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Coolant Opinions

#1Aggie

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City, State
Houston, TX
Year, Model & Trim Level
1993 Explorer XLT
- I am in need of changing out my thermostat due to it being stuck open and am looking for opinions on which brand

Motorcraft or Stant?

Another question is has anybody switched over to the orange Dexcool coolant? Good or bad experiences?
 



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I always go with Motorcraft if you can get it:D
 






The Dexcool isn't orange. It is pink and should only be installed in GM vehicles. It isn't compatible with etlyne glycol (the green stuff) and can not be mixed. I'm not sure if there are other issues as well that would need to be addressed.

I believe you are referring to the orange "extended life" antifreeze. It is compatible with the standard green antifreeze however you don't get the extended life properties unless you go through the proper flushing procedures with the proper flush solution. If you go throug the proper procedure then the antifreeze is supposed to be good for 5 years, 100K miles. I did use Prestone's extended life antifreeze a couple of years ago when I did my flush. A couple months later I had to have my water pump replaced at Ford and I told them that I had the extended life antifreeze in my Explorer. If they didn't carry it, then I would bring in a couple new bottles. They assured me it wouldn't be any problem. When i got it back, my reservoire was still full of the orange coolant so I figured they used the right fluid. The radiator was too hot to open. About a week later I looked in my radiator and sure enough it was filled with the standard green antifreeze so I lost the extended life properties.

A couple months later I took it back to the same dealer since it was running hot. By then my green fluid mixed with my orange fluid and turned brown. The dealer called me back telling me I had to have a complete flush done since I mixed the two fluids together. After trying to explain to the Service Advisor that they were the ones that mixed them two months earlier and besides that the two fluids were compatible according to my Prestone bottle of which I would be more than happy to take it up to him and show him. He refused to touch my Explorer unless I authorized him to do the coolant flush. He said his Technician told him the two fluids were separating and that was causing my overheating problem. I told him to go ahead. I went home that night and mixed a 50/50 bottle of the orange and green coolants together. The next day I took my empty Prestone bottle and my mixed bottle of coolant up to the dealer. When I got up there he told me the problem turned out to be a stuck thermostat but insisted that I needed his $135 power flush. After arguing with the Service Manager and showing him my bottles he asked the Technician what fixed the problem. When the Technician told him that a new thermostat fixed it but he had a letter from Ford advising him that under no circumstances could the green antifreeze be mixed with GM's Dexcool. I was quick to point out that there wasn't any Dexcool in my Explorer so they agreed to remove the flush charge from my bill.

So the short answer is no I haven't used Dexcool, but I have used the orange antifreeze but only for two months so I can't say if it lived up to its promises.
 






Originally posted by Robert
The Dexcool isn't orange. It is pink and should only be installed in GM vehicles. It isn't compatible with etlyne glycol (the green stuff) and can not be mixed. I'm not sure if there are other issues as well that would need to be addressed.

I believe you are referring to the orange "extended life" antifreeze.


I meant the orange extended life. The bottle on it says that it is dexcool equivalent. Silver Prestone bottle?
 






Originally posted by #1Aggie



I meant the orange extended life. The bottle on it says that it is dexcool equivalent. Silver Prestone bottle?

Yup, that's the same stuff I used. It is supposed to be compatible with both green antifreeze and Dexcool. It's just that green antifreeze isn't compatible with Dexcool and Dexcool isn't compatible with anything other than GMs (supposedly).
 






I used the orange stuff once in my Honda. It really freaks you (and anyone looking) out when it mixes and turns brown. Looks like you got some major rust issues.

Robb
 






I used the orange stuff for a while, but when my heater control valve started leaking I drained it out and went back to the normal green stuff. I know its better for the environment to use the extended stuff, but its easier to monitor the condition of the cooling system by flushing the old stuff every two years and using the standard green stuff to fill. Just my opinion.

P.S. Robert's story is the main reason that I don't ever take my cars to anyone to have work done unless its something I just don't have the equipment to do myself. That and the thread about the woman who took her new Mustang Cobra to the dealer in TX.;)
 






How about thermostats?

Anybody have any preferences on thermostats

Motorcraft or aftermarket? Which ones and why?
 






Originally posted by dogfriend
I. . .P.S. Robert's story is the main reason that I don't ever take my cars to anyone to have work done unless its something I just don't have the equipment to do myself. That and the thread about the woman who took her new Mustang Cobra to the dealer in TX.;)

The reason I took my Explorer to the Ford dealer to replace my water pump and then my thermostat is because I am trying to get the rest of my use out of my extended warranty. Since my warranty company was paying for it, I let Ford do the work. Anything that I can do that isn't covered by my warranty or worth the hassles of taking it in for, I do myself.
 






The last time I took my Explorer to the dealer was right after I bought it (used) and just before the warranty ran out. I had them check the front pinion seal which was reported to be leaking during the inspection I had done just before buying it. During the dealer repair they found a leak in the transfer case which was discussed in this thread : Dead Link Removed

The repair method they used was pretty half-assed.

I know there are a lot of good techs out there who care about doing the job right, but my experiences would indicate that there are at least as many who don't know what they're doing or just don't care.
 






thermostat

Use the motorcraft thermostat. You are assured of getting the correct type and temp that way. Ford makes it very plain in my owner's manual to use ONLY green coolant.
 






Re: thermostat

Originally posted by mosinman
Use the motorcraft thermostat. You are assured of getting the correct type and temp that way. Ford makes it very plain in my owner's manual to use ONLY green coolant.

I wonder why?
 






Because, per Ford TSB 01-23-6 "However, different brands of engine coolant provide varying corrosion protection for the cooling system. Ford does not have performance data for the multitude of engine coolants available in the aftermarket and therefore cannot recommend the use of any coolant except those sold by Ford Customer Service Division. Consult the vehicle's Owner's Guide to determine the appropriate Ford Customer Service Division coolant for the vehicle."
 






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