Now THAT'S some corrosion.

[celticwarlock]

If you look closely, a large number of the cooling fins are GONE on this radiator, leaving the flimsy, bare tubes exposed (sorry for the crappy contrast....there is gravel beneath the radiator....the photo could be better, but you get the idea). This thing still kept the car cool, for the most part. When it was withdrawn, they blew away in the wind. I have never seen anything like it. It's from my '94 Pontiac that was being stored outside (under a proper car cover). I have been meaning to do this job, but I never imagined things were this dire.

 

[commando1]

Did the Pontiac use Dex-cool?

 

[celticwarlock]

No, not since I've had it. A bought it from a buddy who's had it since about '99 or so, and he has used the conventional green stuff since buying it. I have done likewise. This car might even pre-date Dexcool, but I can't be sure.

 

[72Fury]

Did the Pontiac use Dex-cool?

That is some specific stuff. My Brother had an Olds Aurora and used Prestone, good for all makes. A head gasket later, we both learned about that crap.

 

[commando1]

Google Dexcool lawsuit.
And yes. I was a victim. '96 Buick.

 

[celticwarlock]

Boy, those GM people have done some weird stuff over the years. A supposedly advanced cooling compound that hastens the demise of your cooling system. Not their crowning achievement.

 

[tunaboat75]

Boy, those GM people have done some weird stuff over the years. A supposedly advanced cooling compound that hastens the demise of your cooling system. Not their crowning achievement.

And it's still being used today in current GM vehicles

 

[70bigblockdodge]

If you look closely, a large number of the cooling fins are GONE on this radiator, leaving the flimsy, bare tubes exposed (sorry for the crappy contrast....there is gravel beneath the radiator....the photo could be better, but you get the idea). This thing still kept the car cool, for the most part. When it was withdrawn, they blew away in the wind. I have never seen anything like it. It's from my '94 Pontiac that was being stored outside (under a proper car cover). I have been meaning to do this job, but I never imagined things were this dire.

That's from the crap they put on the roads, if it was not in a state truck it would have to have hazmat placards on it and they spray it on the road.

 

[cantflip]

Google Dexcool lawsuit.
And yes. I was a victim. '96 Buick.

Genius to settle and bankrupt at the same time... I bet an accountant/lawyer got a nice bonus for that move.

I have never trusted the stuff, but if you want to change over to a different coolant, you need to thoroughly flush the system first. I drain everything I can, run it on distilled water and drain again a couple times. Good old fashioned "kill the neighbors dog" coolant for me (dog lovers can substitute cat, squirrels, children at will).
Regular change intervals also means a lot. If you don't all of the coolant's can turn acidic and cause grief. Dexcool has its biggest issues from cavitation and when mixed with air gets really bad, ford had an issue like that in their 3.0 taurus from 96 until the end of production... rust stained degas bottles and rusted freeze plugs too.

 

[65sporty]

If you look closely, a large number of the cooling fins are GONE on this radiator, leaving the flimsy, bare tubes exposed (sorry for the crappy contrast....there is gravel beneath the radiator....the photo could be better, but you get the idea). This thing still kept the car cool, for the most part. When it was withdrawn, they blew away in the wind. I have never seen anything like it. It's from my '94 Pontiac that was being stored outside (under a proper car cover). I have been meaning to do this job, but I never imagined things were this dire.

The rotten fins are a common problem not exclusive to GM. I haven't seen it a whole lot lately though it was very common with copper/brass rad's.

 

[tallhair]

That's from the crap they put on the roads,

What's from the crap they spray on the roads?

What is the crap they spray on the roads?

 

[celticwarlock]

What's from the crap they spray on the roads?

What is the crap they spray on the roads?

This brine solution that municipalities around here spray on the roads before a snow storm.

 

[tallhair]

ford had an issue like that in their 3.0 taurus from 96 until the end of production... rust stained degas bottles and rusted freeze plugs too.

I have a Merc Sable with the 3.0 iron engine. The coolant is rust colored and the degas bottle is too. Should I be worried? Doesn't leak or any any issue at present

 

[commando1]

Does GM still put that crap in new cars?
In '08, I drove my new Corvette home fron the dealer and the next day totally flushed that crap out. Did that with my' 05, too.
That '96 was a very costly education.

 

[tallhair]

This brine solution that municipalities around here spray on the roads before a snow storm.

So it caused the rad to rot?

 

[tallhair]

In '08, I drove my new Corvette home fron the dealer and the next day totally flushed that crap out. Did that with my' 05

How many plastic fantastics have you had Stan?

 

[commando1]

How many plastic fantastics have you had Stan?

Three.
A new '05.
A new' 08.
A '65 basket case I flipped.

 

[65sporty]

Does GM still put that crap in new cars?

Yes they do, I don't know if they have changed the formula though. Still called dex-cool though

 

[tallhair]

A '65 basket case I flipped

Wow. I knew you had one but didn't realize three. The 63-67 is probably my fav body style, followed by the 58-62s

 

[67-Fury]

Three.
A new '05.
A new' 08.
A '65 basket case I flipped.

How long did you have the 08 for?