Prestone's Dex-Cool (grey bottle) and Prestone's Extended Life (yellow bottle) are the same thing. Look on the back at the ingredients...
Prestone Extended Life 5-year - Dex-Cool????
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Off point a bit, but the few thousand of us that worry about G-05 vs DEXCOOL vs Toyota Red etc, etc, are outnumbered by the milliions that go to their local Sam's or Walmart, and buy Prestone whatever and fill their radiator. Every possible combination that manufactors do not recommend, gets tested in real like by thousands if not millions of consumers. When it is all said and done, usually nothing happens. But I still worry wonder and obsess, (just a little)
You're right... Prestone doesn't seem to make the 2-year green anymore and Wal-Mart only carries the Prestone green 5-year EL/AMAM Dex-Clone... so Joe Sixpack and Jane Winecooler are going to be using it in a variety of makes/models. I just did the switch in my 2003 E-250. The Supertech 5-year green looks clean/clear in my 81 Ford T-bird after 1 year. I'll keep an eye on it but it looks great so far.
Well, maybe more like American automakers selling variants of the same basic design through their different divisions while promoting the myth of product distinction. But, you got the basic idea down pat.
So what would be the diff between the two Pestone's other than color of the bottle and the price?
JHZR2
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seems kind of funny to ask after the fact, rather than deciding before doing the job so you could still go to the dealer and get the right stuff.
Gasket compatability may be an issue... to be safe there, the only option is to buy the real stuff from the dealer. Other than that, cheapo radiators and components (i.e. honda and to a smaller extent toyota) will fail prematurely no matter what... and top notch stuff, like the original BEHR radiators in my MB (23 years old and 228k of service) and my BMW (15 years old and 110k of service) will last and last indefinitely with the right fluids and citric acid flushes... but many have been VERY successful with just regular green flushes for long life in the good stuff... leading me to believe that so long as (a) you have quality components and (b) there are no known major gasket issues, that you should be able to use what you like, provided you flush VERY thuroughly prior to any change in chemistry.
JMH
G-05 contains reduced silicate levels in addition to a non 2EH OAT. Silicates are not bad unless jacked up to previous levels that tended to fall out of solution - even during storage prior to sale. The case for silicates in G-05 is that they offer immediate corrosion protection and quick "healing" from cavitation in water pump impellers and wet cylinder liners. OAT can take up to several thousand miles of use to build to full thickness on bare metal parts. Both G-05 and DEX-COOL technologies offer good protection over long intervals in well-sealed systems, but G-05 is much more forgiving of air in the system. The real problem with any extended life coolant is the casual attitude held by the general public that "5/150" equates to "fill it and forget it".
Orange vs. green...
I have the 2-year Prestone, 5-year Prestone EL, and Supertech 5-year green.
The 2-year prestone had EG and DEG. The 5-year anti-freezes had EG, DEG, 2-EH, and sodium something.
I'll never step foot into a Ford stealership unless I absolutely have to do so!
We always change the 2-year green anti-freeze religiously (every 1-2 years) and what do we get in return? Every Ford we have owned has had the heater core and the radiator replaced at least once.
Not to mention that they develop the green snot of death within a year. The factory fill G-05 in the factory ordered E-250 turned dark yellow/brown after 1 year and it developed a nasty yellow/green snot-like substance in the degas bottle and inside the hoses.
I just did the switch to Dex-Clone in the 03 E-250.
The 2-year prestone had EG and DEG. The 5-year anti-freezes had EG, DEG, 2-EH, and sodium something.
I'll never step foot into a Ford stealership unless I absolutely have to do so!
We always change the 2-year green anti-freeze religiously (every 1-2 years) and what do we get in return? Every Ford we have owned has had the heater core and the radiator replaced at least once.
I just did the switch to Dex-Clone in the 03 E-250.
The Orange and The Green
words and music traditional (not copyrighted)
Oh, it is the biggest mix-up that you have ever seen.
My father, he was Orange and me mother, she was green.
My father was an Ulster man, proud Protestant was he.
My mother was a Catholic girl, from county Cork was she.
They were married in two churches, lived happily enough,
Until the day that I was born and things got rather tough.
Baptized by Father Riley, I was rushed away by car,
To be made a little Orangeman, my father's shining star.
I was christened "David Anthony," but still, inspite of that,
To me father, I was William, while my mother called me Pat.
With Mother every Sunday, to Mass I'd proudly stroll.
Then after that, the Orange lodge would try to save my soul.
For both sides tried to claim me, but i was smart because
I'd play the flute or play the harp, depending where I was.
Now when I'd sing those rebel songs, much to me mother's joy,
Me father would jump up and say, "Look here would you me boy.
That's quite enough of that lot", he'd then toss me a coin
And he'd have me sing the Orange Flute or the Heros of The Boyne
One day me Ma's relations came round to visit me.
Just as my father's kinfolk were all sitting down to tea.
We tried to smooth things over, but they all began to fight.
And me, being strictly neutral, I bashed everyone in sight.
My parents never could agree about my type of school.
My learning was all done at home, that's why I'm such a fool.
They've both passed on, *** rest 'em, but left me caught between
That awful color problem of the Orange and the Green.
Hmm. Reminds me of when I went to a Rangers Vs. Celtic game for the first time. Which was the last time.
obbop - that was delightful. Thanks for sharing.
The Irish are a gentle folk - every man's their brother.
They only fight the British - and also with each other.
The Irish are a gentle folk - every man's their brother.
They only fight the British - and also with each other.
Your point is precisely what I believe, too.
[ August 13, 2006, 12:59 PM: Message edited by: Ray H ]
So the green is the same as the orange now?
Holy Krap.
Is that kinda like Excedrin selling Excedrin Extra Strength in a different bottle and calling it Migraine Relief?
Holy Krap.
Is that kinda like Excedrin selling Excedrin Extra Strength in a different bottle and calling it Migraine Relief?
About G-05, what, does it just have a little silicate, or none, like DexCool?
Seems to me, the less, the better.
Seems to me, the less, the better.
Yeah, it is. Look at Bayer Back and Body.. 325MG aspirin, and caffeine. About 6.00 at the local Wags. I bought some generic aspirin, and a 2x4 of Arizona Southern Sweet Tea. Now I'm happy and hydrated. I've learned a bunch from Ray H., on coolants. Reading the label is important when making your choice; coolant or otherwise..
I thought the Prestone Dexcool was orange and the All Makes/All Models stuff was like a light yellow??? They have a green colored one too?
The Prestone 5-year EL "All Makes All Models" is yellow/green in a yellow jug. When poured into a transluscent Ford degas bottle, it looks green, just like the 2-year Prestone green.
Wal-Mart's Supertech 5-year EL in a blue jug has the same ingredients as the Prestone AMAM and is a more opaque green (more dye?).
Wal-Mart's Supertech 5-year EL in a blue jug has the same ingredients as the Prestone AMAM and is a more opaque green (more dye?).
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