'03 Base Vibe Coolant

W2ZXN · Post by **W2ZXN** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:26 am

I searched and I know recommendations were given in '07. I have kind of a spin-off question.First, a little background info... I got my '03 Vibe in southern Mississippi and brought it back with me to New York. I'm the second owner; the first owner used it as a fleet vehicle down south. I noticed that the coolant that is currently in it, is a pink/red, so I assume the previous owner had it replaced with the Toyota stuff. Sorry, I'm getting to the question...How is it that the Toyota dealer recommends TOYOTA PINK/RED and the GM Dealer recommends DexCool? I'm so conflicted here because while it is a GM-branded vehicle, just about the only part that is GM is the Pontiac Logo... The engine and a majority of the electronics are all Toyota. So, I was leaning toward TOYOTA pink/red. Then I was told by a mechanic to use the yellow stuff that Mercedes uses in their cars...Point is... I know nothing at all about coolant. I just want to treat my car the way it deserves to be treated. So, any comments/suggestions or information on the pros/cons to these coolants & the Vibe would be much appreciated. Thanks!

ColonelPanic · Post by **ColonelPanic** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:14 am

The implementation of Dexcool was one of GM's wisest moves, guaranteed to bring you in for intake gasket leaks like clockwork. $cha-ching!$ I suppose the dealers push Dexcool because that's probably all they have anymore. Wouldn't surprise me if they wanted to put Dexron in the automatic too. Regardless, I would not recommend switching to that garbage given its shady past.You can either take it to a Toyota dealer and have them do the flush... Or buy the red long life coolant from the Toyota dealer and take the car to an independent shop. I've done that method twice now, works ok.

jake75 · Post by **jake75** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:04 am

I remember going through this with an '03 at my first coolant change. The manual said to change at 2 years/ 24,000 miles whichever came first. The dealer said the stuff in there was Dexcool - but Dexcool is a 5 yr coolant. Nobody seemed to really know. I changed it out and let them use Dexcool, but I never let in stay in there 5 years as my limited research indicated age seemed be the cause of "gelling" that spurred many lawsuits.You would think that GM ought to be able to tell you what the OEM coolant was. This situation just gave many of us another reason to slam GM - and don't you agree they deserved it? I have another 18 months before I have to figure out what is in my '09.

djb383 · Post by **djb383** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:41 am

I dumped the DexCrud in both of our Vibes and our Saturn Vue shortly after buying them. Put the good stuff in. click

Old Tele man · Post by **Old Tele man** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 12:08 pm

...GM's Dex-Cool is nicknamed "...Liquid Gold..." because of the price that ask for it!

Caretaker · Post by **Caretaker** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:05 pm

uuuh, Dexcool was never in the Vibe. Toyota pink fluid is ethylene and neither Dexcool nor an extended life coolant. It simply is regular coolant colored pink. It should be replaced every couple of years (2 or 3). Today, many/most mechanics are now using a ethylene/"dexcool" blend that can be used in any car. Again, while Dexcool was a disaster for GM, it was not and has never been placed into "Toyota" Vibes.

jake75 · Post by **jake75** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 11:13 pm

Quote, originally posted by Caretaker Â»uuuh, Dexcool was never in the Vibe. Toyota pink fluid is ethylene and neither Dexcool nor an extended life coolant. It simply is regular coolant colored pink. It should be replaced every couple of years (2 or 3). Today, many/most mechanics are now using a ethylene/"dexcool" blend that can be used in any car. Again, while Dexcool was a disaster for GM, it was not and has never been placed into "Toyota" Vibes.uuuh, 2009 Vibe Owner ManualPage 9-18 & 9-19The coolant in the vehicle should last for 5 years or 150,000 miles whichever occurs first. When coolant is added or changed, use DEX-COOL coolant.Using coolant other than DEX-COOL can cause premature engine, heater core or radiator corrosion. Any repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Always use DEX-COOL (silicate free) coolant in your vehicle.

djb383 · Post by **djb383** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 11:29 pm

Quote, originally posted by Caretaker Â»uuuh, Dexcool was never in the Vibe........Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't in the Vibe.........this has been discussed at length before. I'm 100% positive it's NOT in any of my GM vehicles now.

