OT-Dexcool help needed

[rd]

I know, this is waaayyy out there, but I need some input....

My 96 Explorer had orange coolant when we got it, so I have just topped it off with a Dexcool compatible coolant, because thats what I thought was supposed to be in it.

I have read recently that Dexcool eats gaskets, and the Explorer has a developed a small weep of coolant out of the right side head gasket. No apparent internal prob yet. I put in "Bars Leaks" and it helped.

Anyone else know about orange coolant? Is there a Ford recommended one?

Should I just drain it and put plain old Prestone back in?

Thanks. rd

 

[maverick0716]

You can't just drain it, you'll have to get the whole coolant system flushed. If you just drain the radiator then the block will still have dexcool in it.....and when regular coolant and dexcool mix they turn into gel.....not nice.

 

[ratrapp]

do not use bars leak or any other type of stop leak.it may stop up the leak but eventually it'll stop up everything else like your radiator and heater core.the same thing goes for a/c stop leak.

 

[90mustangGT]

do not use bars leak or any other type of stop leak.it may stop up the leak but eventually it'll stop up everything else like your radiator and heater core.the same thing goes for a/c stop leak.

I second that, strongly. Also second that about the mixing of different coolants. Dexcool is a GM thing, and an almost identical coolant the Toyota uses is about the same. A few chryslers are using dexcool, and ford has started this yellow coolant, not sure what it is though. Dexcool doesn't eat gaskets, it is actually better on alumimum, however it lasting 100K miles is bs, it usually turns to sediment before then and destroys everything.

Be sure the leak is comming from the head, and whatever it really is, fix it right and flush out all that Stopleak crap before it really sets in.

 

[04sleeper]

Do a Google search on Dexcool and read.

I wouldn't want it in anything.

Michael Yount changed out his Dexcool and said it took about 25 gallons of distilled water to fully flush it all out.

Good Luck.

 

[silverstripes]

Do a Google search on Dexcool and read.

I wouldn't want it in anything.

Michael Yount changed out his Dexcool and said it took about 25 gallons of distilled water to fully flush it all out.

Good Luck.

I would hate to be michael yount then because distilled water can get expensive.
I flush dexcool systems everyday and with the proper technique it can be done in a matter of minutes.

 

[tmoss]

Condensed water is free when collected from your air conditioning condenser pan. Just add a few drops of bleach in a 5 gallon container, shake well and let sit for a week or so.

 

[ALMOSTFINISHED]

Condensed water is free when collected from your air conditioning condenser pan. Just add a few drops of bleach in a 5 gallon container, shake well and let sit for a week or so.

I never heard of that, thanks for the tip.

Nick

P.S. Like stated above, I would never have dexcool in any of my vehicles, being in this field for 5 years now, and seeing first hand on how the dexcool turns to a build up of grime and sludge and powder. All it does is eat away at the cooling system when not propery serviced.