DexCool = Old Bay Seasoning

**SlowNA06** · 09-19-2010

Mild concern, no performance issues.

Full coolant flush a few months ago, fresh DexCool. Checked the coolant yesterday. Was a little low... the cap seemed to have some Old Bay Seasoning on it. Old Bay Seasoning seemed to cover the whole couple inches down to fresh clean coolant. I wiped it all out and cleaned off the cap... topped it off and poured a little more into my overflow, which was a bit low.

Is this just DexCool reacting with oxygen because it was a tad low?
Anything I should be worried about?

**SDGTP99** · 09-19-2010

It's the DexCool eatting away at your gaskets. If you feel up to it do another realy good flush & reaplace that DexCool with the Green stuff. As for the coolant being low you could have a leak.

**SlowNA06** · 09-19-2010

Hm. If the gaskets are being eaten, shouldn't I replace them along with the flush?

**OH4CompG** · 09-19-2010

FYI, dexcool doesn't "eat" gaskets. Poor LIM gasket design causes them to crack, letting dexcool react with air and then sludge.

**Jakegday** · 09-19-2010

Originally Posted by SDGTP99

It's the DexCool eatting away at your gaskets..

nothing like straight up ignorance

Originally Posted by OH4CompG

FYI, dexcool doesn't "eat" gaskets. Poor LIM gasket design causes them to crack, letting dexcool react with air and then sludge.

THATS more like it!

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=958284
you're really gonna tell me thats not poor design?

coincidentally mine failed in the exact same spots....

i was having a problem similair to yours.. i'd lose about a half gallon of coolant every few months, and could not figure out where it was going. turns out it was mixing in with the oil, and being evaporated.
what gave me the idea was i always cut open my oil filters, and recently they looked like sh*t, suggesting there was moisture getting in there somehow. cut open your next filter, if it looks anything like this (wavy/warped pleats), youve got moisture in your oil.

**Vegas_Matt** · 09-19-2010

well can't lie with that! lol

**SlowNA06** · 09-20-2010

I lost more like... maybe a quart, tops, since my flush in June. I wouldn't be surprised if some of that was from air settling out. I'll be sending out an oil sample in a few hundred miles, so I may as well check the filter before I chuck it.

Another point, I believe the 04+ might have a new generation LIM gasket... think the GM recall thing only went up to October 2003 or so. Edit: I think I was thinking of the target time period for the "class action suit" or whatever it was.

Nonetheless, something to get fixed before it starts breaking other things.

**Jakegday** · 09-20-2010

Originally Posted by SlowNA06

think the GM recall thing only went up to October 2003 or so.

lol, there was never a recall of any kind for LIM gaskets. and i honestly dont know if the problem stopped after 03 or not. it very well may have

**blueguy** · 09-20-2010

The only recall was for the spark plug holders and the valve cover gaskets in the 97-03 cars. GM did however, start going with the aluminum ones from the factory in 2004 cars (L26/L32) IIRC

**matt5112** · 09-20-2010

i thought the Al gaskets were 05+?

But for real dexcool + air = sludge and toxicity which eats nylon gaskets?

**OH4CompG** · 09-20-2010

I had plastic LIM gaskets in my 04. I believe they started aluminum in 05

**SlowNA06** · 10-25-2010

Just got the oil analysis in. Yay.

**cerick08GP** · 10-25-2010

Wow, I must say that report is a little concerning. If Iâ€™m following the story here you changed the Dexcool right on schedule (maybe even a little early) and you probably have a LIM gasket failure. What year is your car, an 06? Arrrg.

**SlowNA06** · 10-25-2010

Originally Posted by cerick08GP

Wow, I must say that report is a little concerning. If Iâ€™m following the story here you changed the Dexcool right on schedule (maybe even a little early) and you probably have a LIM gasket failure. What year is your car, an 06? Arrrg.

Naw, this is for an '04. My '06 is a happy little peach.

**matt5112** · 10-25-2010

04's still had plastic LIM gaskets so its possible.

People here claim to see aluminum gaskets fail as well though.

**SuperSport** · 10-25-2010

Originally Posted by matt5112

People here claim to see aluminum gaskets fail as well though.

Username and link?

**matt5112** · 10-25-2010

You're asking a lot...

It happened a long time ago so I"m not going to bother searching for it.

**SuperSport** · 10-25-2010

I wasnt expecting a link. I was just amazed that people claimed aluminum LIM gaskets failed. Unless the engine was overheated badly, I dont see a reason why aluminum LIM gaskets should fail at all...