Can I get away with antifreeze/coolant that isn't DEX-COOL?

[saucy626]

I have a 1996 Beretta Z26 with the 3.1 liter SFI V6. I let my girlfriend pick up a bottle of antifreeze/coolant from Dollar General (yeah, I know a lot of you will say that this was my first mistake ) and she got Prestone Quick Fill 50/50 prediluted. It's supposed to be universal; "ALL MAKES ALL MODELS" according to the label, but I went into Advance Auto Parts to get a funnel and noticed Prestone DEX-COOL approved stuff, and now I'm wondering if the regular universal antifreeze will be ok in my car. Can I get away with regular universal antifreeze without trashing my car or is the extra $13 for a bottle of DEX-COOL an absolute must? What's the big difference?

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[Asylum]

The general answer to that is NO!

However there are some products that say, Will mix with "ALL colors of anti-freeze" and it will likely be yellow.

DON'T USE ANYTHING GREEN!

I certainly wouldn't use the Dollar Store stuff.

[Barry]

Haha I have never used dexcool yet. I don't mix tho, it's been green prestone from the start

[saucy626]

Thanks guys. The stuff I have is Prestone, so it's not some cheap ass Dollar General store brand. It's the one that says mix with all colors. I'm going to go ahead and put it in.

[3400beretta]

Actually, you can add green stuff to dexcool just fine. You will just lose the "extended life" of the dexcool and it will all become regular life antifreeze.

That being said, why anyone would want to put dexcool into their car, after we know it is one of the major causes of the intake gaskets failing is beyond me.

I would use the dollar store green stuff before ever putting that dexcool garbage into my car. But thats just me.

[3X00-Modified]

I drain dexcool to use the green stuff... lol

But yeah, never mix, that's not the best thing to do. Also why buy 50/50? Its the same price if not more expensive than the straight up stuff, and if you buy one gallon of 100% you end up with 2 gallons to fill the car... you buy one gallon of 50/50 you have one gallon... Think of how they screwed the crap out of you... lol

[Barry]

Yeah, they charge you like 4 dollars for a half gallon of water

[99GaGT3X00]

Yeah, they charge you like 4 dollars for a half gallon of water

you need to find a new store to shop at. the gallon of distilled water i bought last year was $1.50

[3X00-Modified]

Yeah, they charge you like 4 dollars for a half gallon of water

you need to find a new store to shop at. the gallon of distilled water i bought last year was $1.50

He means the $8 50/50 coolant mixes... the straight 100% coolant is either the same price or sometimes LESS.