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GM Dexcool Anti-Freeze/Coolant
Thread Starter
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 428
Likes: 2
From: Hanover County, VA
Dexcool v Prestone
Bobby,
How did you get all of the 'orange' stuff out? When you put in the Prestone coolant, does it show yellow/green in the reservoir - or is it still orange?
How many gallons did it take? Did you buy the pre-mixed stuff or did you add water?
I'l flush mine out soon - within a few weeks, I suppose; and I am leaning towards keeping Dexcool in my '04 Silverado - but will probably change it every other year (just to be safe).
CF Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Zebulon NC
I drained the radiator put in one bottle of Prestone Flush and ran 10 miin. after it reached normal operating temp. Drained it and repeated procedure. After that I drained and put in a bottle of Prestone cleaner and ran it for a total of 3 hrs. I then drained it and filled with just water and ran it about 10 mins. drained and repeated that. Then filled with 70 - 30 mix and it's good to go. Yes it is green now.
flush twice
clean once
flush plain water twice
Then fill with proper mix it took about 3 gals. total I went 2 antifreez, one water probably overkill for my climate, 50 - 50 is probably ok unless you are in a cold climate
It took me a good portion of a Sat. afternoon to do the flush & clean then ater driving around the next afternoon to finish up.
I am not a mechanic and money is tight right now so I have begun doing as much of my own maint. as I can. Local shops wanted around $150-$200 to do what I did and I spent less than $50 on everything and Prestone even had a rebate on one jug of antifreez so net cost is about $30.I aso changed the oil in 3 of my vehicles while doing this saved about another $50 over what I have been spending plus there is a lot of satisfaction in doing it yourself.
flush twice
clean once
flush plain water twice
Then fill with proper mix it took about 3 gals. total I went 2 antifreez, one water probably overkill for my climate, 50 - 50 is probably ok unless you are in a cold climate
It took me a good portion of a Sat. afternoon to do the flush & clean then ater driving around the next afternoon to finish up.
I am not a mechanic and money is tight right now so I have begun doing as much of my own maint. as I can. Local shops wanted around $150-$200 to do what I did and I spent less than $50 on everything and Prestone even had a rebate on one jug of antifreez so net cost is about $30.I aso changed the oil in 3 of my vehicles while doing this saved about another $50 over what I have been spending plus there is a lot of satisfaction in doing it yourself.
Last edited by Bobby; Mar 9, 2010 at 6:21 AM.
CF Active Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
I drained the radiator put in one bottle of Prestone Flush and ran 10 miin. after it reached normal operating temp. Drained it and repeated procedure. After that I drained and put in a bottle of Prestone cleaner and ran it for a total of 3 hrs. I then drained it and filled with just water and ran it about 10 mins. drained and repeated that. Then filled with 70 - 30 mix and it's good to go. Yes it is green now.
flush twice
clean once
flush plain water twice
Then fill with proper mix it took about 3 gals. total I went 2 antifreez, one water probably overkill for my climate, 50 - 50 is probably ok unless you are in a cold climate
It took me a good portion of a Sat. afternoon to do the flush & clean then ater driving around the next afternoon to finish up.
I am not a mechanic and money is tight right now so I have begun doing as much of my own maint. as I can. Local shops wanted around $150-$200 to do what I did and I spent less than $50 on everything and Prestone even had a rebate on one jug of antifreez so net cost is about $30.I aso changed the oil in 3 of my vehicles while doing this saved about another $50 over what I have been spending plus there is a lot of satisfaction in doing it yourself.
flush twice
clean once
flush plain water twice
Then fill with proper mix it took about 3 gals. total I went 2 antifreez, one water probably overkill for my climate, 50 - 50 is probably ok unless you are in a cold climate
It took me a good portion of a Sat. afternoon to do the flush & clean then ater driving around the next afternoon to finish up.
I am not a mechanic and money is tight right now so I have begun doing as much of my own maint. as I can. Local shops wanted around $150-$200 to do what I did and I spent less than $50 on everything and Prestone even had a rebate on one jug of antifreez so net cost is about $30.I aso changed the oil in 3 of my vehicles while doing this saved about another $50 over what I have been spending plus there is a lot of satisfaction in doing it yourself.
CF Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Zebulon NC
Have you priced one lately? That was the range in looking online, besides I know how much time I had in mine and what supplies cost even with some sort of machine to do it I don't think that is an unreasonable amount.
Just my thoughts
Just my thoughts
CF Active Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 293
Likes: 1
From: Winterville, NC
did you cut your heat on when you flushed it? and you are not that far from me only about an hour I am in winterville just outside of greenville
Last edited by 992door; Mar 9, 2010 at 10:17 PM.
CF Active Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
The Chevy service shop here threw me a number last week. I could have sworn it was just over $100.
CF Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Zebulon NC
Yes Cameron I did that was the main reason I did it the heater wasn't heating up as well as it should, and Iwanted to make sure the core got a good flushing also.
TS you may have gotten a price that low but I can't see how anyone could do what I did and make any money at a price like that. I spent $44 on antifreeze flush and cleaner plus a total of about 3 hrs in labor. The way I did it I know it was a thorough flush.
TS you may have gotten a price that low but I can't see how anyone could do what I did and make any money at a price like that. I spent $44 on antifreeze flush and cleaner plus a total of about 3 hrs in labor. The way I did it I know it was a thorough flush.
CF Active Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
Yes Cameron I did that was the main reason I did it the heater wasn't heating up as well as it should, and Iwanted to make sure the core got a good flushing also.
TS you may have gotten a price that low but I can't see how anyone could do what I did and make any money at a price like that. I spent $44 on antifreeze flush and cleaner plus a total of about 3 hrs in labor. The way I did it I know it was a thorough flush.
TS you may have gotten a price that low but I can't see how anyone could do what I did and make any money at a price like that. I spent $44 on antifreeze flush and cleaner plus a total of about 3 hrs in labor. The way I did it I know it was a thorough flush.