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What coolant do i use in 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham

Started by Tonyv_73, March 18, 2018, 04:20:18 PM

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Tonyv_73

Just got a 1996 fleetwood brougham with 50k Miles that had been sitting for years, I decided to flush out the old coolant. I Picked up Prestone Extended life concentrate.  But today I noticed that the sticker by the radiator specifies Dex-Cool Orange coolant.  Does this matter for the LT1 engine? Or should I buy Dex-Cool?
1963 Series 62 Convertible
1965 Eldorado
1966 Calais Sedan
1970 Fleetwood Brougham
1970 Wildcat
1970 Coupe Deville
1973 Eldorado Convertible
1974 Coupe Deville
1976 Coupe Deville
1981 Eldorado Biarritz
1985 Eldorado Commemorative Edition
1991 Brougham
1993 Eldorado 4.9
1996 Fleetwood Brougham
2006 XLR
2006 DTS
2014 XTS

Bobby B

Quote from: Tonyv_73 on March 18, 2018, 04:20:18 PM
Just got a 1996 fleetwood brougham with 50k Miles that had been sitting for years, I decided to flush out the old coolant. I Picked up Prestone Extended life concentrate.  But today I noticed that the sticker by the radiator specifies Dex-Cool Orange coolant.  Does this matter for the LT1 engine? Or should I buy Dex-Cool?

Tony,
If I were you, I would stay away from Dex-Cool, but that's just my opinion. Any other brand would work. I never used anything with an extended life because I change it every 2 years or so anyway. I use the regular Prestone concentrate and mix it 50/50 with distilled water ($.79/gallon) at Wal-Mart. Never had a problem regarding coolant issues. Good Luck!
                                                   Bobby
1947 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible Coupe
1968 Mustang Convertible
1973 Mustang Convertible
1969 Jaguar E-Type Roadster
1971 Datsun 240Z
1979 H-D FLH

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

Prestone has a "hybrid" coolant that is compatible with Dex Cool and conventional. That is what I would use.

Mixing regular coolant with D/C is supposed to be a big no-no and almost certain some of the old D/C is going to remain in the system.
A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute


Tonyv_73

I should mention that the coolant was rusty and disgusting, I flushed it about 3 or 4 times already, and i used thermocure, going to run it for a week to clean up the rest of crap inside it.  (I’ve used thermocure before, it works really well) the next step is to drain the crap out and flush it with more water till it’s atleast 80% clear. Then i was going to flush it out one last time and pour the Prestone with distilled water.  Should I be good to go?
1963 Series 62 Convertible
1965 Eldorado
1966 Calais Sedan
1970 Fleetwood Brougham
1970 Wildcat
1970 Coupe Deville
1973 Eldorado Convertible
1974 Coupe Deville
1976 Coupe Deville
1981 Eldorado Biarritz
1985 Eldorado Commemorative Edition
1991 Brougham
1993 Eldorado 4.9
1996 Fleetwood Brougham
2006 XLR
2006 DTS
2014 XTS

Mike Josephic CLC #3877

If your coolant is rusty I would recommend you do
the following:
1)  Unscrew block drains on both sides (on boss of block
above oil pan of the V8) ii it's simple to do otherwise you will
leave rust & crud in the block.  The plugs are brass and unscrew
easily with a good wrench
2)  Open radiator petcock
3)  Flush while running engine (water hose in radiator) until
water is clear
4)  Use Prestone concentrate "universal coolant"
which mixes with all types of antifreeze -- that prevents
issues with any residual Dex-Cool

Mike
1955 Cadillac Eldorado
1973 Cadillac Eldorado
1995 Cadillac Seville
2004 Escalade
1997 GMC Suburban 4X4, 454 engine, 3/4 ton
custom built by Santa Fe in Evansville, IN
2011 Buick Lucerne CX
-------------------------------------
CLCMRC Museum Benefactor #38
Past: VP International Affiliates, Museum Board Director, President / Director Pittsburgh Region

James Landi

Mike as well as the others have great advice... my advice is as follows:  If Mike's thorough flush is too complicated for you, find someone else who can do the job thoroughly.   A gummed up cooling system can be the death of you car, and you;ll not realize how gummed up it is until this summer when you lovely car overheats on a 95 degree day... spare no expense, and get the job done right.

Happy day, James

cadillacmike68

The only real advantage with the ex-cool and the other extended life types is that they provided a longer change interval, 5 years vs 2 years. But that can't be mixed with any silicate based coolant.  I use prestone dexcool approved full strength mixed to 50-50 in the 1996 and newer cars and Peak or Prestone universal in th old 1968.

