Lets talk Ford Yellow coolant

[buck91]

Need to do the coolant in my 2018 F150 soon and it looks like VC13 "Yellow" is the current specification. What aftermarket alternatives are equal and miscible? I've used PGL a lot in the past with multiple vehicles- would this still be a good option or have times moved on?


The Ford/Motorcraft chart states:

DY / O = Either yellow-colored engine coolant approved to Ford specification WSS-M97B57-A1 or WSS-M97B57-A2 (Motorcraft® Yellow Antifreeze/Coolant), orange-colored engine coolant approved to Ford specification WSS-M97B44-D or WSS-M97B44-D2 (Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant), or a combination of both engine coolants

 

[bullwinkle]

MC Yellow is Prestone AMAM (with Cor-Guard). Too many issues with MC Orange (Dexcool, mainly plugged flux-brazed heater cores) led to the change. I had a company Transit (2018) that had both Yellow and Orange in it simultaneously, didn’t hurt anything.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

My ‘19 F150 is up for coolant soon as well, maybe this week if the weather holds. I saw Ford moved our trucks from the MC orange to yellow on the chart, and after pricing the MC coolant that was only available as pre-mix at my dealer, I chose the Prestone concentrate (rated 10yr/300k, but I won’t leave it that long) and some steam-distilled water. I’ll mix myself after flushing the system.

 

[bullwinkle]

My ‘19 F150 is up for coolant soon as well, maybe this week if the weather holds. I saw Ford moved our trucks from the MC orange to yellow on the chart, and after pricing the MC coolant that was only available as pre-mix at my dealer, I chose the Prestone concentrate (rated 10yr/300k, but I won’t leave it that long) and some steam-distilled water. I’ll mix myself after flushing the system.

I’m a WM distilled water guy myself-when they have it… I’ve had to use Walgreens distilled in the past, or fill a few gallons from a customer’s RO system.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Prestone Max is a good modern choice to replace Ford Yellow.

 

[Passport1]

I'm getting ready to do this to my 2018 Ford Edge with the 3.5. I've heard that accessing and opening the petcock is difficult. Anybody know about that?

Going to use the orange Ford formula.

 

[FordSVTGuy]

I'm getting ready to do this to my 2018 Ford Edge with the 3.5. I've heard that accessing and opening the petcock is difficult. Anybody know about that?

Going to use the orange Ford formula.

My 2017 Explorer with the same engine was not difficult to access. The Edge may be configured differently though. I did a drain and refill a few months back and started mixing in the new Yellow coolant. For a smooth processor be sure to follow the refill procedure recommended by Ford. I believe it involves certain cabin heat settings when refilling…

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Ford Yellow is Prestone Cor-Guard (the 300k coolant), so save money and buy the Prestone from Walmart

 

[ripcord]

Do we have official or independent confirmation that vc13 is Prestone? Anybody have a source?

 

[bullwinkle]

Ford stated when the Transit heater core issue began to use Prestone AMAM Cor-Guard in place of the Orange, and then switched the recommendation to Specialty Yellow. Motorcraft isn’t likely to recommend using a generic replacement when they can overcharge for their own! Trust me, my company 2018 Transit 250 3.7 leaked coolant like a sieve from the day they bought it, it had Orange, then the dealer replaced the fluid to coolant transmission cooler & topped it off with Yellow-then it got used Dexcool from my Express every time I did a radiator spill & fill. It was Dexcool red by the time they got rid of it.

 

[buck91]

Ford Yellow is Prestone Cor-Guard (the 300k coolant), so save money and buy the Prestone from Walmart

How sure are you of that? Just picked up wht Prestone AMAM with core-guard and its a nice neon green.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

How sure are you of that? Just picked up wht Prestone AMAM with core-guard and its a nice neon green.

Ford said to use the Prestone in a TSB before they came out with the yellow, which has now replaced orange. It has been discussed in many threads on here.

Here is a picture of the Motorcraft Yellow

 

[buck91]

Ford said to use the Prestone in a TSB before they came out with the yellow, which has now replaced orange. It has been discussed in many threads on here.

Here is a picture of the Motorcraft Yellow

Whelp, thats the same neon green. Thats reassuring.