Antifreeze

MICJOHN

MEMBER
GMC

:( I bought a 1997 grand am in the fall. I was having problems with the heater so I checked the antifreeze and I needed some so I asked a mecahnic friend who told me I needed long life premixed antifreeze so I went ahead and bought some Prestone longlife premixed and added this to the car. Then the heat was not working right so I had a new thermostat put in. Now the problem is the temperture gage goes way to high the light comes on and we don't have much heat. We are also going through alot of antifreeze, the light keeps coming on. I read the manual and it says to put in Dex-Cool antifreeze. Now my big question is, Did I wreck something putting in the wrong antifreeze? Please help I can't go without a car. I am not very well off so I need to have an idea before I have to spend more money. Thanks

3 Replies

MVANNESSJR

MECHANIC
223 POSTS

For warranty work you are supposed to use Dexcool, but if the car is out of warranty no big deal. Dexcool is evil and should be destroyed. However, unless the premixed stuff you used was made to work with any coolant you could have created a problem. If you're burning off a lot of coolant and it isn't ending up on the ground you may have a more serious problem to worry about.

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Wednesday, January 25th, 2006 AT 8:06 AM

SC1 RACING

MECHANIC
117 POSTS

Try to find someone to pressurize coolant system. If a hose is leaking it will be visible, check for water in the oil, also if no leakes are found remove spark plugs, with pressure in coolant system and make sure no antifreeze is passing into the cylinders. However if it is it will smoke and run rough.

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Wednesday, January 25th, 2006 AT 9:54 AM

MICJOHN