If I remember correctly, you are supposed to use 2 of those pellets with the 1996 Fleetwood, because of some aluminum parts in the cooling system. You can buy a pack of 5 pellets most places.

Tony keep flushing it some more and then I would recommend an anti-rust additive unless you are sure you got it completely clean.
Regards,
"Cadillac" Mike

64\/54Cadillacking

I’m not sure if anything changed in 96, but in my 94 Fleetwood, I used O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Universal extended life coolant every time I drained it out. Its really good high quality coolant.

Since I owned my 94, I replaced the water pump 2 times due to it leaking at the weep hole, and every time I filled up the radiator after the job was done, I used the O’Reilly stuff. It never gave me any problems.

In the owners and shop manual of the 94 it states just to use the green stuff for the LT1. But maybe GM changed it in 96 to Dex-Cool perhaps?
Currently Rides:
1964 Sedan Deville
1954 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special
1979 Lincoln Mark V Cartier Designer Series
2007 Lexus LS 460L (extended wheelbase edition)

Previous Rides:
1987 Brougham D' Elegance
1994 Fleetwood Bro
1972 Sedan Deville
1968 Coupe Deville
1961 Lincoln Continental
1993 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series
1978 Lincoln Continental ( R.I.P.) 1978-2024 😞

Tonyv_73

Being that i already bought the Prestone Extended Life Concentrate, will it have any harmful effects on the motor if I use it? It says “all makes and models” on it
1963 Series 62 Convertible
1965 Eldorado
1966 Calais Sedan
1970 Fleetwood Brougham
1970 Wildcat
1970 Coupe Deville
1973 Eldorado Convertible
1974 Coupe Deville
1976 Coupe Deville
1981 Eldorado Biarritz
1985 Eldorado Commemorative Edition
1991 Brougham
1993 Eldorado 4.9
1996 Fleetwood Brougham
2006 XLR
2006 DTS
2014 XTS

Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621

According to Prestone, the Extended Life product will work with any color antifreeze so there shouldn't be any reason not to use it.

https://prestone.com/products?detail=AF2000
A Cadillac Motorcar is a Possession for which there is no Acceptable Substitute

TJ Hopland

I have had and still have several GM trucks that still had dex in them when I bought them and I have left it in em.   These are all in the 20 year old range now and miles ranges from 250k-400k.   I have been in a couple of them and they appear fairly clear.  These are all iron motors so only aluminum is the intake and radiator, maybe that makes a difference or maybe I got lucky and previous owners took care of them.     

I didn't own LT1's very long,  both I did own did still have dex in em.   The Roadmasters I had the longest were 93's which had the TBI truck motor which I thought was a way better motor than the LT1.   Slightly less power but better MPG and about 400% cheaper and easier to work on.

I pretty much keep what ever was in there when I got the car.   If I can't tell what it was I go with the universal stuff until there is a reason to do a full flush at which point I have usually been going with what ever the OE was so classic green on the -94 and dex on the 95+.   
StPaul/Mpls, MN USA

73 Eldo convert w/FiTech EFI
80 Eldo Diesel
90 CDV
And other assorted stuff I keep buying for some reason

Tonyv_73

So what was the purpose of dex? Just longer lasting? Or did it protect against corrosion on Aluminum parts as well? And if that’s the case, is there anything I should add to coolant that will protect my engine?
1963 Series 62 Convertible
1965 Eldorado
1966 Calais Sedan
1970 Fleetwood Brougham
1970 Wildcat
1970 Coupe Deville
1973 Eldorado Convertible
1974 Coupe Deville
1976 Coupe Deville
1981 Eldorado Biarritz
1985 Eldorado Commemorative Edition
1991 Brougham
1993 Eldorado 4.9
1996 Fleetwood Brougham
2006 XLR
2006 DTS
2014 XTS

TJ Hopland

The biggest thing they seemed to market about it was that it lasted longer.   I would imagine there were other theoretical improvements too but the time seemed to be the big one.  This was the era when the 100,000 mile tune up / spark plugs were getting more common so the time may have been a selling point.

I think as long as you change it at reasonable intervals classic green,  universal,  or dex will be fine as long as you have it pretty well flushed out so the mixing isn't a concern.    If its your only dex car I would maybe do classic green just so you don't have to 'stock' something different for just one car.     
StPaul/Mpls, MN USA

73 Eldo convert w/FiTech EFI
80 Eldo Diesel
90 CDV
And other assorted stuff I keep buying for some reason