CarCareTruth Score
Decent, but it's tough on the environment.
Opens Amazon in a new tab. No account needed to look.
Saved to your guest loadout. Sign up to also save to your Cabinet (consumables) or Kit (tools you own).
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
Prices may varyHealth score is for adult use as intended, per the manufacturer's SDS. It does not model child ingestion, accidental spill cleanup, or off-label use. See the safety panel below for full hazard classification, and /disclaimer for the full editorial scope.
GHS hazard codes are quoted from the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet. PPE tiers below translate those codes and the listed ingredient chemistry; they are not CarCareTruth recommendations.
Show details for all categories ▾Hide details ▴
Only when: splash risk
Translated from the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet, Section 8
No H319 at mixture level in SDS §2. SDS §8 splash-risk guidance applies during concentrate handling or pour where contact with eyes is possible.
CarCareTruth publishes the cited sources verbatim and does not advise what action a user should take. Consult the full SDS before use.
Only when: splash risk · prolonged use
Translated from the manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet, Section 8
No H315 at mixture level. SDS §8 specifies gloves where skin contact is possible during drain or pour-fill with the ethylene glycol concentrate.
U.S. regulatory standard
29 CFR 1910.132(d); 1910.1200(f)
“The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment.”
OSHA standards apply to workplaces. Cited here as the U.S. reference threshold for the underlying hazard class.
CarCareTruth publishes the cited sources verbatim and does not advise what action a user should take. Consult the full SDS before use.
Only when: in enclosed space
Translated from the ingredient chemistry
EG/DEG vapor pressure is negligible at ambient temperature. No inhalation H-codes in SDS §2 (no H332, H335, H330, H331). Situational risk limited to draining hot coolant or work in enclosed engine compartments where steam is present.
U.S. regulatory standard
29 CFR 1910.134; 1910.138; 1910.1000
“the primary objective shall be to prevent atmospheric contamination…”
OSHA standards apply to workplaces. Cited here as the U.S. reference threshold for the underlying hazard class.
UN GHS hazard statement
H373“May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure”
UN GHS Rev. 9 (2021)
CarCareTruth publishes the cited sources verbatim and does not advise what action a user should take. Consult the full SDS before use.
No PPE specified in published sources for ventilation. Absence does not imply “not needed” — consult the full Safety Data Sheet.
PPE tiers translate the manufacturer’s SDS and U.S. regulatory standards. Not professional safety advice. How we report safety.
Scope of these PPE tiers. The tiers on this page translate the product's Safety Data Sheet where one is published, plus its ingredient chemistry, into a comparable rating. They describe a formulation, not a situation: a tier is not a safety determination for any specific user, task, quantity, or environment. The manufacturer's label and use instructions govern how the product is handled. Where the product is used at work, the employer's PPE program and hazard assessment under 29 CFR 1910.132 decide what protection is selected, not this page.
No warranties. CarCareTruth makes no warranties, express or implied, and expressly disclaims the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
This product ranks #9 of 21 in Coolant / Antifreeze.Three above it ↓
Last reviewed June 4, 2026
TL;DR GM's OEM DEX-COOL concentrate -- meets ASTM D3306 and D4985; OAT inhibitor package (silicate-free, phosphate-free) with a 5-year/150,000-mile drain interval on the label. Ethylene glycol base with a Prop 65 reproductive harm warning -- keep away from pets and children.
ACDelco DEX-COOL (12346290) is GM's OAT extended-life coolant concentrate. The organic acid inhibitor package is silicate-free and phosphate-free -- the spec for GM vehicles that left the factory with DEX-COOL. Protection range is -34F freeze to +265F boil at 50/50 per the back label. The 5-year/150,000-mile drain claim is consistent with OAT chemistry, though no independent used-coolant analysis exists to confirm it in field conditions. Ethylene glycol base -- an ingestion hazard; store away from pets and children.
Best for GM vehicle owners (Chevy, GMC, Buick, Cadillac) whose manual specifies DEX-COOL. Skip for European vehicles requiring Si-OAT (VW/BMW) or Asian vehicles with their own OAT specs. Buyers wanting lower household toxicity should consider a propylene glycol coolant.
SDS signal word is WARNING. Ethylene glycol base carries an ingestion hazard (H302, harmful if swallowed) and a suspected reproductive toxin classification (H361); Prop 65 reproductive harm warning is on the back label. SDS §8 covers gloves and eye protection for drain and pour contact; H373 (STOT RE Cat 2, kidneys) reflects a repeated-exposure organ classification. Collect spent coolant for recycling at an auto parts store -- do not drain to the ground or storm sewer.
Yes. ACDelco is GM's own OEM parts brand. Part number 12346290 is the genuine GM DEX-COOL concentrate -- the same fluid used in GM dealership coolant services. Manufactured by Prestone Products Corporation for General Motors.
Yes. The product label and the product listing confirm a bittering agent is included (typically denatonium benzoate at trace concentrations). This makes the coolant taste unpleasant to deter accidental ingestion -- but it does not eliminate the toxicity. Ethylene glycol is harmful if swallowed and carries a Prop 65 reproductive harm warning. Keep secured from pets and children.
DEX-COOL is GM's OAT coolant specification covering GM passenger cars and light trucks that specify DEX-COOL in the owner's manual. The label confirms ASTM D3306 (automotive) and D4985 (heavy-duty diesel). Do not use in vehicles requiring a different spec (e.g., European Si-OAT or Asian OAT formulations) without confirming compatibility.
The label states 5 years or 150,000 miles. No independent used-coolant analysis for this specific ACDelco-branded SKU exists to confirm that interval in field conditions. The OAT inhibitor chemistry (carboxylate-based, silicate-free) is consistent with extended-life claims.
The back label carries a Prop 65 reproductive harm warning. Ethylene glycol (CAS 107-21-1) is on the California Prop 65 list for reproductive toxicity. The SDS also carries an H361 classification (suspected of damaging the unborn child, Cat 2). The SDS §15 states no Prop 65 warning is required for consumer packages -- the back label is authoritative.
Marketing copy from ACDelco, via Amazon. Not editorial.
Weekly pick
One product, one safety verdict, every week. No spam.
Zerex
G-40 Concentrate Antifreeze/Coolant
BMW
HT-12 Antifreeze/Coolant Concentrate, Green Si-OAT
Evans Cooling Systems
Evans High Performance Waterless Engine Coolant
PEAK
OET Extended Life Orange 50/50 Prediluted Antifreeze/Coolant
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
Community
0 postsShare how you use this product
Drop a quick comment or post a full review with photos and a star rating.
Sign in to postNew here? Create a free account.