

[Dynomite]

Originally Posted by GOLDCYLON

Just use the standard green stuff. Stay away from the red or anything else fancy the name you were looking for to stay away from was Dexi-Cool or Dex-Cool. Ive seen it both spelled both ways however avoid.

Like Daryll said

LT5/ZR-1 Fluids

RADIATOR COOLANT
You want to only use the green coolant. They have it at Napa and it meets 1825M GM Spec.

For Zerex the first gallon is called Regular Green Coolant (GM 1825M), the second gallon is called Original Formula (GM 1825M) and the third gallon is called G-05 Formula (GM 1825M). Zerex ZXRU1 is 50-50 and Zerex ZX001 is undiluted. The fourth gallon is NAPA coolant (GM 1825M).
OROROR
NAPA

See Filling With Coolant and the Air Locked Water Pump

[Corbusa]

Thanks DYN. an easy way I'll remember is Dexter ( Dex ) is a bad dude . Keep away from Dex he'll mess yo engine up. I'll get the NAPA coolant.

[vilant]

I used the green stuff that meets GM1825M specs. Not sure if it makes a difference or not, but I did see some that wasn't.

[Kevin]

dex-cool will eat the head gaskets out.

[PhillipsLT5]

You gotta love the info & pics!

[RICHARD TILL]

I use the NAPA green stuff that states it contains silicates with a small gray bottle of Bar`s stop leak & conditioner. What exactly is silicates? Is it related to silica/sand?

[Hib Halverson]

That DexCool is a poor choice in antifreeze for the LT5 is nothing but a rumor.

In fact, in a properly maintained cooling system, DexCool is a better choice. The reason is its calcium-based corrosion inhibiters which are less abrasive and more friendly to pump shaft seals and last longer allowing longer times between coolant changes.

My 95 came stock with Dex Cool. I use DexCool whenever I need freeze protection in that engine. Im 17 years, I've never used anything else.

In fact, in all my vehicles, no matter what the model year or engine type, if I need freeze protection, it's DexCool I use.

That's even true of my S10 Blazer which is one of the vehicle platforms rumored to have the most problems with DexCool.

One problem with the S10 trucks and utilities is the heater core is above the level of coolant in the system, thus the system is prone to air bubbles. The one weakness of DexCool comes when it is used in a system with low coolant level due to either poor maintenance or failure to bleed or pack a system with the heater core above the nominal coolant level. DexCool's inhibiter package, hot coolant and air bubbles or trapped air space above the coolant, may cause sludge to develop. If that sludge is present long term, it damages the system.

That said, proper filling and proper maintenance prevent such problems. With the S10 trucks/utilities here's what you do...after filling the system and running the engine until the thermostat opens and adding coolant to bring the level up, holding the coolant container in your left hand, you reach over and rev the engine to about 3000 rpm with your right. You'll notice the coolant level drops significantly. That's because water pump is filling the heater core and holding the coolant level in the system downstream of the radiator at a higher level. With the engine at 3000, you fill the radiator to the top, then, while still holding 3000 rpm, you install and lock the radiator cap. Then let the engine idle and fill the overflow bottle to the proper level. Do that and you never have problems with air.

I've owned my Blazer since 1999, driven it 125,000 miles. There's never been any sludge in the radiator and it's always used DexCool. Had the heads off last summer to port/polish them and grind the valves/seats. No sludge in the block or head cooling jackets.

Ok.
You're probably wondering what I use for coolant if I don't need freeze protection.

Distilled water and Red Line Water Wetter. Straight water is a better coolant than 50/50 mixes of antifreeze and water. Of course, you have to use some type of water pump lubricant/corrosion inhibiter and that's where Red Line Water Wetter comes in. It has virtually the same lubricants and inhibiters in it as does DexCool. Additionally, Water Wetter has in it a surfactant which can improve heat transfer from the engine cooling jacket surfaces to the coolant. An LT5's cooling system is such that in most cases, it won't benefit from a surfactant additive, but there are other engines, such as Gen 1 and 2 SBV8s which may benefit.