quick question on coolant

[Mike88]

I've got a french owner's manual for my 1994 3.4 litre so it's pretty hard to navigate and figure some things out. Does anyone know around how many litres, quarts, or gallons (your choice of measurement) of anti-freeze mixed with water it takes to fill up? In other words how much anti-freeze mixed with water should the entire system hold? I bought the car recently and it looks like the anti-freeze hasen't ever been changed...it's orange. I'm going to do a flush. Thanks!

[camaromalley]

Re: quick question on coolant

According to the Haynes manual it takes 12 quarts.

[Nachius]

Re: quick question on coolant

Just for the record dexcool IS orange, and that is the antifreeze GM recommends for our vehicles.

If it's not sludge which there is a good chance it is, as dexcool is horribly known for that then it's probably ok.

[Mike88]

Re: quick question on coolant

Well that explains a lot! I couldn't figure out why the coolant would be orange. I was fearing that rust might have flaked off into the coolant, so that is definitly a relief!
I have a couple of further questions:
1) can I measure the density of dexcool with a regular coolant density tester?
2) is there any advantage of dexcool over regular prestone? Why does GM recommend it? I'm guessing it has better lubricating/cooling properties?
3) Will it hurt to just put regular prestone in there?
Thanks!

[slow6]

Re: quick question on coolant

3) it would HURT BADLY very badly to mix the two different types!!! dont do it!

[Mike88]

Re: quick question on coolant

So you're saying that even if I did a flush there'd probably still be enough dexcool in the system that didn't find its way out that putting in prestone, thus mixing the two different kinds, would still be very bad?

[BLLDOGG]

Re: quick question on coolant

i would not recommend switching to green even if you flushed it continuesly for a year.

[cam98aro]

Re: quick question on coolant

i would not recommend switching to green even if you flushed it continuesly for a year.

2nd.

my friend works at a dealership, and gets cars in all of the time with messed up water pumps from people switching over to green