Orange Antifreeze Coolant(?)
#1
Orange Antifreeze Coolant(?)
I just purchased a 2003 Explorer XLT Sport with a 4.0 V6. It has about 29,000 miles on it. The antifreeze is orange in color. I am curious because the manual calls out yellow or green in th specs BUT does mention not to "add/mix" Ford Orange Extended life. There is even a label on the resevoir that shows a circle with a line through it with orange colored fluid.
-Did any Explorer's come from the factory with the Orange Anti-freeze?
-Is the label and note in the manual simply to stop you from adding/mixing orange with yellow or green?
-Or is this vehicle not supposed to have Orange and the previous owner flushed it and put in Orange?
-Could it be yellow or green gone bad (but only 29,000??)
-Any thoughts?
I just want to know if I should get it out or better yet bring it back to the dealer and have them do it. Only had it less than a week and noticed this.
-Did any Explorer's come from the factory with the Orange Anti-freeze?
-Is the label and note in the manual simply to stop you from adding/mixing orange with yellow or green?
-Or is this vehicle not supposed to have Orange and the previous owner flushed it and put in Orange?
-Could it be yellow or green gone bad (but only 29,000??)
-Any thoughts?
I just want to know if I should get it out or better yet bring it back to the dealer and have them do it. Only had it less than a week and noticed this.
#2
#3
Thanks MountaineerAWD. It makes me feel better someone else out there has it in their vehicle.
I am confused by what the manual is saying. I am sure all they mean is not to add or mix orange to yellow or green but it really isn't clear. Being the first vehicle I have seen this in it and so many different opinions on the web I figure it doen't hurt to ask feloow ford owners.
I am confused by what the manual is saying. I am sure all they mean is not to add or mix orange to yellow or green but it really isn't clear. Being the first vehicle I have seen this in it and so many different opinions on the web I figure it doen't hurt to ask feloow ford owners.
#4
I don't think it is as easy as color anymore as a few companies have come up with versions of coolant that they claim are universal and can be used in any "green" or "orange" system. However, if you got this from a dealer and are still within the window to ask questions from them I would go back and ask. If it specifically says "no orange coolant" in the manual and in the engine bay and that is what is there I would not risk leaving it in. Wrong coolant types can cause corrosion you do not want. If it is wrong it needs to be fully flushed (and I do mean fully) and replaced ASAP. I know that sounds like a dire warning, but you are talking about an expensive thing to be taking a chance on. It probably won't hurt it in the short term... but how long do you plan on having the vehicle.
Usually when the old green coolant went bad it turned more yellow/brown than orange. And with that low a mileage on it I would not expect that much contamination. If you can get it checked out for free (did you buy it used from the dealer?) I would. Otherwise, if it were mine, I would flush it and put the stuff called out in the manual into it.
Just my 0.02.
Usually when the old green coolant went bad it turned more yellow/brown than orange. And with that low a mileage on it I would not expect that much contamination. If you can get it checked out for free (did you buy it used from the dealer?) I would. Otherwise, if it were mine, I would flush it and put the stuff called out in the manual into it.
Just my 0.02.
#6
Thanks K2JJB. It doesn't specifically say "no Orange Coolant", it says "Do not add/mixorange coolant".... I am not sure if they meant don't add/mix with yellow or green which would make sense OR no Orange at all. The label on the coolant resevoir has no words, just a picture of orange fluid being added with a line through it. Ultimately it sounds liek I shoudl just flush it and put in the manual specified.
If I can't get the dealer to do it, how do people recommend I do it myself? I am fully capable, just want to do it right, especially if I will "be changing colors".....
If I can't get the dealer to do it, how do people recommend I do it myself? I am fully capable, just want to do it right, especially if I will "be changing colors".....
#7
If I flush out the "Orange" Coolant can I replace it with the proper "Green" as specified in the manual?
I would try and flush the Orange 100% by draining, adding water, using a coolant flush additive, draining, adding more water so on an so forth... do you think it would be safe to put the Green in then?
I would try and flush the Orange 100% by draining, adding water, using a coolant flush additive, draining, adding more water so on an so forth... do you think it would be safe to put the Green in then?
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#8
I can not honestly say how to do it the correct way... but the way you described sounds right to me and likely what I would do. Maybe someone else will chime in as well. I would also note that while it was still running the cleaning solution I would check the procedure on the label of the flush kit... somewhere in there, and I may recall this wrong as it has been a while since I did a full flush, I think that they want you start the engine to also get what is in the block at least diluted down/flushed out.
#9
it is called Gold antifreeze
its Gold Antifreeze. I have a 2004 ford explorer and they put that type of antifreeze in their vehicles . from what i have been told it is not a good idea to mix it with green antifreeze. hence the reason why it is colored gold. The dealer told me that the green antifreeze is corrosive on the internal components on the vehicle. The gold is supposed to be more efficient and better. Personally my opionon is people should just leave good things alone and quit changing things. All my life antifreeze has been green and all my life ford made the straight six 300 which was just about indestructable. But as always i guess all good things come to and end.
#10
What bothers me is if it is Gold why all the mixed signals in the manual and on the resevoir specific to "orange" coolant? It is just a bit frustrating, you know. I hate having to make an appointment and spend my time just to ask this question.. I am sure if I ask they'll tell me to make an appointment....
#11
#14
Why not have a look at a new vehicle and see what the coolant looks like. For your info, Ford's coolant is called "Premium Gold". I checked on the net and found that GM has a yellow/gold coloured factory installed coolant called "Dexcool". It's not at all the same as Ford's and that's a good thing because I've heard that Dexcool causes head and intake gaskets to fail on some GM engines.
Premium Gold is good stuff.
Premium Gold is good stuff.
#15
Orange, good or bad?
Here's my take on this.
I have a 1996 Explorer. Bought in June of 1998. I flushed the coolant system the next year. Installed the GM Dexcool with DI water. DI water is far better than tap water as it is not nearly as corrosive. Especially on engines that have aluminum heads. True, the 4.0 has iron heads, but I have 20+ years experience as an automotive machinist specializing in cylinder head repair and I have seen incredible destruction from tap water.
To date my Explorer has 200K on the odometer and has not had a single issue with coolant. My neighbor tells me bad stories about Dexcool and that many people have had cooling system failures due to its' use.
I haven't used the Ford anti-freeze, I use Texaco products because my Dad worked for them for 34 years. So kill me for brand loyalty.
But I do use Ford filters on the oil and tranny and Ford tranny oil.
I have a 1996 Explorer. Bought in June of 1998. I flushed the coolant system the next year. Installed the GM Dexcool with DI water. DI water is far better than tap water as it is not nearly as corrosive. Especially on engines that have aluminum heads. True, the 4.0 has iron heads, but I have 20+ years experience as an automotive machinist specializing in cylinder head repair and I have seen incredible destruction from tap water.
To date my Explorer has 200K on the odometer and has not had a single issue with coolant. My neighbor tells me bad stories about Dexcool and that many people have had cooling system failures due to its' use.
I haven't used the Ford anti-freeze, I use Texaco products because my Dad worked for them for 34 years. So kill me for brand loyalty.
But I do use Ford filters on the oil and tranny and Ford tranny oil.