NHTSA Complaint #703497 — 1995 CHEVROLET S10

THE COOLANT USED IN THE COOLING SYSTEM IS DEX-COOL. THEN ENGINE OVERHEATED, SO I DECIDED TO ADD MORE DEX-COOL. WHEN I OPENED UP THE RADIATOR, I NOTICED THIS RUST-COLORED DIRT-LIKE SUBSTANCE PACKED INSIDE THE RADIATOR. WHEN THE DEALER THAT SERVICED MY TRUCK INSPECTED THE COOLING SYSTEM, EVERY COMPONENT HAD THIS SUBSTANCE PACKED IN IT (WATER PUMP, HEATING CORE, THERMOSTAT, ALL HOSES, RADIATOR, ENGINE BLOCK, ETC.). THEY COULD NOT CLEAN THIS SUBSTANCE OUT OF THE COMPONENTS AND HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE COOLING SYSTEM. FURTHERMORE, INSPECTION OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE COOLING SYSTEM SHOWS THAT THEY ARE IN PERFECT WORKING CONDITION OTHER THAN THE SUBSTANCE THAT CAN NOT BE REMOVED. THE SUBSTANCE IS NOT RUST OR CORROSION BECAUSE THE COMPONENTS ARE NOT RUSTED OR CORRODED. THIS SUBSTANCE, IN MY OPINION, IS SOLIDIFICATION OF THE DEX-COOL COOLANT. I CURRENTLY HAVE ALL THE COMPONENTS THAT WERE REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE SUBSTANCE THAT STILL REMAINS INSIDE THEM. ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL OF MY TRUCK, THE COOLING SYSTEM USING DEX-COOL REQUIRES NO SERVICE FOR 100,000 MILES. PREVIOUS TO THIS INCIDENT, THE RADIATOR WAS NEVER OPENED. I HAD ONLY ADDED DEX-COOL TO THE OVERFLOW CONTAINER TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER COOLANT LEVEL. THE DEALER WHERE I HAD MY TRUCK SERVICED (DUDLEY MARTIN CHEVROLET, MANASSAS, VA) HAD NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT HAS CAUSED THIS. I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY HAVE PROVIDED LITTLE HELP AND NO EXPLANATION. I PREVIOUSLY FILLED OUT A QUESTIONNAIRE, DESCRIBING THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I RECEIVED AN ODI# 700836. IT IS NOW 6 MONTHS LATER AND THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM IS STARTING TO OCCUR IN THE REPLACED COMPONENTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS REOCCURRING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. *AK