Random thoughts by Shorty

Shorty Cox · 12-21-2015, 07:16 AM

Noticed the coolant reservoir was showing low on my tow vehicle. Thought I would top it off. Discovered WE now have Pink, Red, or Green. Okay to mix or not? Do WE really need this. I remember when we just used CLEAR WATER to keep the engine cool.

Shorty

mike837go · 12-21-2015, 07:34 AM

Try and match whatever is in there.

Green is the fairly toxic stuff. Pink or yellow is the low-toxicity stuff by each manufacturer.

Forget straight tap water if you want more than 100,000 from your engine.

Shorty Cox · 12-21-2015, 08:24 AM

Dang!!!! You tell me there is also "Yellow"? Even more complicated. But you didn't get into mixing.

**FPM III** · 12-21-2015, 09:00 AM

I miss the old days when things were less complex and there was only one type of antifreeze needed. Now I need four. I have a 72 Gran Torino, 02 Escape, 09 GMC Duramax and, of course, the 00 Jayco Eagle. Each takes a different type of antifreeze. I'd suggest checking your owners manual if you're puzzled on which type of antifreeze is required. If I count the windshield washer antifreeze, I really have five types.

Touch N Go · 12-21-2015, 09:02 AM

Green mixes with many, read carefully.

oldmanAZ · 12-21-2015, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shorty Cox

Noticed the coolant reservoir was showing low on my tow vehicle. Thought I would top it off. Discovered WE now have Pink, Red, or Green. Okay to mix or not? Do WE really need this. I remember when we just used CLEAR WATER to keep the engine cool.

Shorty

DO NOT MIX!

Mixing the Red and Green can (will?) create a clogging goo.

You didn't mention your tow vehicle, its age, or if you bought it new or used.

DocBrown · 12-21-2015, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shorty Cox

Noticed the coolant reservoir was showing low on my tow vehicle. Thought I would top it off. Discovered WE now have Pink, Red, or Green. Okay to mix or not? Do WE really need this. I remember when we just used CLEAR WATER to keep the engine cool.

Shorty

Not in my neck of the woods, never could use just plain water unless you wanted a frozen engine in January. And yes, what we have is far better than the "good old days", maybe they weren't so good? I don't hesitate to buy high mileage vehicles, I don't have to tune them up every year, I don't have to change antifreeze every year, and my chances of dying in a crash are far less...

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldmanAZ

You didn't mention your tow vehicle, its age, or if you bought it new or used.

This is important to know. Some allow mixing, read your owner's manual and the bottle. Bad to mix with older vehicles that use the green stuff.

**norty1** · 12-21-2015, 10:23 AM

Hate to say it but there are several types of that also.

RoWest · 12-21-2015, 11:04 AM

I took my 6 month new gas Ford PU to Jiffy Lube for a oil change special they had running. I always do my own oil, but I couldn't buy the oil for the price. Tech shows me the pink coolant and tries to sell a coolant flush for the rust! Aluminum block.

mike837go · 12-21-2015, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoWest

I took my 6 month new gas Ford PU to Jiffy Lube for a oil change special they had running. I always do my own oil, but I couldn't buy the oil for the price. Tech shows me the pink coolant and tries to sell a coolant flush for the rust! Aluminum block.

The operative point is "sell".

They don't care about the longevity of your car. They are looking at their commissions!

I've been doing my own maintenance and repairs for years. The few warrantee or included services have left me with less-than-desirable results.

Still, when it comes to some of the more exotic fluids under the hood, make sure to match what the manufacturer specified at the time the engine was built.

DOT 3, 4 and 5 brake fluids are TOTALLY incompatible.

Never mix mineral and synthetic oil. Different viscosities in the crankcase? Dump and refill with 1 type/viscosity as soon as practical.

As far as I know there are only 2 basic types of automotive antifreezes: Ethylene glycol (classic, green, toxic) and Propylene glycol (newer, much less toxic). However the additive packages (corrosion inhibitors) are different among the manufacturers. So, in order to get maximum life from the coolant and the engine, only use more of whatever is already in there.

TWP723 · 12-21-2015, 12:03 PM

Ford has several...

normal green (up to mid 2003)
gold
orange
red

CANNOT mix.

Shorty Cox · 12-21-2015, 03:38 PM

To add to the complexity. Earlier today I was at the store. I read the ingredients printed on the label of both Preston Green stuff and Preston Dex Cool Pink stuff. Both read the same?????? Makes one go HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.

Shorty

klassic · 12-21-2015, 04:29 PM

I got a nasty lecture from the diesel mechanic at my dealer for putting the wrong coolant in. I told him I have never lifted the hood of my truck and they must have done it as they are the only dealer that works on my truck.
He wouldn't believe me, because they would NEVER do something like that.
They either did it, or the factory did it. Still a mystery.

Ela1948 · 12-21-2015, 06:33 PM

Got a friend who is a field rep for Prestone. He says that the big issue is because of the vast amount of aluminum being used in all components as well as engines. He says that it requires a totally different and more complex package of additives to counter the corrosive effects on aluminum. He claims that there is a one fluid that fits all out there but folks with older tractors and vehicles don't need the added expense of the newer silicates & inhibitors. He also said the newest formulations never need to be replaced, only added too. Unlike most conventional antifreeze that should be flushed and replaced every 5 years.

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