I have an '01 Ford Ranger that had green coolant as the factory fill. I had an extended warranty, so the truck was serviced at the dealer with green coolant. I read that I should use G-05, but couldn't find it so I used Prestone "All Makes" for my last flush. That was 15,000 miles ago, and I'm going to do a partial drain and fill. Is there any reason that I shouldn't continue to use this coolant? It seems that I have read , on this forum, that its not good to use in a Ford. Thanks for any help!
Ford coolant compatability question
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Originally Posted By: PW01
I have an '01 Ford Ranger that had green coolant as the factory fill. I had an extended warranty, so the truck was serviced at the dealer with green coolant. I read that I should use G-05, but couldn't find it so I used Prestone "All Makes" for my last flush.
I'd use the G-05 in that application, or the original green. You might be able to find G-05 at Walmart, perhaps only in 50/50. Chrysler and Ford dealers sell G-05, but of course, prices may vary.
I have an '01 Ford Ranger that had green coolant as the factory fill. I had an extended warranty, so the truck was serviced at the dealer with green coolant. I read that I should use G-05, but couldn't find it so I used Prestone "All Makes" for my last flush.
I'd use the G-05 in that application, or the original green. You might be able to find G-05 at Walmart, perhaps only in 50/50. Chrysler and Ford dealers sell G-05, but of course, prices may vary.
I can't say much about the Prestone all makes but you can get G-05 at Napa and it's made by Zerex.
Originally Posted By: Y_K
Zerex G-05 is not that much cheaper than Ford Premium Gold from the dealer. Pointless for the price sake. G-05 is simply more available in my area.
Ford Premium Gold is Zerex G-05. It's exactly the same product, just a different bottle; Zerex makes it for Ford. Here, Zerex G-05, when you can find it, is substantially cheaper than Ford Premium Gold.
Zerex G-05 is not that much cheaper than Ford Premium Gold from the dealer. Pointless for the price sake. G-05 is simply more available in my area.
Ford Premium Gold is Zerex G-05. It's exactly the same product, just a different bottle; Zerex makes it for Ford. Here, Zerex G-05, when you can find it, is substantially cheaper than Ford Premium Gold.
I found G05 at PepBoys
Hello PW01
I am the Senior Technical Trainer for Honeywell-Prestone and I hold training classes to Automotive and heavy-duty truck profession technicians on Antifreeze/coolant technologies. You will not have any issues by using Prestone Extended Life Antifreeze/coolant in your vehicle. It is designed to be used in any make or model vehicle and will give you proper protection when a complete flush and fill is completed.
Remember always do a complete flush and fill to get the benefits of adding a new coolant and to get the best protection for your cooling system.
If you just do a drain and refill there will be some leftover old antifreeze, water, and contamination in your engine block. I’ll explain, when draining a cooling system the engine will hold about 15 to 25 percent of the old coolant/water. The only way to completely drain the engine is to remove the freeze plugs from the engine and not too many people will do this. So with that said, by completing a proper flush and drain all you should have left in the engine block is water. Now when adding the new antifreeze and water to the cooling system it will not mix with the old fluid or contamination in the system (a clean well protected system).
Remember, this is another reason why you should always check the freeze/boiling point of the antifreeze/coolant after a complete flush and fill (Freeze point should be minus 34 degrees Fahrenheit at a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze/coolant and water). Run the vehicle a few minutes after the engine reaches operating temperature, and the thermostat opens (heater on full hot), to let the antifreeze/coolant and water mix properly. Let the engine cool and recheck freeze/boiling point of the antifreeze/coolant.
Remember, never remove the radiator cap on a hot cooling system; always let the cooling system cool before removing the radiator cap.
Always follow the Original Equipment Manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule to get the full life out of your vehicle.
I am the Senior Technical Trainer for Honeywell-Prestone and I hold training classes to Automotive and heavy-duty truck profession technicians on Antifreeze/coolant technologies. You will not have any issues by using Prestone Extended Life Antifreeze/coolant in your vehicle. It is designed to be used in any make or model vehicle and will give you proper protection when a complete flush and fill is completed.
Remember always do a complete flush and fill to get the benefits of adding a new coolant and to get the best protection for your cooling system.
If you just do a drain and refill there will be some leftover old antifreeze, water, and contamination in your engine block. I’ll explain, when draining a cooling system the engine will hold about 15 to 25 percent of the old coolant/water. The only way to completely drain the engine is to remove the freeze plugs from the engine and not too many people will do this. So with that said, by completing a proper flush and drain all you should have left in the engine block is water. Now when adding the new antifreeze and water to the cooling system it will not mix with the old fluid or contamination in the system (a clean well protected system).
Remember, this is another reason why you should always check the freeze/boiling point of the antifreeze/coolant after a complete flush and fill (Freeze point should be minus 34 degrees Fahrenheit at a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze/coolant and water). Run the vehicle a few minutes after the engine reaches operating temperature, and the thermostat opens (heater on full hot), to let the antifreeze/coolant and water mix properly. Let the engine cool and recheck freeze/boiling point of the antifreeze/coolant.
Remember, never remove the radiator cap on a hot cooling system; always let the cooling system cool before removing the radiator cap.
Always follow the Original Equipment Manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule to get the full life out of your vehicle.
JP42: Your saying it's ok to use green in the place of the G05{Yellow}? I'm fixing to flush my wifes 04 Navigator, which has yellow antifreeze... I can't find any G05 around. I do have 4 gallons of Napa ELC{Green} in my garage. I can pour it in with no future ill effects within the cooling system?
