Does Coolant Color Matter???
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,722
Likes: 708
From: Bergen County, NJ
Does Coolant Color Matter???
I want to flush and replace the coolant in my '88.
I know it came with green coolant, but I can't find any name brand coolant that's green. Auto Zone has their own brand that is green. Prestone has a yellow coolant that says its compatible with any other color.
Is there any problem filling with Prestone yellow, after a complete flush?
I know it came with green coolant, but I can't find any name brand coolant that's green. Auto Zone has their own brand that is green. Prestone has a yellow coolant that says its compatible with any other color.
Is there any problem filling with Prestone yellow, after a complete flush?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,620
Likes: 206
From: Orlando FL
I would think as long as it is not DEX-COOL it would be OK. I have noticed the green I have seen in the last few years is not as green as it use to be. I have not used the yellow myself but a good question. You can compare the main ingredient on the packaging to see if the same. Should be Ethylene Glycol based.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
I would think as long as it is not DEX-COOL it would be OK. I have noticed the green I have seen in the last few years is not as green as it use to be. I have not used the yellow myself but a good question. You can compare the main ingredient on the packaging to see if the same. Should be Ethylene Glycol based.
As long as it is not DEX-COOL you are good to go.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,689
Likes: 4
From: Yucaipa CA
I think most these days aren't as green as years ago because most are premixed now. I bought some for my vette a few weeks ago and it was green got it from autozone but not sure of the name. has a picture of a moutain on it though maybe its called peak or something like that.
but yeah stay away from dex-cool like the others say it came in my 97 camaro and the in side of the radiator looks nasty now and even flushing won't get rid of it.
but yeah stay away from dex-cool like the others say it came in my 97 camaro and the in side of the radiator looks nasty now and even flushing won't get rid of it.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
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From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
How come now DexCool is no good?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
Do we really want to start another dexcool debate? 
Vette's before 95-96 came with green coolant anyway. The car was not designed for dexcool.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/sear...rchid=10895181
Vette's before 95-96 came with green coolant anyway. The car was not designed for dexcool.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/sear...rchid=10895181
Last edited by rickneworleansla; May 26, 2009 at 10:31 AM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Metairie Louisiana
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: The Old Dominion
FYI, the "universal" coolants are almost all OAT technology coolants. If you have a ~94 or earlier car, it likely came with silicated coolant, not OAT (like DexCool) coolant. Personally I'd play it safe and use a silicated coolant. You can still get it from GM, although the price has gone up astronomically. Sadly, very few auto parts places still sell them.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
FYI, the "universal" coolants are almost all OAT technology coolants. If you have a ~94 or earlier car, it likely came with silicated coolant, not OAT (like DexCool) coolant. Personally I'd play it safe and use a silicated coolant. You can still get it from GM, although the price has gone up astronomically. Sadly, very few auto parts places still sell them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,413
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From: The Old Dominion
I wouldn't dare suggest one type of coolant or another would work well, not well, etc, in someone else's car.
I've no idea if an HOAT coolant would be okay or not. Nor do I know that an OAT would be bad.
What I know is that the car came from the factory with silicated ethylene glycol coolant, and that you can still buy that kind (though less conveniently than in the past). As far as I know, the only coolants GM has issued a TSB about being an acceptable alternative are Propylene Glycol (low-tox) silicated coolants (Sierra, and Prestone Low-Tox for example).
I've no idea if an HOAT coolant would be okay or not. Nor do I know that an OAT would be bad.
What I know is that the car came from the factory with silicated ethylene glycol coolant, and that you can still buy that kind (though less conveniently than in the past). As far as I know, the only coolants GM has issued a TSB about being an acceptable alternative are Propylene Glycol (low-tox) silicated coolants (Sierra, and Prestone Low-Tox for example).
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 694
Likes: 27
From: St James New York
First if you do not want to use Dex-Cool or a Dex-Cool clone (I would strongly not recommend using dex-cool period)
You cannot use any ethylene glycol coolants made by Prestone,Dex-Cool & Dex-Cool clones are all that they make! Read the label!
If you do a search for a thread tittled "coolant choices" you will find some very good information on what to use as an engine coolant for your C4.
You cannot use any ethylene glycol coolants made by Prestone,Dex-Cool & Dex-Cool clones are all that they make! Read the label!
If you do a search for a thread tittled "coolant choices" you will find some very good information on what to use as an engine coolant for your C4.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 694
Likes: 27
From: St James New York
FYI, the "universal" coolants are almost all OAT technology coolants. If you have a ~94 or earlier car, it likely came with silicated coolant, not OAT (like DexCool) coolant. Personally I'd play it safe and use a silicated coolant. You can still get it from GM, although the price has gone up astronomically. Sadly, very few auto parts places still sell them.
If you want to use a modern technology, long life coolant, I recommend a HOAT type ethylene glycol coolant. HOAT or GO5 type coolants have all of the advantages of modern long life hybrid coolants without any of the potential problems that could occur with OAT (Dex-Cool) type coolants. You can buy GO5 or HOAT at any Mopar dealer dyed bright orange. Or at any Ford dealer dyed bright red.
Last edited by mako41; May 27, 2009 at 12:18 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
I agree, Dex-Cool is an OAT type coolant and I wouldn't use it.
If you want to use a modern technology, long life coolant, I recommend a HOAT type ethylene glycol coolant. HOAT or GO5 type coolants have all of the advantages of modern long life hybrid coolants without any of the potential problems that could occur with OAT (Dex-Cool) type coolants. You can buy GO5 or HOAT at any Mopar dealer dyed bright orange. Or at any Ford dealer dyed bright red.
If you want to use a modern technology, long life coolant, I recommend a HOAT type ethylene glycol coolant. HOAT or GO5 type coolants have all of the advantages of modern long life hybrid coolants without any of the potential problems that could occur with OAT (Dex-Cool) type coolants. You can buy GO5 or HOAT at any Mopar dealer dyed bright orange. Or at any Ford dealer dyed bright red.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 694
Likes: 27
From: St James New York
Yea you can get GO5 or HOAT made by Zerex at many national auto retailers. It's light amber ~ yellow color is a little hard to see in the opaque plactic coolant overflow bottles found in our C4's, thats why I prefer GO5 from Mopar (orange) or Ford (red) dyed brighter and darker and a lot easier to see to check coolant levels.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
Yea you can get GO5 or HOAT made by Zerex at many national auto retailers. It's light amber ~ yellow color is a little hard to see in the opaque plactic coolant overflow bottles found in our C4's, thats why I prefer GO5 from Mopar (orange) or Ford (red) dyed brighter and darker and a lot easier to see to check coolant levels.
I could understand as I've never heard of red coolant before. I definitely wouldn't put orange in there as it would look too much like Dexcool.
With regards to the green stuff and the silicate in there. I've read the silicate can cause damage and sludge? Which is why I was thinking of going with the G-05/HOAT stuff.