Does anybody know of a better coolant than the recommended Havoline Extended Life (orange Dex-cool)? Bought the disco about a year ago with a leaking head gasket and was leaking at most of the hose connections. Replaced head gaskets, resurfaced heads and replaced most hoses. Flushed system with plain water and filled with Havoline mixed 50/50. Coolant seems to ooze right through rubber hoses and gaskets. Orange residue on just about every hose fitting and gasket - even the factory crimped fittings. Have top off coolant every few weeks. No additives put in coolant - just distilled water and Havoline. Pressure good - replaced pressure cap with no difference. Anybody else have this problem. Feel like flushing and using plain old Prestone!

 

A lot of us switched ours over to green (non-dexcool) coolant. I would recommend doing the same. (Flush with water again, drain and refill with coolant) After that you will still have to go through and take care of anything that is still leaking :/

 

Majority of folks, me included, advise against dexcool. Plain old green stuff is the answer

 

I'd never put anything but green in any of my vehicles. Especially not dexcool.

 

this what happens if Dex-cool is allowed to leak and mix with air in the system.

 

Zerex for me, I even used in Mercedes that I put over 200k, perhaps good luck but one thing certain never use Dex

 

May I ask..."Which Zerex???"


They make several. My neighbor, an ASE and HD diesel mechanic, switched out the GM Dexcool in his Silverado with Fleetgard SCA. I guess this is like Peak Fleet Charge (sold at Wal-Mart and truck stops), except it's not a 50/50 premix, but a concentrate you dilute with DI water.

I kind of prefer it because it's red (close to original Dex orange), but...any opinion?

 

I guess I should be more precise on my question about Zerex. Zerex (Valvoline) makes numerous formulas, including the Glycol-based coolant for HD trucks, even the product sold under the Fleetgard brand by Cummins.


Zerex also has two other formulas, one for Asian cars that meets Toyota/Lexus specs (pink, I think) and one they call G-05, a yellowish, clear HOAT coolant for many European makes, including '96 and earlier Land Rovers and later model BMWs.


Is there any opinion on the hybrid OAT coolant vs. the OAT (Dexcool) our cars came with...or is switching over to Glycol coolants the best solution? Is a no or low silicate formula better? I've heard the presence of sodium silicate in the original Glycol formulas actually helped seal or kept small leaks from occurring.

 

is switching over to Glycol coolants the best solution? Yes any of green the brand name coolants

 

i put that g-05 stuff on my girls 2005 WK jeep, it feels funny compared to regular coolant and you some what have to be precise on how much you add and how clean your cooling system is.