Thanks for the many responses. I found Zerex G-05 at Napa for around $12. Since I was planning on a partial drain and fill anyway, I went ahead and made the switch. I used a Prestone flush "tee", a bottle of Prestone Radiator Flush, and distilled water (2 full rinse cycles). While I was at it, I changed the radiator cap (Stant), and the drain cock (not in the original plan!). So, I should good for a while.
SyN
One thing to remember is that color means nothing. You can have the same color of antifreeze, say like green, and it can be an IAT (conventional) or HOAT (Hybrid) or an OAT (organic acid). Depends on manufacturer or distributor preference as far as color goes. Formulation is what you need to know.
Conventional (IAT) green antifreeze is a great protector for a cooling system but, as technology changed antifreeze had to change; i.e. longevity, metals, water pump seals, etc… Conventional (IAT) antifreeze use inhibitors that are abrasive to today’s water pump seals so I do not recommend conventional antifreeze for today’s vehicles. You could shorten the life of the water pump seal and might evidentially cause a water pump to leak. There are other factors with conventional antifreeze as well.
On today’s vehicles (specifically yours) I suggest using the Ford Premium Gold LL antifreeze (Hybrid) or the Prestone Extended Life antifreeze, yellow jug (OAT). Sorry, I can not suggest any other manufacturer’s antifreeze coolant. I can suggest Prestone because we test and support the product fully. If you would like to see the specifications Prestone meets you can go to the Prestone.com website and read through the FAQ section and there is a listing. I am not trying to make this a Prestone commercial but I know that someone will either ask me about specs or question the Prestone referral.
One thing to remember is that color means nothing. You can have the same color of antifreeze, say like green, and it can be an IAT (conventional) or HOAT (Hybrid) or an OAT (organic acid). Depends on manufacturer or distributor preference as far as color goes. Formulation is what you need to know.
Conventional (IAT) green antifreeze is a great protector for a cooling system but, as technology changed antifreeze had to change; i.e. longevity, metals, water pump seals, etc… Conventional (IAT) antifreeze use inhibitors that are abrasive to today’s water pump seals so I do not recommend conventional antifreeze for today’s vehicles. You could shorten the life of the water pump seal and might evidentially cause a water pump to leak. There are other factors with conventional antifreeze as well.
On today’s vehicles (specifically yours) I suggest using the Ford Premium Gold LL antifreeze (Hybrid) or the Prestone Extended Life antifreeze, yellow jug (OAT). Sorry, I can not suggest any other manufacturer’s antifreeze coolant. I can suggest Prestone because we test and support the product fully. If you would like to see the specifications Prestone meets you can go to the Prestone.com website and read through the FAQ section and there is a listing. I am not trying to make this a Prestone commercial but I know that someone will either ask me about specs or question the Prestone referral.
Thanks jp42 for your advice. I will look for these coolants.
Originally Posted By: dsmith41
...you can get G-05 at Napa and it's made by Zerex.
Depends on whether the individual NAPA franchisee chooses to stock it.
...you can get G-05 at Napa and it's made by Zerex.
Depends on whether the individual NAPA franchisee chooses to stock it.
Originally Posted By: Y_K
Zerex does not make anything, Ashland does. But this is not important anyway. It used to be Daimler first, btw.
Prestone is a good product.
Okay, Zerex bottles it for Ford, then.
In any case, I can't complain about the Prestone All Makes; it's done its job.
Though, now i do know why Audi likes blue and other strange colors for coolant. It's pretty hard to tell the level in the pressurized reservoir, and mine is new.
Zerex does not make anything, Ashland does. But this is not important anyway. It used to be Daimler first, btw.
Prestone is a good product.
Okay, Zerex bottles it for Ford, then.
Though, now i do know why Audi likes blue and other strange colors for coolant. It's pretty hard to tell the level in the pressurized reservoir, and mine is new.
For those who can't find Zerex G-05 at NAPA or elsewhere, Motorcraft Gold, Mopar coolant, or John Deere Coolgard (not coolgard II) are all the same stuff.
if your car came with motorcraft premium (green) then stay with that...
Originally Posted By: rslifkin
For those who can't find Zerex G-05 at NAPA or elsewhere, Motorcraft Gold, Mopar coolant, or John Deere Coolgard (not coolgard II) are all the same stuff.
Thank you for the tip about JD. That should be available here at a reasonable price. Our NAPAs don't carry Zerex, and our dealers are nuts on their G-05 pricing. Walmart got rid of the G-05 concentrate, to make matters worse.
For those who can't find Zerex G-05 at NAPA or elsewhere, Motorcraft Gold, Mopar coolant, or John Deere Coolgard (not coolgard II) are all the same stuff.
Thank you for the tip about JD. That should be available here at a reasonable price. Our NAPAs don't carry Zerex, and our dealers are nuts on their G-05 pricing. Walmart got rid of the G-05 concentrate, to make matters worse.
i use the jd coolgard in everything i own, even though its base may be the same as the motorsraft gold the additive package is much more robust for the heavy duty diesel application.
according to deere specs coolgard II is fully compatitable with coolgard, it just reduces the life to 5yrs/5000hrs instead of 6yrs/6000hrs.
according to deere specs coolgard II is fully compatitable with coolgard, it just reduces the life to 5yrs/5000hrs instead of 6yrs/6000hrs.
Yes, Coolgard and Coolgard II are compatible, but AFAIK, Coolgard is plain old G-05 with green dye, Coolgard II is somewhat different. G-05 is already rated for heavy duty diesel use.
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