GM Dex-cool (orange stuff) in my radiator...

Will this stuff do any harm if it has mixed with some of the green stuff?

I aks because today on the highway my heater hose blew a hole in it right at the hose clamp. I took it off, cut it, and reattached. Only had a little water with me though. Some guy was nice enough to stop and ask if I needed any help. Being as how I wasn't gonna be going too far with maybe half of my coolant system filled I graciously accepted his Dex-cool antifreeze. it was enough to fill it nearly to the top, though I'm sure there was still some air in there.

I haven't had a chance to flush it out yet (I've been at school and running around like mad since early this morning). Will this stuff do any harm? Should I flush it out when I get home or can it wait until tomorrow? I'll be getting home around 11:00 or later so I really just wanna get some dinner and go to sleep when I get home. Anyhow, let me know.

By the way, this is the first time anyone has ever stopped to offer help... And on the side of the highway too, amazing. Here in NJ most people seem to hate everyone else or something. Overpopulation does that I suppose.

Don't let that stuff run together very long. It will turn to a brownish-stinky sludge. The two coolants clash and break eachother down. I'd do a complete flush as soon as you can.
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Now that I think about it I don't have much choice but to wait 'till tomorrow. No stores are open that I can buy antifreeze from at this time of night (that I can think of). I don't wanna flush it out and leave in partially filled with straight water overnight. The temp is a few degrees above freezing right now, but I don't wanna risk it going too low and damaging anything. I'll do a good flush tomorrow. I'll be optimistic and assume it'll be fine and any brown stuff will come out with a good flush (did I just say what I think I did??).

Short term (a couple of days) won't give you any problems since you have already "created the mix." Just don't forget to flush it in the near term future.
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Good, I'll flush it out tomorrow.

I just got home, and partway home I smelled antifreeze (I'll say that dex-cool stuff smells stronger than normal antifreeze). Damned hose broke open again. I guess I'll cut it and reattach again.

To replace it I've got to pull the inner fender off to get to the heater core. I'll save that for spring when I replace the radiator support (hit a deer) and have the fenders off anyway. I wonder if my new aluminum water pump is a higher volume pump. Maybe that could be putting more pressure/suction on that heater hose and breaking it. In any case, this danged 38 year old hose sucks!!

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To replace it I've got to pull the inner fender off to get to the heater core. I'll save that for spring when I replace the radiator support (hit a deer) and have the fenders off anyway. I wonder if my new aluminum water pump is a higher volume pump. Maybe that could be putting more pressure/suction on that heater hose and breaking it. In any case, this danged 38 year old hose sucks!!
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Since your hoses are so brittle, perhaps you should just by-pass your heater for now so as to not continually overheat your engine. (I know you live in NJ and it is probably only 18 degrees this morning.)

If your 67 doesn't have AC, the heater box R &amp; R isn't too bad. You might be able to drop the box down enough to install new hoses in an hour or so.
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It is an AC car, so it's all well up and sandwiched between the inner and outer fenders. If it keeps does it again I'm gonna try cutting the hose farther back and connecting it to a new line to go to the water pump. That may put less stress on the line. If the hose breaks a leak after that I'll take your suggestion and bypass the heater. Should only be another month or two or so before it starts getting consistenty warmer. *brrr*

I just flushed out all the mix and such, and it didn't seem like it was nasty or sludged up. Refilled and it's all good to go. The odd thing is that the hose isn't brittle at all. It's nice and flexible and feels strong. I don't know, maybe it's too flexible. It definitely doesn't feel like a new hose though, but I suppose 38 years will do that.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: adgdghr on 2/19/05 2:13am ]</font>

Dex cool info
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...m_dexcool.html
http://www.wcpo.com/wcpo/localshows/.../20299ce7.html
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t360714.html
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Hmm wow that's not very cool about the DexCool stuff... My wife and I just traded in her Nissan Sentra on a 2004 Pontiac Bonneville... Now i'm glad we paid for the extended warranty.
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I just used Peak brand antifreeze, it too is a green yellow, does it play well with others or turn to crap like the dex stuff ? Im kinda nervous now because i just did a new everything in my F-100.