antifreeze for a 2002 ranger?
 

ive used prestone for decades, but now i hear somebody tell me the newer rangers cant use it? any thoughts here?

Check your owner's manual for the coolant's specs.

My 2010 FX4 requires a specific Ford coolant....Zerex G05 (pale yellow) meets this spec. I have heard that other big brands don't meet Ford's spec.

My 1996 Mazda B3000 didn't seem to have a coolant spec. Always used that green-yellow coolant....may be the truck is too old or back when there weren't many coolant types.

Dave

well the truck didnt come with a manual, and its passed any ford warrenty, so why not just use prestone like i have for too many years to count?

The yellow stuff is formulated differently. Here is an interesting link on the ZErex GO5 (same as the OE) .

http://www.whitfieldoil.com/www/docs...ntifreeze.html

Link to download a manual:

https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenan...ls/default.asp

I just did an engine, trans; radiator, engine mounts, etc; in my '02 Ranger, FoMoCo says Ford Gold (which I used), and as DavidY points out, Zerex GO5 is equivalent

It is true that anti-freeze isn't all the same anymore. If you're spec'd to use GO5, use only GO5. Don't mix and match. The newer stuff has better anti corrosion properties to help the aluminum parts, heads, block, radiator (where applicable) last longer.