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Antifreeze

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PAUL161

PAUL161

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The subject of antifreeze came up in a post elseware in the forum and I posted a message about it. Just so everyone knows, There is a new antifreeze being sold now. A lot of people dont even know it exists. It is usually colored red or orange depending on the manufacturer. The old antifreeze is green as we all know. The green WILL NOT mix with the new stuff, and I'm told that there could be a chemical reaction if the two mix and possibly damage some seals. I Don't know if that's true or not. The new stuff costs about three times as much and some places will try to push it, I guess, because of that. If you must have it for whatever reason, then your system MUST BE FLUSHED CLEAN! YOU MUST GET RID OF THE GREEN! I personally would not use it in any of my older cars. If it didn't come with it, I wouldnt use it.
 
Paul, if you are talking about "DexCool", or long life antifreeze, it's beeen around for a few years. It's generally orange in color, and has an extended life span compared to the green stuff. I think the recommended change interval is six years.
It is supposedly more aluminum friendly than green.
It will mix with the green, but the extended life properties will be lost. It also looks like grape KoolAid when you mix them.
I thoroughly flushed the system on my '72 Midget about five years ago, and swapped over to DexCool, and have experienced no problems at all.
I figured the car was orange, so why not color coordinate.
Jeff
 
The red coolant is what Toyota uses. They actually have 2 different kinds right now
Red= long life coolant. should be changed at 60k, needs to be mixed 50% with water
Pink= super long life coolant. should be first changed at 100k then every 30k after. Comes pre mixed. do not dilute, or mix with any other coolant or the long life properties will be lost.
Either of these can be mixed with green coolant,without bad results, but it kills any of the good properties of the coolant so it's only somthing to do in an emergency.
orange = dexcool, is used by GM.gets mixed 50% with water. I'm not to sure on the specifics of this kind.
 
The problem with the Dexcool was that it ate intake manifold gaskets on GM vehicles like crazy. I know, as my 2000 Buick Century fell victim to it. They have apparently fixed the problem in the last two years though, and I hope it is true as this stuff is in my 2004 Grand AM. Don't know what affect it would have on 30 year old cars though, but hope for the best.

Paul
 
I use it in the Caddy and Jag because it's better for the aluminum motors, but I've topped most of the other cars with it (no particular reason it's just all I had at the time) and haven't had any problems at all.

Zack
 
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