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OT-Dexcool help needed

  • Thread starter Thread starter rd
  • Start date Start date Jun 7, 2005

rd

Founding Member
Jan 12, 2000
3,316
63
109
Ocean Springs MS
Jun 7, 2005
#1
  • Jun 7, 2005
  • #1
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

Founding Member
Jan 12, 2002
3,924
0
56
Chilliwack, BC, Canada
Jun 7, 2005
#2
  • Jun 7, 2005
  • #2
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.
 
R

ratrapp

New Member
Apr 24, 2004
510
0
0
buena vista,va
Jun 7, 2005
#3
  • Jun 7, 2005
  • #3
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

I felt sorry for girls because
Founding Member
Jan 15, 2002
2,773
17
89
Dallas, GA
Jun 7, 2005
#4
  • Jun 7, 2005
  • #4
ratrapp said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

Founding Member
Jun 22, 2002
2,674
14
89
Dallas, TX
Jun 7, 2005
#5
  • Jun 7, 2005
  • #5
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

Member
Apr 25, 2005
81
1
8
monroe, LA
Jun 7, 2005
#6
  • Jun 7, 2005
  • #6
89sleeper said:
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.
Click to expand...
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

Gettin Wired
Founding Member
Jun 28, 2001
7,153
32
128
Saint Louis, MO
Jun 8, 2005
#7
  • Jun 8, 2005
  • #7
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

Member
Jan 8, 2004
315
0
17
Westchester County NY
Jun 8, 2005
#8
  • Jun 8, 2005
  • #8
tmoss said:
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.
Click to expand...


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.
 
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