Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Coolant (what type?)

I did a search but didn't find a definitive answer. I'm going to change & flush out the coolant and am not going to switch over to dexcool. Not yet at least. Anyway, can I use any brand of the green type or does anyone have a specific brand? Thanks.

you can use any name brand "green" coolant that they carry at your local auto parts store. They're all about the same. I'm going to be using Prestone on my car.

Flush the system with fresh water (twice)

Then fill it with mixed "dex-cool" (distilled water a plus) at about a 60/40 water/coolant mix...

Far superior than the old "green stuff"

If you want to stay with the factory green coolant, the Motorcraft stuff is supplied by Texaco. You can often find the Texaco coolant in parts stores. Last I kenw, Wal Mart even carried it.

Personally, I use Texaco's DexCool. Texaco supplies both Ford and GM with DexCool for factory fill.

What is the difference between "Dexcool" and the green type

Both are etheleyn glycol based. The difference is in the additive package. DexCool uses organic acid technology (OAT). Green coolant uses phosphates and / or silicates to provide anti corosion protection. Both are actually somewhat abrasive and will eventually destroy water pump bearings and seals. Silicates also will eventually fall out of suspension leaving the system unprotected. Phosphates will combine with hard water to leave deposites. Europe has more hard water than the US, so european automakers usually specify coolant that is phosphate free. Green coolant will aslo in time become acidic which is harmful to all of the cooling system including seals, gaskets, and metals. OAT has more resistance to becoming acidic, does not fall out of suspension, is not sensitive to hard water, and is not abrasive to seals and water pump bearings.

That is what I have learned from research. There is a lot of controversy about the compatibility of orange and green coolant. It is better that they are not mixed. Some claim that the two will react and cause damage, while Texaco claims that all that happens is that you will no longer have the long life property.

DexCool works for me. I have been in the habit of changing coolant once a year so green coolant might be OK, but I have used DexCool on the SVT since it was a year old (it is not 4 1/2). I use DexCool on the car it replaced since shortly after DexCool was introduced. Radiators do not gunk up, coolant doesn't turn acidic and rot out cooling system parts, water pumps last longer, hoses do not get crusty and last longer.

Texaco used to have an abundance of information on their web site, but the last time I looked most of the information was gone. Fortunately I did print it for future reference.

When I had the coolant flushed in my car I was told that it would benefit the system by putting in the additive that they had to lubricate the water pump!
Any thoughts on coolant additives?

Stephen

What is the the best way to change the green antifreeze to DexCool. Draining the radiator, but how do you remove the green antifreeze from the
complete system before adding the DexCool?

I read that you need to drain the green, flush with water till it is clear then add the DexCool!
Also if you can't flush it then just drain, fill with water, drain, fill with water again and drain. You should be ready to add the DrexCool now!

Stephen

It MUST be 'clean of the green' - otherwise Long Life is contaminated , and only has the service life og the green.