Can You Mix Prestone and Dex-Cool Antifreeze? A Complete Guide

In some situations, combining antifreeze with other substances should be avoided. However, it is safe to blend Prestone antifreeze with Dex-Cool, as these two are compatible.

Even if the proportions of Dex-Cool and Prestone are not perfectly balanced, your vehicle will not suffer any adverse effects. Note, however, that mixing Dex-Cool with green antifreeze is not recommended.

Can Prestone Antifreeze Be Combined with Dex-Cool?

Yes, you can safely mix Prestone antifreeze with Dex-Cool. Prestone is a versatile antifreeze that is compatible with a variety of coolant types.

The compatibility of Prestone and Dex-Cool stems from both being ethylene glycol-based antifreezes.

Since they share similar chemical compositions, combining them will not cause any harmful reactions.

Keep in mind that Prestone and Dex-Cool have different freezing points. When mixed, the resulting solution’s freezing point will fall somewhere between the two.

Prestone’s formula is crafted to be compatible with virtually any type of vehicle coolant.

It is not restricted to specific brands or manufacturers, making it suitable for use with any vehicle coolant.

What Is Dex-Cool Antifreeze?

The more you learn about vehicles, the clearer it becomes that each car requires a specific antifreeze tailored to its engine. Not all antifreezes are identical, and Dex-Cool is a unique type of antifreeze.

Dex-Cool is sometimes sold pre-mixed with other coolants or can be purchased separately and combined with another coolant as per the instructions.

What sets Dex-Cool apart is its organic acid technology, which is designed to prolong engine life and enhance performance.

What Is Prestone Antifreeze?

Prestone is a blended solution of coolant and antifreeze, infused with additional chemicals to protect a vehicle’s cooling system from corrosion.

It serves as a universal coolant, suitable for use in any vehicle type.

Many leading car manufacturers have tested Prestone in their cooling systems and confirmed its effectiveness.

Chemicals to Avoid Mixing with Antifreeze

As a rule, never combine green and orange antifreeze solutions, as their distinct chemical compositions serve different purposes.

If a vehicle owner mixes green and orange antifreeze and uses it in their cooling system, the results could be problematic.

While it won’t destroy the engine, the chemicals may react adversely, forming a thick, sludge-like substance.

This thick solution cannot flow properly through the vehicle’s cooling system, hindering its ability to regulate temperature.

A overly thick antifreeze mixture can lead to engine overheating due to insufficient coolant circulation.

Vehicle owners should avoid mixing green antifreeze with any other type of coolant.

Beyond colored coolants, numerous other substances should never be mixed with antifreeze. Here are a few examples to avoid.

To summarize, avoid mixing antifreeze of different colors, such as green, with Prestone or Dex-Cool. When blending Prestone with Dex-Cool, ensure you measure the correct proportions of each.

Is There a Premixed Prestone Dex-Cool Product?

If you’re hesitant to mix antifreeze and coolant yourself, especially for a new vehicle, there’s good news. A premixed Prestone Dex-Cool antifreeze and coolant product is available on the market.

This product, sold by Prestone, is called Prestone Dex-Cool Antifreeze + Coolant.

According to the product’s sales page, it is compatible with the following vehicle types:

• All GM vehicles manufactured from 1995 onward.
• Most Chrysler vehicles from 2013 and later.
• Most Ford vehicles produced between 2011 and 2018.

Signs Your Vehicle Needs Antifreeze or Coolant

With the Prestone and Dex-Cool premix purchased, you’re prepared for when your vehicle needs a coolant top-up.

How can you tell when your vehicle requires antifreeze or coolant service? Here are some indicators to watch for:

• Your air conditioning takes an unusually long time to cool the vehicle’s interior. Regardless of how hot it is, the system should cool the car within minutes for passenger comfort.

If it takes 20 minutes or longer for the interior to cool, it may indicate an issue with the antifreeze.

• A maple syrup-like smell emanates from the engine after running for a few minutes. This odor suggests coolant is leaking onto hot engine components and evaporating.

This is a serious warning sign. If you detect a maple syrup smell, visit a mechanic as soon as possible.

• The engine temperature gauge on your dashboard climbs higher than normal. Coolant is essential for preventing engine overheating.

If coolant is leaking, there may not be enough fluid to dissipate the engine’s heat effectively.

Conclusion

Prestone and Dex-Cool can be safely combined. Prestone offers a premixed antifreeze and coolant product, and numerous online guides explain how to mix them yourself.

As a general guideline, avoid mixing antifreezes of different colors, as they are likely incompatible and may form a thick, ineffective solution.

A maple syrup odor from your vehicle indicates that ethylene glycol in the coolant is leaking onto hot engine parts and evaporating.