coolant mixing question
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 193
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From: Biloxi, MS
coolant mixing question
So here it is, at three am... Just got back home from work, and from taking all my drunk friends home... But thats another annoying rant...
Anyway, the belt tensioner was squealing... again... So I popped the hood and made that stop, then I noticed my windshield wiper fluid had frozen, something I didn't think was supposed to happen... After that I checked the coolant, and it was a little low (theres a small crack on the side of the radiator...), so I filled that and went down to the basement and mixed more, now I'm about out of green coolant, but have another three bottles of orange coolant, just wondered if it was ok to mix diffrent kinds together? ...whats the difference between the two anyway?
Thanks y'all...
Anyway, the belt tensioner was squealing... again... So I popped the hood and made that stop, then I noticed my windshield wiper fluid had frozen, something I didn't think was supposed to happen... After that I checked the coolant, and it was a little low (theres a small crack on the side of the radiator...), so I filled that and went down to the basement and mixed more, now I'm about out of green coolant, but have another three bottles of orange coolant, just wondered if it was ok to mix diffrent kinds together? ...whats the difference between the two anyway?
Thanks y'all...
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 580
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From: Chippewa Falls, WI
just check the back of the bottle. It will say "mixes with all other types of coolant of any color" if it doesn't say that I wouldn't chance it. My understanding is that the older orange coolant when mixed with green stuff makes some sort of mild acid that is hard on head gaskets and other soft parts of the system. Chances are if your orange stuff isn't very old it will mix with green just fine. just double check.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,757
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From: Florida
The orange I thought was Dexcool made especially for GM products...It's also called the 100,000 miles coolant...no such thing in my opinion........supposed to keep the algae and other crap down in the system....look for the label...Luck
JR
JR
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 580
Likes: 0
From: Chippewa Falls, WI
yeah, the orange stuff was origionally made for GM products, since the late 90's. Now lots of other cars and trucks are coming from the factory with some version of the stuff. That is why most aftermarket stuff will mix with good old etheline glycol ok.
I agree they may claim it will last for 100K but I don't think I would go that far either. Just like the new vehicles say you can go 7500-12000 miles on each oil change. Call me set in my ways, but I will continue to change mine every 3000. If i drove tons of highway miles maybe 3500-4000, I figure oil and filters are still cheap insurance.
P.S.
I like your plumbing flairside_thunder. very "homemade"
I agree they may claim it will last for 100K but I don't think I would go that far either. Just like the new vehicles say you can go 7500-12000 miles on each oil change. Call me set in my ways, but I will continue to change mine every 3000. If i drove tons of highway miles maybe 3500-4000, I figure oil and filters are still cheap insurance.
P.S.
I like your plumbing flairside_thunder. very "homemade"
Last edited by kell104; Dec 9, 2007 at 03:41 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,757
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From: Florida
Yea, I'm set on those ways as well.......3000 on the dot everytime......Honda I believe uses dexcool but has blue tranny fluid........(I used to change oil at a quicklube)Thankks Kell.......I'm a plumber...and it made a big difference in throttle response.Later On
JR
JR