Caretaker · Post by **Caretaker** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:43 am

thanks for that posting Jake. The text is, as you have written it, correct in the manual. I do believe the manual is 100% INCORRECT. The fluid in the Vibe is Toyota pink, not GM Dexcool. The best way to prove who's correct (the manual or me) is to ask our resident NUMMI worker. Can you chime in here? I have had two (outstanding would be an understatement) mechanics tell me that the fluid is Toyota pink in the first generation Vibe (of which I own one); normal 2 year coolant. It is possible that the next generation Vibe is different, but I seriously doubt it. As a next-gen Vibe owner, I certainly want to get this right and greatly appreciate you posting your comment. Granted, "every" mechanic now seems to install the 50-50 Dexcool formula in any car, but I do stand by what I have learned: the Vibe is filled with 2 year Toyota pink, not Dexcool. Let's see what Mr. NUMMI says:

LeatherVibe · Post by **LeatherVibe** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:47 pm

I just changed out the fluid in my mom's '03. Her manual didn't say anything about Dexcool, while the manual for my '06 says to use only Dexcool.I found the engine drain on the rear of the engine, and with the radiator drain also open, "flushing" was easy with a 1/2 gal of distilled water.I'm likely to also put some Prestone Extended Life in my '06 next summer. I found too many bad reports on Dexcool to use it again.P.S. GM dealership quoted about $800 for coolant, tranny and brake fluid flush. I did them all, including the power steering fluid, in one Saturday morning. Cleaned the MAF sensor too. Also put in a Toyota air filter, the Fram ones just don't fit as well.I had to punt on the cabin filter. That's why I'm back here, I'm trying to find out how to do it.

jake75 · Post by **jake75** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 1:15 am

Quote, originally posted by Caretaker Â»thanks for that posting Jake. The text is, as you have written it, correct in the manual. I do believe the manual is 100% INCORRECT. The fluid in the Vibe is Toyota pink, not GM Dexcool. The best way to prove who's correct (the manual or me) is to ask our resident NUMMI worker. Can you chime in here? I have had two (outstanding would be an understatement) mechanics tell me that the fluid is Toyota pink in the first generation Vibe (of which I own one); normal 2 year coolant. It is possible that the next generation Vibe is different, but I seriously doubt it. As a next-gen Vibe owner, I certainly want to get this right and greatly appreciate you posting your comment. Granted, "every" mechanic now seems to install the 50-50 Dexcool formula in any car, but I do stand by what I have learned: the Vibe is filled with 2 year Toyota pink, not Dexcool. Let's see what Mr. NUMMI says: So, to all you GM lovers here - tell my why I should have any respect, admiration, loyalty, etc. in regard to GM when they can't (won't) even reveal what coolant is OEM in a car they sell.I am not saying I would never buy a GM car - that could well be cutting my nose off to spite my face. I still use my GM MasterCard. But I certainly have no affection for GM.

Caretaker · Post by **Caretaker** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 3:20 am

You are so right jake. They simply have not earned anyone's trust. I wonder where our NUMMI rep has gone. You don't think he is turning off the lights and nailing the doors shut, do you? I hope he reads and responds. Is it T. Pink or GM D-Cool for the '09 and '10?

djb383 · Post by **djb383** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 4:31 am

So what coolant is in the '09 Vibe? The coolant in our '09 Corolla is as pink as pink can be but it ain't 2 year coolant 'cause the 'yota maintenance book says "initial coolant replacement at 100,000 miles or 120 months".

jake75 · Post by **jake75** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 8:43 am

Quote, originally posted by djb383 Â»So what coolant is in the '09 Vibe? The coolant in our '09 Corolla is as pink as pink can be but it ain't 2 year coolant 'cause the 'yota maintenance book says "initial coolant replacement at 100,000 miles or 120 months".And if it is the same as in the Vibe - why does the Vibe manual say replace at 5 yrs or 150,000 miles (whichever comes first). Not that it makes me any difference as I am not going to driver even 100,000 miles in 5 years.

'03 Base Vibe Coolant

'03 Base Vibe Coolant

Re: '03 Base Vibe Coolant (W2ZXN)

Re: '03 Base Vibe Coolant (ColonelPanic)

Re: '03 Base Vibe Coolant (W2ZXN)

Re: '03 Base Vibe Coolant (djb383)

Re: '03 Base Vibe Coolant (Caretaker)

Re: '03 Base Vibe Coolant (Caretaker)

Re: '03 Base Vibe Coolant (jake75)

Re: '03 Base Vibe Coolant (Caretaker)

Re: '03 Base Vibe Coolant (jake75)

Re: '03 Base Vibe Coolant (Caretaker)

Re: '03 Base Vibe Coolant (djb383)