Radiator coolant - Yellow or Orange ????
#1
Three Wheelin'
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Radiator coolant - Yellow or Orange ????
I am doing a coolant and thermostat change and I will like to know what coolant are you using ? I saw one orange (Dexcool) and one yellow (Prestone). Both aluminum friendly both long life ( 5 years - 250,000 Km).
#2
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Orange.
#3
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Either is fine. Dexcool's supposed advantages for aluminum blocks have not proven true. Porsche used the green stuff. If you are switching from yellow/green to orange or vice versa, do a very thorough flush, which you should do anyway.
Last edited by Bill Ball; 08-18-2007 at 07:06 PM.
#4
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be careful; there are no national or international colour standards for antifreeze.
Just depends on which colour dye the factory drops in. The colour can & does change.
For example, Was it GM that delivered new cars filled with orange antifreeze & a sticker that said "do not use orange antifreeze".
Marton
Just depends on which colour dye the factory drops in. The colour can & does change.
For example, Was it GM that delivered new cars filled with orange antifreeze & a sticker that said "do not use orange antifreeze".
Marton
#5
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I think Porsche's stuff is Orange now, for the 997's and boxsters and cayennes. But I could be wrong. I previously used MB coolant as I was told it was really good stuff and was great at removing scale in the 928. It was Orange in color but this time I just got genuine texaco havoline dex-cool approved coolant. I would stay away from the no name stuff personally, but if you change it every 1-2 years then anything should be good. Problems arise when you go 5-8 years witht he same coolant.
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Hi all,
I've been using Honda Long-Life coolant in all my cars for several years now. Honda has a proprietary formula that is specifically made for aluminum engines and components. It's comes pre-mixed, but is a bit pricey.
It does not contain silicates which is known to accelerate bearing/seal wear (or so I've been told).
Adam
I've been using Honda Long-Life coolant in all my cars for several years now. Honda has a proprietary formula that is specifically made for aluminum engines and components. It's comes pre-mixed, but is a bit pricey.
It does not contain silicates which is known to accelerate bearing/seal wear (or so I've been told).
Adam
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#8
Team Owner
If your changing the coolant do this as well make sure to remove both of the block drains and and flush the system out a few times also replace the heater control valve and the short hose that connects it to the rear of the right cylinder head, BTW I use Dexcool ........orange
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Seems everyone uses something different.
Anyone have any data to help with decision making? I'm also doing a fluid change soon and I know others probabl ponder this.
Anyone have any data to help with decision making? I'm also doing a fluid change soon and I know others probabl ponder this.
#11
Team Owner
the Dexcool is supposed to be good for 5 years due to the additive package
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I used Dex-Cool on my '89GT and noticed that it left orange scaley stuff everywhere. Since then I switched to the Preston long-life green stuff that says on the bottle that you can mix it with any color coolant. So, far I've had no issues and no deposits. But, I still change the coolant every two years.
IIRC if you _switch_ to Dex-Cool you have to make sure that all the old coolant is out - a good flush - as it does not like to mix with the older green coolant.
IIRC if you _switch_ to Dex-Cool you have to make sure that all the old coolant is out - a good flush - as it does not like to mix with the older green coolant.
#14
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On an older recommendation, I started using the G-05 Zerex product six years ago, which happens to be almost colorless. Not quite water-clear but very close. Prior to that, the car had Porsche anti-freeze when I bought it, then the orange Prestone extended-life coolant for the first change I did. For all but the first change, the block and radiator were thoroughly flushed with water at each change. The first change was "flushed" but I didn't pull the galley drains in the block as I should have. ;(
Like Dave C. and I'm sure many other owners, I change the coolant every couple years on a schedule.
I use a gallon of coolant, a bottle of Water Wetter, and the balance is distilled water. So far so good. The car lives in a very mild climate here in SoCal, so the main purpose of the coolant is really as a water pump lube and metal preservative. It would probably do as well with distilled water, two bottle of the Water Wetter for pump lubrication, and a small dose of amine to pickle the aluminum once. Fill completely, do a vacuum degas to get stray oxygen out, and drive it forever.
Like Dave C. and I'm sure many other owners, I change the coolant every couple years on a schedule.
I use a gallon of coolant, a bottle of Water Wetter, and the balance is distilled water. So far so good. The car lives in a very mild climate here in SoCal, so the main purpose of the coolant is really as a water pump lube and metal preservative. It would probably do as well with distilled water, two bottle of the Water Wetter for pump lubrication, and a small dose of amine to pickle the aluminum once. Fill completely, do a vacuum degas to get stray oxygen out, and drive it forever.