Coolant type question

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Feb 5, 2020 | 07:45 PM

Paul_R7.3

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Mountain Pass

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From: Northern California

Coolant type question

I have no idea what kind of coolant is in my 99.5 engine. It looks pale red/orange in the degas tank. Is there a test to identify the type? I don't want to put the wrong stuff in or test with the wrong test strips

Feb 5, 2020 | 08:36 PM

z31freakify

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From: Las Cruces New Mexico

Judging by your color description it might be Dexcool normally for GM vehicles.

Feb 5, 2020 | 08:49 PM

cjfarm11

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From: Montana

Could be a mixture of who knows what! Might want to flush system and start over

Feb 5, 2020 | 09:14 PM

Paul_R7.3

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Mountain Pass

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From: Northern California

I guess my main concern is whether or not it's ELC type.

Feb 5, 2020 | 10:51 PM

hosegp

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From: Seattle

I've got the Fleet Charge antifreeze that is supposedly OK for the older model year engines (I've got an E99). It is pink colored. Depending on how discolored your degas bottle is, I could see how that might be described as pale red / orange. However, I would flush it so that you know what is in there vs guessing what is in there.

Feb 6, 2020 | 02:09 AM

aawlberninf350

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From: Elk Grove, CA

Agreed with above, drain, flush and fill with new. I'd stick with green on your MY. Means some maintenance but that's better than melted injector cup sealant.

Feb 6, 2020 | 06:38 AM

SkySkiJason

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From: N.GA Mountains

Quote:

Originally Posted by aawlberninf350

Agreed with above, drain, flush and fill with new. I'd stick with green on your MY. Means some maintenance but that's better than melted injector cup sealant.

ELC is fine for L99+ 7.3’s.

Green/conventional coolant is the worst thing to happen to these trucks. SCA monitoring is seldom done correctly and proper coolant change/flush is even more rare.

A proper flush (block drains removed and block RINSED until clean) and fill with ELC completely removes ‘cooling system maintenance’ from your life. The ELC’s have a 350-500k mile service life and no monitoring and no SCA fallout (looks like sand).