So I have a 2002 F-150 5.4 and planing on changing out my antifreeze this weekend and I am not sure which color to use...I did a search but only found a thread for deisels...thanks for the help in advance.

 

Do you know what came in it originally? I have an '02 E150 van with a 4.6, and it was originally filled with the Motorcraft gold antifreeze, which can also be had as G-05 from Zerex (and there is a Chrysler G-05 formula as well). This is the extended fill stuff which can go 100k miles. If you want to switch to the green stuff, you can do so if you want to adopt more frequent change intervals.

Some 2002's may have come with the regular green antifreeze, in which case you should probably stick with the green but plan for more frequent change intervals. If you have the green, you can switch to the gold if you thoroughly flush out all the old stuff.

Do NOT use the orange dexcool stuff. It's not compatible with the other formulas and has a host of problems associated with it.

Good luck,
George

 

George,

I had that orange stuff in one of my vehicles,what a disaster.

 

50/50 Prestone. It's green and it works. Don't buy the stuff that's already mixed because then you're paying for a gallon of water.

 

Do pay for the premixed. It is pure water without minerals or any contaminanats. Never mix tap water with antifreeze. Unless you have an RO or a still, you will save money by buying premixed.

 

Yup, I bought a new 1996 GMC Savana van (350 engine) with Dexcool. The antifreeze was supposed to last 100k miles, but the problem was that it dissolved the intake manifold gaskets at 65k miles. Fortunately it was an external leak so I didn't hydraulic the engine. GM paid half the repair cost (out of warranty) after I wrote a LOT of letters.

I got rid of that van shortly thereafter for a number of reasons including the antifreeze thing--because it was also known for dissolving water pump gaskets and other engine gaskets. Couldn't trust it. I have also read that if you mix the orange Dexcool with other formulas, it coagulates...and in some engines it coagulates anyway. Stay away from the orange stuff...

And yeah, forget the premix stuff. If you have the gold antifreeze, stay with Motorcraft gold or Zerex G-05 (which is the same thing); that is as good as antifreeze gets. I also use the G-05 in my '91 BMW because it is very close to the official BMW G-48 formula.

Antifreeze used to be simple, but it's now hard to tell the players apart without a LOT of research.

George

 

Distilled water is 99 cents a gallon at the drugstore or supermarket. It is way cheaper to buy a gallon of 100% antifreeze and a gallon of distilled water than it is to buy two gallons of premix. Plus, I don't think Motorcraft gold or G-05 (which is the same thing) is available as a premix, and if you have gold in the truck already, stick with it--it's the best stuff available.

George

 

I had a 96 Jimmy with that orange stuff in it,nuff said...lol

 

Our house did have the RO system so I'm safe there.

It is true about the distilled water though.