Bobbo
Memphis, TN
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Joined: 09/16/2007
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I have a Ford E450 that needs a little antifreeze in the reservoir. Ford says use the yellow stuff, not the orange stuff. The question is, can I safely use Prestone's green stuff that says safe for ALL systems using ALL kinds of antifreeze? Generally I trust Prestone, but I want to be sure.
Bobbo, Linda and the furry kid (German Shepherd)
'07 Winnebago Outlook 31C on a Ford E450 Super Duty Chassis
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Near N35 12 17 W89 50 57
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traxtermax
UPSTATE NEW YORK
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Joined: 05/26/2004
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Why don't you just use what they call for? If you need some now, maybe you'll need some later. Why give Ford an excuse to compromise your warranty?
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HPH
Texas
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Joined: 04/20/2008
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Late model Fords use Motorcraft Premium Gold extended life coolant. We used to use a universal coolant to do flushes and for top-offs at our shop. I don't recall it being green though. The ford spec is WSS-M97B51-A1 it should be listed on the back of the Prestone jug. I just looked at what we use,it's a different brand Peak Global-all makes all models, it's in a gold 1-gallon jug and the coolant is gold. Prestone is good stuff I'd just be sure the spec is correct. It should be in your OM under lubricants. The spec for the old stand by green for ford is ESE-M97B44-A.
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VernM
Marion County, AR
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Joined: 06/21/2006
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There are now, as HPH indicated, different blends of antifreeze for different makes (and plastic or non-plastic radiators). Follow the manufacturers recommendations now and save yourself some possible problems downstream.
VernM
GMC Conversion van/Wells Cargo MiniWagon trailer
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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Bobbo DO NOT mix the green with the new type. I HAVE to run the green stuff in the MH because it as the brass/copper radiator and after the orange extended life damaged my old radiator I looked until I found the green stuff for the new one. The 2000 Towncar and 1987 Nissan also spec the green stuff.
I would follow the manual. MIXING is bad I do know because they are two different animals.
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Kajtek1
CA
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Joined: 12/04/2002
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Is it a diesel engine? In my Powerstroke I put lifetime coolant from FleetPride that come with SCA balanced.
Even the manufacturer doesn't require that I added coolant filter with SCA balancer.
Pessimist sees dark tunnel, optimist sees a light at the end, realist sees lights of coming train.Engineer sees 3 idiots on the tracks.
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Bobbo
Memphis, TN
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OK, Ford here I come.
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rolnrolnroln
WA
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Joined: 02/15/2004
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You don't say whether it is diesel or not. I have been researching this issue for the last couple of weeks. I just came home today with a case of Delo ELC (extended life coolant) for my Ford diesel. It's red. I used to have green but got tired of the test strips and additives. So, I flushed everything out and switched to Ford Premium Gold a couple of weeks back. Now I have found out that the Gold (actually yellow) does not have sufficient SCA capabilties and has silicates. The silicates tend to eat waterpump seals and, of course, the SCAs are needed to prevent cavitation corrosion. I found one site that notes that many shops are adding SCAs to the Gold when installing it. The Delo ELC is good for 8 years and a million miles if you put in their additive at the 500,00 mile mark. No tests, no SCA additives. IOW, I will not have to do anything to the coolant for something like 8 years/500K. The "Fleetpride" sounds like similar stuff.
In any event, DO NOT mix antifreezes. If you want to change from one color to another, you must throroughly flush the engine and radiator until only clear water is coming out. I follow this with a couple of flushes with distilled water as my well water has a lot of minerals. I brought home 8 gallons to go with the changeover.
Sooooo... This weekend's project is to get all of the Gold out of the engine and fill it with distilled water and Delo, 50/50. I'm going to put new hoses on it, just cuz'. I like to change hoses in my garage rather than on the side of the freeway. :-)
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LarryJM
NoVa
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Joined: 11/09/2007
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Bobbo wrote:I have a Ford E450 that needs a little antifreeze in the reservoir. Ford says use the yellow stuff, not the orange stuff. The question is, can I safely use Prestone's green stuff that says safe for ALL systems using ALL kinds of antifreeze? Generally I trust Prestone, but I want to be sure.
Can't speak for the gas side, but for Ford Diesels stick with what they recommend and what you want is the Ford Premium Gold Coolant, or generic Zerex G-05 which is available at lot of PEP Boys. Even the later Ford gassers might use the Zerex G-05 based coolant, but I'm not sure. The Zerex G-05 is also what is used the the later MOPAR diesels and maybe gassers.
The color is not the best indicator of what type coolant it is no days and your definitely don't want the off the shelf ole "Prestone green" crap.
Larry
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974. TRAILER MODS
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LarryJM
NoVa
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Joined: 11/09/2007
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Double Post, Sorry
Larry
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