I have a 1993 Accord 10th Anniversary with 132K miles on it. At 54k mile the radiator was replaced with a copper one due to an accident. I decided to put dexcool in the car because it had no silicates, was safe for aluminum and had the extended life change interval. In 2005 at 90k I had the timing belt replaced and also replaced the coolant with dexcool. After seeing this prestone extended life claiming all make and models I was suspicious and did some research on both dexcool and prestone. I found out about the lawsuits regarding dexcool, intake gasket material incompatibility with one of the corrosion inhibitors that was a plasticizer (softens gaskets). I was told by my pep boys that the prestone is the same as dexcool but on the label it says it doesn't contain borates or phosphates which dexcool makes no mention of. I have very little white deposits in the radiator and the tubes appear clean. Does anyone know for sure if it would be detrimental to flush out the dexcool and replace it with the prestone as my situation is unique because I don't have an aluminum radiator? If you have a published trade article backing up your recommendation that would be greatly appreciated and please provide a link. The only article I found was from Motor magazine published in 2004 that said the jury still out on the repercussions to switching between type with regard to corrosion protection inhibitor reactions.

 

Flush it out, put some regular antifreeze in it, and dont worry about it. Then change the fluid with a drain and refill every few years will keep the system happy.

 

Yup. Use the Green Anti-Freeze.

 

dexcool is for GM vehicles.