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<P>Is this why our rear heaters are problematic. Mines dead. <BR><BR></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;From: jhlauterbach <JHLAUTERBACH@MSN.COM>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Reply-To: jhlauterbach <JHLAUTERBACH@MSN.COM>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Subject: Re: Dexcool
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2000 23:45:07 -0500
<DIV></DIV>&gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Ed's warning is right on. My other van is a '98 Pontiac Montana running on
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Dexcool. I took a look at the pink stuff in the expansion tank and it had
<DIV></DIV>&gt;little brown spots floating around in it. I called my friendly local
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Pontiac service mgr. and asked what he knew. He finally admitted that there
<DIV></DIV>&gt;were problems. He says his "fix" is to power flush the cooling systems and
<DIV></DIV>&gt;add a "non-GM" coolant additive to the system when they refill with Dexcool.
<DIV></DIV>&gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt;John Lauterbach
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Macon, GA
<DIV></DIV>&gt;'84 DL running on Sierra and Bars Leak
<DIV></DIV>&gt;----- Original Message -----
<DIV></DIV>&gt;From: "Ed @ Automotive Consulting" <EDVF1000R@AOL.COM>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;To: <VANAGON@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2000 10:57 PM
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Subject: Dexcool
<DIV></DIV>&gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Hey folks - As a GM dealer tech (Saturn/Chevrolet) for the last 6 years,
<DIV></DIV>&gt;my
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; experience with dexcool is thus:
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; It fails. Early,often. It gums up heater cores and radiators. Lasts
<DIV></DIV>&gt;nowhere
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; near 100k as advertised, usually it goes away around 20-25k miles. It gets
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; floaters in it and turns a sick brownish color.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; GM has issued a couple of TSBs on this, saying the fix was to replace
<DIV></DIV>&gt;the
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; dexcool with more dexcool after a thorough flush.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; According to GM, dexcool should never be used in cooling systems
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; containing any soldered joints (I.E. brass radiators or heater cores)
<DIV></DIV>&gt;because
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; the organic acid base attacks the soldered joints. This to me says
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; "underdeveloped product" .
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; I, personally, would never use dexcool in anything, as i have never
<DIV></DIV>&gt;seen
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; it last over 45,000 miles, ever, in any application. I have seen an
<DIV></DIV>&gt;average
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; of 6 cars a day five days a week for 6 years.....
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Just my 2 cents, and YMMV. - Ed
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