Best Coolant for FE?
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: North Carolina
Best Coolant for FE?
Hey there Im about ready to flush my cooling system and was wondering what is the best brand of antfreeze? Im not all crazy about buying top dollar rip off stuff, but I dont want to put cheap Supertech in either. I know with disels you have to make sure you have the proper amount of a certain additive in the coolant, anything like that for gassers?
Thanks for the help
Johnathon
Thanks for the help
Johnathon
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: North Carolina
I wouldn't discount SuperTech just because it's cheap. No one makes a crappy engine coolant. SuperTech's engine coolant is made by Prestone. Look at the contents label and compare. I run the SuperTech in my 78 Bronco (187,000 miles), my wife's Expedition (90,000 miles) and my Acura Integra (88,000 miles) with no problem. Don't assume that cheaper price lesser quality.
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I've found several of the generics that wal-mart sells are as good as or better than the low-end name brands. I would certainly take a wal-mart oil filter over any fram oil filter for example. Their oil seems to be a good value also. That is what I buy unless I am using Mobil 1.
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From: Long Island USA
No matter what you use, just change it every 2 years. I don't live by that rule very well, but I do try 
Usually I wind up doing something that requires a full coolant drain every few years anyway.
Other than that, everything I've ever tried stayed green just as long, and never a corrosion problem. That's from no-name, Prestone, the one that starts with a "Z", etc. etc.
I've actually used propylene glycol (biodegradable, used in boats) quite a few times, especially in my '74 when first setting up the 390. It was easier on my conscience to dump it on the ground because it's bio-degradable even though you are NOT supposed to. (they use it to sweaten or preserve food, believe it or not - I've seen it in quite a few common-brand things).
Usually I wind up doing something that requires a full coolant drain every few years anyway.Other than that, everything I've ever tried stayed green just as long, and never a corrosion problem. That's from no-name, Prestone, the one that starts with a "Z", etc. etc.
I've actually used propylene glycol (biodegradable, used in boats) quite a few times, especially in my '74 when first setting up the 390. It was easier on my conscience to dump it on the ground because it's bio-degradable even though you are NOT supposed to. (they use it to sweaten or preserve food, believe it or not - I've seen it in quite a few common-brand things).
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If you have a lot of aluminum on your engine (heads, intake, block) the orange stuff or the newer yellow stuff that can mix with either would probably be a good idea. You should flush the system real well before going to the orange (extended life) coolant. If I had aluminum heads (I just have an aluminum intake currently) I would probably use that stuff.
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From: Long Island USA
Originally Posted by elemint
I only use propylene glycol these days. No more of that toxic crap. Also with PG you dont have to worry about having too little water. In fact i hear race cars often use 100% PG.
I wouldn't worry about aluminum heads and needed the long-life stuff. I've run regular ethylene glycol in aluminum head engines for a long time - Ford's modulars are aluminum heads and they didn't use long-life stuff either, so I can't imagine it's a real big deal.
I had the same antifreeze in my 390 for 7 years and it never did anything to my aluminum Edel intake...
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