Which coolant is better???

[DMan446]

Im getting ready to do a radiator flush and was wondering which antifreeze is better: The traditional flourescent green or that new orange cool-aid stuff. Right now it has the cool-aid antifreeze in it. Is this the best for my X?

 

[dalefanatic38]

the orange stuff is the only one you can use.

 

[Vozar]

Dont use that orange crap and go back the the green. THe orange stuff wears at your gaskets. Ford and Gm used the orange crap for a couple years and are now going back to the green.

Mat

 

[DMan446]

It probably has the factory coolant in it now with about 96K miles on it. Its gotta be loosing its edge by now is why I want to change it. I have always been more found of the green but didnt know the pros/cons of the orange crap.

 

[Bill Kemp]

I would use whatever came in it orig. It'll say in your manual. If it came w/orange its usually good for 5 yrs. If it came w/green two yrs is the recomended change. Whichever one you use be sure to mix w/Distilled water. It helps cut down on mineral deposits in the system.
If you had green before and switched to orange you still have to change two yrs. because the green will contaminate the orange and it wont last as long.

 

[00XLS]

A lot of GM guys were going back to the green but once you do your stuck with it because of the silcates I think that are in it. I would personally flush out the orange crap really well and then put the green back in. I've talked to a bunch of people who have done this w/o problems.

 

[spta97]

I just changed mine on my 2000 (30K) and saw that they have brands out now that say "Can be used to replace any color". I would stay away from the premixed stuff because when you flush the engine (which you should do) water will still remain in there. Also, pick up an antifreeze tester ($5) so you can make sure you have the right mixture (people here say 50/50).

Also, you will probably need to top it off for a couple days while it works through the system. And use distilled water as the above post said. You can pick it up at a pharmacy or Wal-Mart for no more than $1 / gallon.

Oh, I've got a 5.0 liter and the bottom bolt for the thermostat was a pain in the butt. Search the site for more info.

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

My 2000 owners manual says to only use the conventional green type. It is very specific on this.

The orange/longlife type can cause rapid corrosion in some instances. Having an aluminum radiator or heater core might have something to do with it.....?

 

[subman]

I also belong to a Corvette forum and there has being a long and heated debate on this. This upshot is this. . . what ever is in the cooling system now, stay with it. The two coolants are not compatable with each other and mixing them turns the coolant to sludge. Even with a complete flush, there is no way to purge the block of any residule. My 99 Suburban runs the orange stuff, my 91 Vette and the 91 Explorer runs the green stuff.
Good luck

 

[Blee1099]

Pop the cap on the radioator of any GM product that has the orange coolant. You'll notice quite often there is a black residue inside the radiator from it.. I never trusted those new type of coolant.. I still stand behind the old good green stuff.

 

[stubborn1]

I've heard that the orange coolant turns acidic over time and starts to congeal in the radiator. To be safe, I change the orange coolant in my car at 2 year intervals - same interval as regular antifreeze in my explorer. I don't like the idea of leaving any fluid in a vehicle for 5 years.

 

[00XLS]

Pop the cap on the radioator of any GM product that has the orange coolant. You'll notice quite often there is a black residue inside the radiator from it.. I never trusted those new type of coolant.. I still stand behind the old good green stuff.

Read about that a lot over on the Blazer forum, also alot of people that have overheated engines do to freeze plugs going south due to the Dex-crap.

 

[DMan446]

Ok, now ive got a dilema going. Half say to keep the orange, the other half say to ditch it.

Who has done the changeover from orange to green in their ex? How did it work out?

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

I have a Cherokee that I changed to the orange coolant (back before I knew better). After having it in about a year, I drained it and flushed with a garden hose, and then replaced it with the green coolant. No problems since, and that's been a couple years ago. If you flush out all the orange, you should be OK.

 

[MONMIX]

Bottom line, there is NOTHING wrong with the green stuff.
It is what came in the truck, it is what Ford says to use, you should stick with it.

 

[DMan446]

I know I want to CHANGE TO the green stuff, it has the orange in it now.

 

[MONMIX]

01 shouldn't have orange. Some one put the wrong stuff in.
Time for a flush and fill.