Which is better, Dex-Cool or green antifreeze?

Question

I have a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix GT.  When you pop the hood there is a sticker calling for "Dex-Cool" anti-freeze/coolant.  I recently purchased this car used.  When you open the radiator cap you can see the radiator inside is badly crusted up.  I've been told by a few friends and neighbors who all do their own engine work on their cars that I need to drain out and flush the old Dex-Cool and replace it with the regular green anti-freeze coolant.  
The 4 people I've spoken at length with about this tell me that the Dex-Cool is bad for the seals and gaskets and stuff.  I AM TOTALLY CAR ENGINE IGNORANT!  I'm really hoping there are some mechanics out there that can give me any amount of educated info on this.  I'm not sure if I should pay the extra at a GM dealership for this radiator flush or if switching to the green is in my best interest.  Any help is appreciated!

Nomadd · Accepted Answer

Those people are right. Dexcool is the worst antifreeze in the world. I've flushed the brown goop that it turns into out of dozens of vehicles. Prestone green is silicate free and will work well with any GM.
 Your favorite oil change place can handle the job. There's no need to pay the dealer's extortion rates.

Jeff R · Answer

Dex Cool ia great as long as you keep up the maintenance on it, just like anything else. They had a problem with Dexcool at first with it eating up the gaskets. I know a lot of people who have flushed the dexcool out and replaced it with the green anti-freeze. Chances are that you have had dexcool in this car for so long that the gaskets are more than likely almost gone.  You just need to flush the system out thoroughly, specially if you have crust build up in the system, it's probably never been flushed. I personally think that you be replacing your gaskets before long, it's a 2000 model, your car was built before GM discovered the problem with dexcool and the gaskets, so you have the bad gaskets on your car now, unless you know for sure someone has already replaced them.

mrbait33 · Answer

dex cool is more acidic than the green, but regular maintenance should prevent premature problems
if you do decide to switch to green (you wouldnt be the first) be sure all the dex cool is thoroughly drained as the 2 cant be mixed

Jesse E · Answer

If it says Dexcool use Dexcool, and never mix it or you get the brown sludge... It's pretty simple and change it as it says in the owners manual... It's seriously not rocket science

T.B. · Answer

you need to have it flushed real good, i did it. don't put the regular green in it. use the green that says for both there is a difference.

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Which is better, Dex-Cool or green antifreeze?

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