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Special antifreeze..?

spryorspryor Member Posts: 9,155
edited May 2006 in General Discussion
Had my other half take my 98 Dak 5.2 by the shop today for an oil change, and while there they told her the coolant overflow had a hole it in and some antifreeze was needed. Anyway, they said "it took a special kind of antifreeze" and charged her a heft sum *Per Quart*.

I figured this truck, or any truck for that matter took just plain ol antifreeze. Never heard of any truck taking "special" antifreeze.
Is there such a thing..? Thanks.
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Comments

  • jbjm04jbjm04 Member Posts: 263 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    prob, The enviromentaly safe stuff
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  • third_shot_flyerthird_shot_flyer Member Posts: 69 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had a Chevrolet pickup that had some orange-colored antifreeze. I can't remember the name of it, but it wasn't your average everyday Prestone.

    I hope they remembered to check the headlight fluid and calibrate the horn for her.
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  • shootlowshootlow Member Posts: 5,425
    edited November -1
    quote:third_shot_flyer
    New Member



    52 Posts
    Posted - 05/25/2006 : 11:24:46 PM

    I had a Chevrolet pickup that had some orange-colored antifreeze. I can't remember the name of it, but it wasn't your average everyday Prestone.

    I hope they remembered to check the headlight fluid and calibrate the horn for her


    DEXCOOL for chevys
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  • third_shot_flyerthird_shot_flyer Member Posts: 69 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yep. That's it. Thanks.
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  • KSUmarksmanKSUmarksman Member Posts: 10,705 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    is it the red stuff?

    Probably just propylene glycol (vs the ethylene glycol "green stuff")

    by the way, both ethylene and propylene glycol are clear liquids, companies will just switch colors on you to confuse you
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  • KSUmarksmanKSUmarksman Member Posts: 10,705 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by third_shot_flyer
    I had a Chevrolet pickup that had some orange-colored antifreeze. I can't remember the name of it, but it wasn't your average everyday Prestone.

    I hope they remembered to check the headlight fluid and calibrate the horn for her.


    don't forget to apply elbow grease liberally along the axles
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  • oldemagicsoldemagics Member Posts: 5,851 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    dex was a bit more expensive when it first came out, but is now only slightly higher than the standard glycol that we get at the shop.
    sounds like someone is artificially keeping a premium on it wherever you are since there are several aftermarket versions available
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  • spryorspryor Member Posts: 9,155
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by KSUmarksman
    is it the red stuff?

    Probably just propylene glycol (vs the ethylene glycol "green stuff")




    I doubt she saw what they put in, and just took their word for it. I do believe next time I'm in town though I'll stop by and ask them about this "special" antifreeze.[B)]
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  • Rebel_JamesRebel_James Member Posts: 4,746
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by spryor
    Had my other half take my 98 Dak 5.2 by the shop today for an oil change, and while there they told her the coolant overflow had a hole it in and some antifreeze was needed. Anyway, they said "it took a special kind of antifreeze" and charged her a heft sum *Per Quart*.

    I figured this truck, or any truck for that matter took just plain ol antifreeze. Never heard of any truck taking "special" antifreeze.
    Is there such a thing..? Thanks.


    The key word here is 'her.' Since a woman took the vehicle in, they figured they could make themselves a better payday! I'd be back there in the morning raising HELLo till I got it straightened out!
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  • Locust ForkLocust Fork Member Posts: 32,072 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I HATE taking the car to have anything done. It just looks like one little thing goes wrong and I have any guy I can get to take mine in....just so I know they didn't stick me with any fake crap only because I don't know about cars.

    I really think I will NEVER trust the outcome of any car related problem I have to deal with. I took my Ford Escape to have the brakes looked at a lttle while back...thinking that the business next door would do an honest check because of my other family members doing business with them in the past....but I really think I was scammed again. After $1,100.00 in repairs...driver window (sticks down), rear brakes, front breaks with pads and new roaters, oil change and a couple little things....WOW!!! No woman should EVER take a car in for any reason...it seems there is a TOP DOLLAR charge for every little thing and every little thing they could find really needs done.....scam.
    LOCUST FORK CURRENT AUCTIONS: https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search?Sort=13&IncludeSellers=618902&PageSize=48 Listings added every Thursday! We do consignments, contact us at mckaygunsales@gmail.com
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  • A J ChristA J Christ Member Posts: 7,534 ✭
    edited November -1
    You're lucky they didn't find the headlight fluid leak and charge to refill that too. They usually try to sell the halogen stuff to women cause it costs more. Low on horn grease? How about a new muffler belt or recharge the air bad annunciator?
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  • zr700zr700 Member Posts: 2,430 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you got that orange crap, get it out. It corrodes everything and destroys seals and gaskets. You'll find yourself with many leaks down the road.
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  • nordnord Member Posts: 6,106 ✭
    edited November -1
    H.O.A.T. (Whatever that stands for.)

