I have a 1997 Chevy C1500, 5.7L 350, 2 wd. It says to use Dex-cool, but I've heard a lot of problems about it. Can I use the regular green coolant or do I have to stick with orange dex cool?

Well, a 50-50 solution of any good green AF is okay, unless you have the dex-cool, orange colored, GM brand type of AF... If you have that, you want to use orange again. You cannot mix dex-cool with regular green AF (like Prestone or any brand AF that is green colored). A lot of people don't like using dex-cool so they change to regular AF. But to do so, you need to flush out every trace of the dex-cool. If they get mixed, problems like sludge in the coolant may result.

do a compression check on those 2 cylinders to rule out head gasket, check the new plugs you installed to see if they got fouled out, it is possible some anti-freeze may be leaking into those cylinders from the intake gasket.
1998 uses dex cool anti-freeze and it is known to eat away and corrode the gaskets.
the only good way to use dex cool is to mix precisely 50/50 and use distilled water.
switching to the green can cause water pump damage since they are designed for the lubricant in the dex cool.i mention the anti-freeze because a lot of people will change the gaskets and run the green only to have a failing water pump not long after, if you decide to switch make sure you replace the pump.

they say you cant mix different coolants but you can go to auto-zone etc, and buy a cheaper anti-freeze for general motors products. its a 50/50 mix for all gm cars and trucks.you can add this coolant to any brand of anti-freeze. its called universal type anti-freeze. to run a differant anti-freeze in it, you have to flush out complete engine and radiator because the dex-cool and the green stuff do not mix well and cause engine corrosion etc. dex-cool is reccomended for all chevy engines. good-day !

There should be a label on the coolant cap that tells you. If not there are two types that fit you make (chevy). Green (ethyl-glycol), or GM's
Dex-cool. In your case I believe the green dyed, ethyl-glycol is for you as GM's change over year is 1997.

i would stay with what you always use if it's not creating any problems!I have never heard anything good about dexcool! If it ain't broke don't fix it! I've been running green in my 99 jimmy and i'm at 250k.

Many newer cars from GM require Dex-Cool, but if you read the labels of regular antifreeze, from Prestone, for instance, the warranty is still 5 years and it can mix with any color antifreeze.

I use regular antifreeze vs. Dex-Cool in my 1997 Cadillac Deville and, (knock on wood) haven't had any problems.

I believe that Dex Cool is a little bit more expensive than regular antifreeze.

Use a 50/50 mixture of whatever type you plan to use, though.

thats a very good idea dex cool is garbage ! and no it wont hurt at all

nothing they are all the same ,just use pure eythelene glycol and no diluted solutions ,you cannot hurt the vehicle with neat antifreeze in it

It's OK to use Prestone 50/50 Prediluted Antifreeze/coolant. But, it needs to be DEX COOL. There is a reason for it. The seals and the water pump in the cooling system are made to run with the DEX COOL. Anything like a non-compatible coolant will cause problems down the road. I wouldn't risk it. They do make 50/50 DEX COOL.

I have heard the same. I have been told to go with the green. Have not heard of any issue in replacing with green vs. orange. Nothing has been posted anywhere that I have seen.