rafn2034

Hey all, can I get some opinions on dexcool?
I have a 2003 Silverado 1500hd with about 151,xxx miles. I’ve only owned it about a year and a half and it’s been great so far. I got a warning about coolant being low and I looked at the reservoir and noticed it was a little below the fill line.. not too much. Maybe half a quart low or so. Should I just top it off? I’m going down this rabbit hole of drain and fills, flushes and even alternatives to using Dexcool
So can I get some opinions on if I’m fine with just topping it off or considering the mileage and model year, should I drain and fill?

UPDATE: contacted original owner and he said it’s dexcool but not the original fluid. He changed the water pump maybe 3-4 years back and replaced it then with new dexcool.

chem_man

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Dex-Cool. Earlier problems about intake manifold gaskets leaking due to Dex-Cool was not due to the Dex-Cool, it was due to the wrong polymer being chosen by the people who designed the gaskets and specified the polymer used for sealing and those people not looking into chemical compatibility. Also reports of Dex-Cool sludging up was due to a bad radiator cap design that leaked air into the system. Using the updated radiator cap stopped that.

Stick with the Dex-Cool. I have it in all of my post-1998 vehicles with zero cooling system problems. Plus the Dex-Cool offers better corrosion protection for the internal metallic surfaces of the engine.

david starr

Early problems with Dexcool were often caused by letting the level get so low that air got into the system and caused the coolant to gel or thicken. I have used Dexcool for years without any issues.