    Supposedly organic, but I don't think it's been used until the early to mid 2000 vehicles. My 04 Cummins is filled with HOAT and regular antifreeze is not to be mixed with it, except in emergency. Our 2000 Jeep with a 4.7 gasser has regular anti-freeze.

    Go figure!
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  • CHGOTHNDERCHGOTHNDER Member Posts: 8,936 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Dexcool, just what I use in the impala.

    PJ

    quote:Originally posted by third_shot_flyer
    I had a Chevrolet pickup that had some orange-colored antifreeze. I can't remember the name of it, but it wasn't your average everyday Prestone.

    I hope they remembered to check the headlight fluid and calibrate the horn for her.
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  • rob223rob223 Member Posts: 2,358 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Don't foget your blinker fluid and that loose screw between the seat and steering wheel.
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  • tacking1tacking1 Member Posts: 3,844
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Locust Fork
    I HATE taking the car to have anything done. It just looks like one little thing goes wrong and I have any guy I can get to take mine in....just so I know they didn't stick me with any fake crap only because I don't know about cars.

    I really think I will NEVER trust the outcome of any car related problem I have to deal with. I took my Ford Escape to have the brakes looked at a lttle while back...thinking that the business next door would do an honest check because of my other family members doing business with them in the past....but I really think I was scammed again. After $1,100.00 in repairs...driver window (sticks down), rear brakes, front breaks with pads and new roaters, oil change and a couple little things....WOW!!! No woman should EVER take a car in for any reason...it seems there is a TOP DOLLAR charge for every little thing and every little thing they could find really needs done.....scam.


    It would seem, armed with the knowledge that you were going to be treated differently, that you would prepare yourself accordingly. Ask questions. Walk out if the guy doesnt help you. I don't know crap about cars except how to drive them, but I know how to ask questions and think about the answers I am given.
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  • AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,092 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    There was a group that tried to sue GM over Dex-cool. The facts did not make a case to change my mind, or anybody at GM to change their minds on the current maintenance structure concerning Dex-cool. If you do go outside the maintenance structure and change to another coolant, you will lose you warranty.
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
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  • will270winwill270win Member Posts: 4,845
    edited November -1
    At least they didn't say the horn was low and try to sell her a can of beep.
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  • halsam00halsam00 Member Posts: 79 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I work at a DODGE dealer, your truck (1998 dakota 5.2L) will have the green antifreeze the regular 3 yr stuff not the 5yr red stuff.
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  • halsam00halsam00 Member Posts: 79 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Did they check the headlight wicks?
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  • tomh.tomh. Member Posts: 3,847 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've had a couple GM techs warn me against the Dexcool coolant. They say it doesn't really last for extended periods. It'll turn into a black muck before that time.
    My old S10 had Dexcool and I didn't maintain it too well. The reserve tank had a black film in it.
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  • haroldchrismeyerharoldchrismeyer Member Posts: 2,213 ✭
    edited November -1
    There are basically only two kinds of coolant.

    First is the ethylene glycol. Mostly green, and now that the old dexcool isn't around, orange, and known as dexcool.

    The second is OAT, which is Organic Acid Technology. This is what is in the newer Ford products. Usually gold in color, but when in a Daewoo made product, it is blue.

    The old Dexcool was actually a plastic polymer, and has been discontinued for some time. They wanted to keep a premium antifreeze in theory, so they left the color, and started using ethylene glycol again.

    Polyethylene glycol is what they call the safe antifreeze. Safe until it is used in an engine. Then it picks up enough trace metals to become almost as bad as the original.

    Never mix any other kind of antifreeze with OAT. It will develope a substance in it that looks like used toilet paper. Clogs things up, and will make your waterpump leak.

    The manufacturer of the cars I work on has a class just on antifreeze. They don't want the wrong thing put in their cars.
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  • COLTCOLT Member Posts: 12,637 ******
    edited November -1
    ...Eveclear is cheaper, and hey if you break down in the boonies...you wont go thirsty....[:p]

    ...did they check and make sure her muffler bearing was ok?...[;)]



    ani-texas-flag.gif
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