Dexcool and mercruiser antifreeze compatibility?

PickleRick

I don't have many marine shops local, none i can go to without taking a 2 hr lunch break anyway.

Its near the end of the season so im stocking up on service items that may have been neglected in past.

First up is draining the closed loop system and flusing with fresh.  

While I will be able to get most of the coolant out, I won't be able to get it all.  

I plan to switch to dexcool as i heard it was compatible with the current mercrusier coolant that has been used.  Can anyone else confirm this?  I dont want to rely on googled results from a few other forums.  If it won't, what other coolant is compatible with mercrusier coolant?   

J3ff

Says it right on the amazon listing.. sure looks the same!!

Seeing as how I need FIVE of these after changing the risers, looking for a deal on it as well. See one on walmart.com for 18 each... 

TonyG13

Take it from someone who just went through the overheat experience and needed to refill the coolant.

If you've got the orange stuff in your current system then any brand labeled "DexCool" is compatible. I got the Prestone 50/50 ready to use version from O'Reilly's for $17/gallon.

Looks like they have a sale right now...

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b/prestone-2761/cooling---heating-16773/thermostats-and-gaskets-16977/engine-coolant-antifreeze---vehicle-specific-13547/5c8bd1ce1fcc/prestone-1-gallon-orange-50-50-coolant-antifreeze/af850/2496966?q=dexcool&pos=9

PickleRick

I do have orange and it's oem mercruiser, I think. The PO had half a jug of it on board.  

I would prefer to use local

A: commercial discount at orileys
B: they deliver to me
C: half the cost of merc


Thanks guys!

TonyG13

If you feel like getting OEM, Hardin Marine has it for $20/gallon - but I don't know what shipping would be...

https://www.hardin-marine.com/p-109654-anti-freeze-92-877770k1.aspx

And they also label it as: "DEX-COOL compatible"

J3ff

TonyG13 said:

Take it from someone who just went through the overheat experience and needed to refill the coolant.

If you've got the orange stuff in your current system then any brand labeled "DexCool" is compatible. I got the Prestone 50/50 ready to use version from O'Reilly's for $17/gallon.

Looks like they have a sale right now...

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b/prestone-2761/cooling---heating-16773/thermostats-and-gaskets-16977/engine-coolant-antifreeze---vehicle-specific-13547/5c8bd1ce1fcc/prestone-1-gallon-orange-50-50-coolant-antifreeze/af850/2496966?q=dexcool&pos=9

You're awesome, thanks for that link, got another 10% off by using HEAT10. 71.95 for 5 gallons of this stuff shipped to my door... doesn't get much better than that!

J3ff

Spectacular... thanks UPS

reneechris14

Don't you pick on the brown guy probably packaged poorly 

J3ff

reneechris14 said:

Don't you pick on the brown guy probably packaged poorly 

Can I pick on them for sending it from northern florida, to a place real close to me on the keys, THEN sending it to key west, where those yahoo's broke it and now it's trashed? Nothing good comes out of key west!! lol, why send it on an extra 4 hour drive south and back??

reneechris14

Drivers have to make money too.
And yes can pick on them, its hard to find good help.

J3ff

TonyG13 said:

Take it from someone who just went through the overheat experience and needed to refill the coolant.

If you've got the orange stuff in your current system then any brand labeled "DexCool" is compatible. I got the Prestone 50/50 ready to use version from O'Reilly's for $17/gallon.

Looks like they have a sale right now...

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b/prestone-2761/cooling---heating-16773/thermostats-and-gaskets-16977/engine-coolant-antifreeze---vehicle-specific-13547/5c8bd1ce1fcc/prestone-1-gallon-orange-50-50-coolant-antifreeze/af850/2496966?q=dexcool&pos=9

Did you do anything to get it to take it all? I pulled the manifold feed to empty it on both sides, but it will only take two gallons of new... I suppose there could be two more gallons in there somewhere but I was expecting it to want more than 2 it took... 

TonyG13

@J3ff - Sorry for the late reply. Had to attend to some family business. I bought four gallons and same thing as you - it only took about 2-1/2 gallons for the first fill. I ran it for about 20 minutes (it did not overheat). After it cooled down it took about quart more. Since it was crappy weather I just let it sit. Next visit (third time) it took a few more ounces. I then - literally rocked the boat by standing on the swim platform - and "burped it and was able to put in a bit more. So to-date just shy of 3 gallons in - and I've run the engine for over an hour (at the dock) through various RPMs and all seems good. We've got rain and 10+ footers predicted for the next several days, but I'm going to run out and check it this week. I'll keep you posted.