Coolant type?

Tiny
CAROLYN DAVIS2
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • 150,000 MILES
I bought synthetic antifreeze and was told it is not for my car.
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Friday, January 6th, 2017 AT 8:20 AM

10 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,606 POSTS
You are okay to use that kind of coolant here is a guide to help you flush the system and refill it with DEXcool. Here is what the book says.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolant-flush-and-refill-all-cars

ENGINE COOLANT
A 50/50 mixture of clean water (preferably distilled) and use only GM Goodwrench(R) DEX-COOL(R) or Havoline(R) DEX-COOL(R) (orange-colored, silicate-free) coolant, or an approved recycled coolant conforming to GM Specification 6038-M (GM P/N 1052103).

Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.
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Friday, January 6th, 2017 AT 9:48 AM
Tiny
JOHANNA23
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 162,200 MILES
What happens when you mix two kinds of radiator fluid and what should you do if this happens?
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Saturday, January 19th, 2019 AT 4:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,549 POSTS
If you mix them and they are not compatible, you will know very quickly.

Do not mix Dex-Cool or HOAT coolant.

Drain and flush cooling system, use recommended coolant.
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Saturday, January 19th, 2019 AT 4:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KJOHNSON8978
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1993 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 220,500 MILES
My car sometimes overheats but I think its because I need to put antifreeze in it. There is a leak in the overflow somewhere and the heater core may need replaced but I figure antifreeze should be better than pouring water in it constantly.
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Saturday, January 19th, 2019 AT 4:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
The green stuff by Prestone 50/50
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Saturday, January 19th, 2019 AT 4:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
You need to see if the supposed 100K mile type of antifreeze is in it. No matter what kind, I prefer Prestone, but Peak is also very good.
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Saturday, January 19th, 2019 AT 4:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RYANMOORE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
The car says dexcool only dose this mean I can put any kind of coolant in it
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Saturday, January 19th, 2019 AT 4:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
It sort of means use Dexcool and nothing else!

The Medic
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Saturday, January 19th, 2019 AT 4:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JUDYCORLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 135,000 MILES
Does the type of antifreeze cause the car to run hot?
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Saturday, January 19th, 2019 AT 4:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
OBXAUTOMEDIC
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,711 POSTS
It may be possible. I ran into this one time. The person flushed there system and put the regular Green anti-freeze in it. The vehicle started overheating, they changed the thermostat and radiator. Still overheated they called me and I checked the system ran vehicle to see if the was a possibility of an air pocket that was causing the over heating so I then reflushed system and put correct anti-freeze in it and no more overheating.

I would suggest you jack up vehicle run vehicle for a while and then turn vehicle off let cool check coolant if low fill and see what happens. Just don't let vehicle overheat to point of possible damage.

Jacking up vehicle will help any air pockets to work to the top or highest point of engine
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Saturday, January 19th, 2019 AT 4:50 PM (Merged)

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