Re: Antifreeze

[alex.fadeev@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Bob,
I also run Dex-Cool in both of my bimmers. Both had the prior BMW coolant 
thoroughly drained and flushed. Filling the car with water and bringing it 
to operating temps with heater set to full blast help to flush the 
remnants of the old coolant out of the heater core. Neither car shows any 
signs of sludging or temp fluctuations. 
I remember reading warning against mixing BMW coolant with Dex-Cool, but 
do not recall the details.
I have nothing against BMW coolant, other than the skyrocketing price 
courtesy of the local dealers. As long as it was in the $5-10/gallon 
range, I kept bending over. Once it went to $15-20/ per the same gallon, I 
switched. 
Two blown E36 radiator necks, one at 69K the other at 52K miles, did not 
encourage much loyalty to BMW coolant either.

YMMV,
alex f


"Robert Duckworth" <rduckwor1@domain.elided> wrote:
> 
> Interesting.  I've used the dexcool for about 6 years in the 90 iX and 
> have had no problems so far (knock on wood).  Sure hope I'm not missing
> something year.  Of course it get drained and flushed on a 2-3 year 
> schedule as well. That may help.  The six gets the BMW stuff because,
> well, because its a six.
> 
> Bob Duckworth
> 
>>Date: Tue, 03 Dec 2002 13:55:07 -0500
>>From: "Ron Buchalski" <rbuchals@domain.elided>
>>Subject: re: antifreeze
>>
>>Personally, I'd recommend sticking with BMW antifreeze, mixed with 
>>DISTILLED WATER.  BMW antifreeze doesn't contain phosphates, and I 
>>believe that it's also silicate-free.  Prestone (green) contains both.
>>
>>Flush the system completely, and drain the fluids from the radiator AND
>>the engine block (there's a block drain plug on the right side of the 
>>engine, toward the rear of the engine).  I used Lubro-Moly's cooling 
>>system flush to clean things out (E34 525iT), and it did a good job.
>>
>>Regarding Dex-Cool, there are many bad reports from people who either
>>converted to Dex-cool, or bought a car that was filled with Dex-Cool 
>>from the factory.  Search the Internet for "dex-Cool" and you can find
>>them. Here's one note (of many) that I found:
>>
>>http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/3837/dexcool.html
>>
>>I did the Dex-Cool antifreeze (and distilled water) switch several years
>>ago in my E30 318i, and ended up experiencing some of the problems with
>>sludge appearing in the radiator, fluctuating coolant temps, etc.  I 
>>switched back to Prestone (and distilled water) and the problems went 
away.
>>
>>Ron Buchalski

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