Document ID# 1459491
(2004 referenced) Chevrolet Avalanche
DEX-COOL Engine Coolant Information #00-06-02-006A - (Feb 13, 2004)
Table 1: (Image below) -- Approved Engine Coolant Recycling Services -- DEX-COOL?
Table 2: (Image below) -- Approved Engine Coolant Recycling Services and Equipment - Conventional Green
DEX-COOL? Engine Coolant Information
2004 and Prior Passenger Cars and Trucks
2004 and Prior HUMMER H2
This bulletin is being revised to add model years and updated information. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 00-06-02-006 (Section 6 -- Engine/Propulsion System).
Licensed Approved DEX-COOL? Providers
Important
USE OF NON APPROVED VIRGIN OR RECYCLED DEX-COOL? OR DEVIATIONS IN THE FORM OF ALTERNATE CHEMICALS OR ALTERATION OF EQUIPMENT, WILL VOID THE GM ENDORSEMENT, MAY DEGRADE COOLANT SYSTEM INTEGRITY, AND PLACE THE COOLING SYSTEM WARRANTY UNDER JEOPARDY.
Following are the only current licensed and approved providers of virgin DEX-COOL? and DEX-COOL? inhibitor packages used for recycling. Products that are advertised as "COMPATIBLE" or "RECOMMENDED" for use with DEX-COOL? have not been tested or approved by General Motors. Non approved coolants may degrade the coolant system integrity and will no longer be considered a 5yr/150,000 mile (240,000 km) coolant.
Approved providers of DEX-COOL? meeting General Motors GM6277M specifications are as follows:
? GM Vehicle Care
? AC Delco
? ChevronTexaco
? Shell
? Prestone
? Recycled Fluid Technologies (Bulk Service)
Coolant Removal Services/Recycling
The following tables include all coolant recycling processes currently approved by GM. Also included is a primary phone number and demographic information. Used DEX-COOL? can be combined with used conventional coolant (green) for recycling. Depending on the recycling service and/or equipment, it is then designated as a conventional (2yr/30,000 mile (50,000 km) coolant or DEX-COOL? 5yr/150,000 mile (240,000 km) coolant. Recycled coolants as designated in this bulletin may be used during the vehicle(s) warranty period.
DEX-COOL? Recycling
The DEX-COOL? recycling service listed in Table 1 has been approved for recycling waste engine coolants (DEX-COOL? or conventional) to DEX-COOL? with 5yr/150,000 (240,000 km) mile usability. Recycling Fluid Technologies is the only licensed provider of Recycled DEX-COOL? meeting GM6277M specifications and utilizes GM approved inhibitor packages. This is currently a limited program being monitored by GM Service Operations which will be expanded as demand increases.
Conventional (Green) Recycling
Processes listed in the Table 2 are capable of recycling waste engine coolants (DEX-COOL? or conventional) to a conventional (green) coolant. Recycling conventional coolant can be accomplished at your facility by a technician using approved EQUIPMENT (listed by model number in Table 2), or by an approved coolant recycling SERVICE which may recycle the coolant at your facility or at an offsite operation. Refer to the table below for GM approved coolant recyclers in either of these two categories. Should you decide to recycle the coolant yourself, strict adherence to the operating procedures is imperative. Use ONLY the inhibitor chemicals supplied by the respective (GM approved) recycling equipment manufacturer.
Sealing Tablets
Cooling System Sealing Tablets (Seal Tabs) should not be used as a regular maintenance item after servicing an engine cooling system. Discoloration of coolant can occur if too many seal tabs have been inserted into the cooling system. This can occur if seal tabs are repeatedly used over the service life of a vehicle. Where appropriate, seal tabs may be used if diagnostics fail to repair a small leak in the cooling system.
When a condition appears in which seal tabs may be beneficial, a specific bulletin may be released describing their proper usage. After performing specific procedures outlining seal tab usage, install an appropriate identification label to indicate that the seal tabs have been installed. If seal tabs were installed in the cooling system during assembly, the recommended amount may be added if the cooling system is drained and refilled during a service event. The recommended number of seal tabs depends on the capacity of the cooling system. Use between 1 and 1-1/2 grams of seal tabs per liter of cooling system capacity.
Water Quality
The integrity of the coolant is dependent upon the quality of DEX-COOL? and water. DEX-COOL? is a product which has enhanced protection capability as well as an extended service interval. These enhanced properties may be jeopardized by combining DEX-COOL? with poor quality water. If you suspect the water in your area of being poor quality, it is recommended you use distilled or de-ionized water with DEX-COOL?.
"Pink" DEX-COOL?
DEX-COOL? is orange in color to distinguish it from other coolants. Due to inconsistencies in the mixing of the dyes used with DEX-COOL?, some batches may appear pink after time. The color shift from orange to pink does not affect the integrity of coolant, and still maintains the 5yr/150,000 mile (240,000 km) service interval. General Motors is currently pursuing a course of action which will stabilize the color of DEX-COOL? in the field.
Back Service
Only use DEX-COOL? if the vehicle was originally equipped with DEX-COOL?.
Contamination
Mixing conventional green coolant with DEX-COOL? will degrade the service interval from 5yrs./150,000 miles to 2yrs./30,000 miles (50,000 km) if left in the contaminated condition. If contamination occurs, the cooling system must be flushed twice immediately and re-filled with a 50/50 mixture of DEX-COOL? and clean water in order to preserve the enhanced properties and extended service interval of DEX-COOL? .
After 5 years/150,000 miles (240,000 km)
After 5 yrs/150,000 miles (240,000 km), the coolant should be changed, preferably using a coolant exchanger. If the vehicle was originally equipped with DEX-COOL? and has not had problems with contamination from non-DEX-COOL? coolants, then the service interval remains the same, and the coolant does not need to be changed for another 5 yrs/150,000 miles (240,000 km).
Equipment (Coolant Exchangers)
The preferred method of performing coolant service is to use a coolant exchanger. A coolant exchanger can replace virtually all of the old coolant with new coolant. Coolant exchangers can be used to perform a coolant service without spillage, and facilitate easy waste collection. They can also be used to lower the coolant level in a vehicle to allow for less messy servicing of cooling system components. It is recommended that you use a coolant exchanger with a vacuum feature that allows easing [lsquo ]burping[rsquo ] (removing trapped air) of the cooling system. This is a substantial time savings over current methods of repeatedly thermocycling the vehicle and toping-off the radiator. The vacuum feature also allows venting of a hot system to relieve system pressure. Approved coolant exchangers are available through the GMDE (General Motors Dealer Equipment) program (1-800-GM-TOOLS).