Info - Introduction of New Engine Coolant - DEX-COOL (GM Extended Life Coolant)

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform dealers of a change in engine coolant for the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo, Captiva, Epica, Optra and Vivant and the 2007 Pontiac Wave. The cooling system in these vehicles is filled with GM Extended Life Coolant. This GM Extended Life Coolant is also called DEX-COOL® coolant, GM6277M coolant, or silicate-free organic acid coolant.

This coolant is designed to last for five years or 240,000 km (150,000 mi) in the vehicle, whichever occurs first. When the cooling system either needs to be topped off or flushed, GM Extended Life Coolant must be used and must not be mixed with the conventional green silicate coolants.

Notice: Using coolant other than GM Extended Life Coolant can cause premature engine, heater core or radiator corrosion. If other coolants are used, the engine coolant must be changed sooner, at 15,000 km (10,000 mi) or 12 months, whichever occurs first. Always use GM Extended Life Coolant (silicate-free) in these vehicles.

The specifications of this new DEX-COOL® coolant is GM material specification GM6277M or Opel Material Specification B 040 1065.

The GM-approved suppliers of this coolant are: Prestone, Chevron, Texaco, Shell, Valvoline and BASF.

DEX-COOL® coolant is orange, which helps dealers to distinguish it from blue or green silicate-based coolants.

GM Extended Life Coolant (DEX-COOL®) has following physical and chemical properties:

Notice: Adding only plain water to your cooling system can result in damage to the vehicle. Plain water, or some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil earlier than the proper coolant mixture would. The vehicle's coolant warning system is set for the proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture, engine could get too hot but the overheat warning light would not turn ON. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and coolant.

Notice: When improper coolant mixtures are used, the engine could overheat and be badly damaged. Too much water in the mixture can freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.

Use a mixture of 50 percent clean, drinkable water and 50 percent GM Extended Life Coolant, which will not damage aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture, you do not need to add anything else.

For information on engine coolant recycling, refer to Corporate Bulletin Number 00-06-02-006D.

For information on the correct leak detection dye to use with DEX-COOL®, refer to Corporate Bulletin Number 05-06-02-006. The new leak detection dye does not alter the appearance (color) of DEX-COOL®.