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GM Dex-Cool advice needed

lf-tp2511lf-tp2511Member
Well, I noticed a bit of oil dripping from our '01 Astro with a 4.6 some months ago, figured it was a small crack in the plastic front timing cover, and decided I could live with it.

Last week or so I noticed another leaking fluid, this time the red antifreeze.

So today I dragged out the trouble lights, ramps and started to seek out the source of the antifreeze leak. Hoses? No. Radiator? No. Water pump? No. Just seems to be coming from somewhere on the engine, but not visible.

Off to the WWW, where I learn the full implications of leaks and GM's Dex-cool.

Yup, the radiator cap is showing signs of sludge contamination. And low coolant levels.

Sooooo, what now? Do I do a full system flush, run water for a week or two, flush again, add the tried and true green antifreeze and can of Bars Leak and hope for the best?

Or?.....

Your knowledgeable input is needed.

And while we are at it, what about my daughter's 2005 Equinox? Should I be taking precautions on that vehicle?

Larry
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accobraaccobraMember
Larry,

Your not going to believe this but .. I have 3 Astros for our Service Business and last week we noticed a Antifreeze leak ...so last saturday we ripped her apart and found the leak to be coming from the intake manifold on the top of the motor ..it was the gasket leaking in the front on the top ...same deal sludge in the cap .... the reason I see is there are only 2 bolts in each corner of the intake and none in the center of the intake .... we fixed it but I think some where during our astros life she was over heated ..now she is buring water ...a little condensate coming form the exhaust ..ooowwell looks like a little more stop elak wll have to do ..think there is a cack in the head .

Ron
4nford4nford"Live wrong and Perspire"
DexCool is crap. That is why there are several class action lawsuits against it. Google "dexcool lawsuits". Once contaminated, it will start turning into a brown gel. The first signs will be at your radiator cap and overflow tank. Left unattended it can clog your water passages, cause your engine to overheat and fail. Lots of people in the suits had plastic intake manifolds crack when overheating and are part of the lawsuits.
moosomoosoMember
Wow...it's parallel universe time.
Our '96 Astro van started leaking coolant last week. This weekend I determined that it is coming from the weep hole in the water pump, so the bearing and seal have failed. I, too, found disturbing brown sludgey goo at the radiator cap. My first assumption was that it was oil contamination and water must be in my engine oil as well. Imagine my relief when the oil was clean.
I'll try and follow up on the web to see what you guys are talking about with the DEXCOOL. Hopefully there is a way to flush this sludge out of the system. I guess I'll use standard antifreeze when I refill it. Unless someone knows that it will be incompatable. It sounds like the DEXCOOL is the only thing incompatable!
Thanks for the tip, guys. Amazing how this timely information just fell into my lap! Astros and Panteras...who woulda thunk it.

Mooso
deniscdeniscCaretaker of 8MA1244 '70 Euro Mangusta DRIVE THEM, THEY WERE MEANT TO BE DRIVEN, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT ONE, BUY A POSTER!
Ron, If your really want diesel - Sprinter or Econoline (do GM and Chrysler still make full size vans???) it doesn't seem like anyone is still making cargo mini-vans. Have you looked at the price of diesel lately, in Canada Diesel is 15-20 cents more expensive than regular gas??? (Stupid if you ask me). I know the fleet reps have encouraged the Phone and Cable Companies to reduce the amount of tools in their vehicles, thereby smaller vehicles and reduced fuel expenses. The other option is a cutaway or pick-up or chassis cab, then down the road you just move the box from the old truck to the new one.
Denis
accobraaccobraMember
Yea the Full Size vans burn too much fuel ..we cover a large area in our HVAC Business. The ASTROS are great except for acess to the motor is a little tight. The S10 Pickups work well ..I will look into the Utility bodies .. but would really like some thing covered like a van back .

Yes the Mini vans force you to conserve space ... I use a Mitsubishi Rack Truck for deliveries and charge for a delivery opf a piece of equipment.

In Europe ... FIAT, RENUALT, and a few others .. make small size vehicles for this purpose ... this is what drives me crazy ... the goverment talks .... conserve fuel ...bla bla bla. But they dont make any economy size work vehicles ... and now NYC MTA is cutting the TRAIN SERVICE and raising prices ... so I guess we are back to using full size vehicles and driving to work every day ?

Ron
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