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Car Forum / Chevrolet / Chevrolet Malibu / February 2008My curiosity is piqued
I see that some of you don't use dexcool in your cars. Would this also apply to newer cars such as 07's? Or is the factory recommendations correct? "Ted" <> wrote in message news: > I see that some of you don't use dexcool in your cars. Would this > also apply to newer cars such as 07's? Or is the factory > recommendations correct? I would hope your 06 07 chevys would keep their coolant long enough for the waranty to expire. So, I'd say keep using Dexcool that long. The concept of 'long lasting' coolant is assuming there will be no leaks of coolant, which isn't really a certain idea. The same goes for my '01 Malibu transaxel. There is no dip stick or way to add trans fluid, again GM assuming that there will be no leaks, not a good idea to me. > "Ted" <> wrote in message news: > > I see that some of you don't use dexcool in your cars. Would this [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > trans fluid, again GM assuming that there will > be no leaks, not a good idea to me. I was wondering about that...the manual says that after so many miles the fluid has to be changed. So do they just drop the pan? Or do they pump it out? > "Ted" <> wrote in message news: > > I see that some of you don't use dexcool in your cars. Would this [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > trans fluid, again GM assuming that there will > be no leaks, not a good idea to me. I was wondering about that...the manual says that after so many miles the fluid has to be changed. So do they just drop the pan? Or do they pump it out? Hi guys, We have 3 Chevys and have used Dexcool since it was introduced, and have not had any corrosion issues with it. We test the acidity every spring and replace coolant if it starting to turn acidic. We have run our 3.1 V6 engines long miles, one to 300,000 and have never had any gasket leaks. The secret is to change the coolant immediately when it has the slightest indication of any acidity. As for the "no dipstick" transmissions, we have changed the oil and filter at the 160,000Km (or 100,000Mile) point and found them exceptionally clean, and the fluid level good. We are having some PCM issues with our 06 Malibu due to the temperatiure extremes; it doesn't like the coolant being much warmer than the outside air, but at -35 C that will happen. It would be "educational" if one of the GM engineers would take his Chevy to Northern Sask. and walk at -50 windchill for a few hours when the block heater makes the PCM go whacky! Good luck! David snip > As for the "no dipstick" transmissions, we have changed the oil and filter > at the 160,000Km (or 100,000Mile) point and found them exceptionally clean, > and the fluid level good. snip again. 'changed the oil and filter'..... how do you do that? I don't think the oil drain and filter access are where the owner/user can get at. Seems like there is a fill hole, somewhere deep on the belly, but it isn't a drain hole. As for 'drop the pan', I think that is an older concept when there was an oil pan on the bottom of the engine that served the crankcase. I don't know how the transaxle fluid filler, drain and filter can be accessed. > snip > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > that served the crankcase. I don't know how the > transaxle fluid filler, drain and filter can be accessed. We remove the pan. We examine the residue in the bottom of the pan, which is usually very little. With the pan removed, there is easy access to the filter. We also use 2 people and remove one of the transmission cooling tubes at the rediator. One person cranks the engine while the other watches the open cooling tube. When the fluid flow ebbs, we quit cranking the engine and reconnect the cooling tube. This method removes almost all of the old fluid from the torque converter and the tansmission. We like to measure the fluid removed and replace the same quantity, and do the "up and down" thing to ensure the tranny is full. Add 1/2 pint at a time, warm the engine and fluid, then test the side plug for a full tranny. Keep doing this until fluid runs out the side plug when it is removed. These trannys will usually operate well when slightly (up to 1/2 pint) overfilled. Most shops will not go to this effort, but it pays off. We have never had any GM automatic transmission failures; we put several hundred KMs on our vehicles and drive them till someone crashes into them and they are written off. David snip > Hi guys, > We have 3 Chevys and have used Dexcool since it was introduced, and have not > had any corrosion issues with it. We test the acidity every spring and > replace coolant if it starting to turn acidic. How you test the pH? I've never heard of ordinary (Prestone, Zerex, ethylene glycol, or the non-toxic kinds) anti-freeze getting 'acidic'. Seems like I don't see any advantage to Dexcool except I guess GM has a patent on it. > snip > > Hi guys, [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > see any advantage to Dexcool except I guess GM > has a patent on it. We purchase litmus test strips from our local auto parts jobber. A bottle of 50 goes for about $30.00, but that is immaterial compared to the cost of radiators and engines. Just follow the instructions on the bottle and the results are usually clear. David "David" <> wrote in message news: > "Russg" <> wrote in message > news: [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > clear. > David I see, about tranny and coolant service. You do a professional job, and it would seem requires professional work, as the ordinary owner won't know how or be able to do the jumps through hoops to drain, change filter and re-fill the tranny. I'm pleased to learn that GM puts tranny cooler on, or is that on other models than Malibu? I believe that a tranny dipstick is a good idea, a simple way for the owner to tell if the fluid is up to level and not yellow or off color or smelling burnt. > "David" <> wrote in message news: > > [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > to tell if the fluid is up to level and not yellow or off color or smelling > burnt. My 1969 Buick had a tranny cooler, as has everything I have owned or seen since. I can't remember if my 1960 Chevy had a cooler; it was the old 2 speed "Pwereglide" which never gave any trouble. David |
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