Buying 2003 7.3 and the dealer I took it to says it has some orange dex cool mixed in. They said it was not a big deal. How concerned should I be? A flush is 150 bucks...

 

Is it all Dex-cool? If not, what is it mixed with?

If it is all Dex-Cool I would not panic, what gave Dex-cool a bad rep was the fact GM used it in cooling system that was not 2-EHA compatible and it ate seals and soften plastics in the system. The good news for you, many ELC meeting cat EC-1 use 2-EHA so in a 2003 7.3, which can run EC-1 and B-1 coolants it is unlikely to eat up any seals.

However, Dex-cool was never made with the thinner cylinder walls of a 7.3 in mind and depending what it is mixed with Dexcool doesn't play well with other coolants and I would probably flush it. It is always a good idea to change as many fluids as possible in a new vehicle purchase.

 

Another thought, what color is the coolant in it? Is it yellow or goldish? As the G-05 coolant, found in many 02-03 7.3, ages and collects junk it will darken...which might lead some to think it is contaminated with some other coolant.

 

Thats what I was thinking. My 02 was just like that after being dealer serviced regularly by the Po.

I wouldn't trust any dealer to flush it either, plenty of info here to do it yourself and do it right.