grumpychevy

The point is that the owners manual clearly states the recommended maintenance schedule and the recommended products to use. You do not have to use GM branded products, but you should use an equivalent of it. There are plenty of "aftermarket" company's that make equivalent products to what are recommended.

67Motorcat

The Pro's and Con's of "Dexcool" has been debated for years.

I personally have Flushed it out of every GM vehicle I have owned after about 2 years.The brown gunk that forms very quickly is no joke and wreaks havoc on everything especially the radiator and heater core.

I then install good ole "Prestone Green" antifreeze and the gunk problems are gone forever.

However it must be changed and/or maintained at much closer intervals than Dexcool,which is a good idea anyway.

It will not harm the engine in any way,just have to be sure ALL the old Dexcool is flushed out.

I have 200K on my 2000 Silverado 5.3.The water pump went out at 180K and that's it.

I'll be flushing my 2011 Camaro SS next month for change over to Prestone as it will have been in service for 2 years by then.

GM went to Dexcool years ago partly because of it's so called "extended life" due to warranty issues because the cooling system is arguably the most neglected system on today's vehicles.

Just my opinion of course.