Antifreeze Questions Green or Red

ilbikes · Post by **ilbikes** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:57 pm

Guys, since I've got all new stuff and no residual coolant anywhere, I can use the Green ethelyne glycol or the Red propolyne glycol (Dexcool) which is said to be easier on the aluminum blocks and radiator because it had more inhibitors, plus it's a lot less toxic.

Now, please don't answer "Green beacuse it came with it" - the Red stuff wasn't formulated back then. I'd like to know from a technical standpoint which is better for an new system and why.

Your inputs appreciated.

Thanks,
Gordon

diamondj · Post by **diamondj** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:09 pm

GREEN!!!!!

Don't touch the Dex cool junk with a 10 foot pole. I had both a 96 Chevy Blazer and a 99 Chevy Blazer and they both came with DexCool from the factory. Chevy insisted you use the stuff and this is the net result:

http://www.dexcoolsettlement.com/

Better yet, why not use plain old water and some water wetter:

http://www.redlineoil.com/products_coolant.asp

You'll never come close to overheating that Buffalo engine....

Jim

Jughead · Post by **Jughead** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:14 pm

Gordon I'd stick with the Green.Heard Several Stories About the Dexcool and Head Gaskets on Cars.Can't remember what it was all about but just me I'd stick with the green stuff.

Frank T · Post by **Frank T** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:04 pm

My daily driver is a 2004 Pontiac that came with the orange stuff and it never has had a cooling problem. The coolant is now 5 years old and I plan to replace it soon with Dex.

Post by **Suzsmokeyallan** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 12:07 am

Ive found Peak to be the most stable in so much as it does not cause the issues with dissimiliar metals like many others coolants. For example in the water pumps of many dirt bikes theres magnesium, aluminum and steel all together in the pump housing and ive seen other coolants create sacrificial anode situations to one of these three parts.
However Peaks green coolant doesnt cause this issue so it gets my vote hands down.

rngdng · Post by **rngdng** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 2:02 am

I've always been happy with Prestone, but whatever, I'd only use the green, old-fashioned stuff.

Lane

jkevinlilly · Post by **jkevinlilly** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 4:29 am

plus it's a lot less toxic.

I think if you check toxicity ratings, there is very little difference between ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. The difference in safety is that the ethylene has a taste animals like, and the propylene does not taste good to them.

Kevin

Post by **Suzsmokeyallan** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:45 am

Animals only??? lots of people have also drank the sweet tasting ethylene stuff and died a horrible death as well, and they are supposed to know better.
It kind of makes you wonder what else people would eat in regular products if they all had a sweet taste.

strainer · Post by **strainer** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:51 am

delete

strainer · Post by **strainer** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:04 am

delete

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:48 am

Animals only??? lots of people have also drank the sweet tasting ethylene stuff and died a horrible death as well, and they are supposed to know better.
It kind of makes you wonder what else people would eat in regular products if they all had a sweet taste.

Next you're drinking a Mountain Dew, read the ingredients

It contains ethylene glycol or polyethylene glycol, I cant remember which.

Post by **Suzsmokeyallan** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 10:10 am

Nope dont drink that product, i prefer the harder stuff like Pepsi or Coke.

ja-moo · Post by **ja-moo** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 1:37 pm

But Mt Dew was the original "red bull"........

H2RICK · Post by **H2RICK** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 1:50 pm

I have a 1996 Astro Van that was factory equipped with DexCool and no probs IF you follow their recommended change intervals.
Having said that, Jim has posted a link to the lawsuit results re Dexcool and there's no doubt that GM did NOT use proper gasketing/seals in some vehicles. That's NOT a Dexcool "fault" but rather a poor engineering choice of sealing materials.
Soooo.....I would NOT use Dexcool in an engine that uses 30 year old sealing technology. You are asking for trouble, IMO.
Interesting info from Allan re Peak and from Strainer re silicates. After all is said and done, I'd try to find a low/no silicate conventional coolant for ANY older bike.

diamondj · Post by **diamondj** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 2:01 pm

On my Blazers I found that if I did not get a flush/fill EVERY year (rather than every other year as normal) I would have overheating issues on both trucks. And the Dex Cool was roughly twice the cost of regular antifreeze turning a $60 job into a $100 to $120 job. I researched Dex Cool when I first started having issues and found a lot of horror stories from people that had flushed/filled with the green stuff after having Dex Cool in the system or worse, mixed the two and suffered seized engines from a rapid overheat.

In the interest of preserving your freshly rebuilt Buffalo, I would consider buying OEM Suzuki antifreeze or maybe the Honda motorcycle specific antifreeze. Or plain water with water wetter in it.