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Bruce Nelson 
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Joined: 17 Sep 2009
Location: Centuria, WI
Points: 137
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 Topic: Anti Freeze Confusion
Posted: 24 Feb 2010 at 12:23pm |
Right now I have four different kinds of anti freeze in my shop.
I have some that is green, like I am used to. This is called Full Strength Conventional Green Anti Freeze and Coolant. I got it at Tractor Supply.
The next kind I have is Havoline Extended Life Anti Freeze/Coolant. This is Dex-Cool approved, and is red or gold/red in color. I know that this is the stiff I put in my Chevy pickup and that I should not mix it with any of the old green stuff.
The next jug is Zerex G-05 Formula, Phosphate Free, Anti Freeze/Coolant. It is sort of gold in color.
The last jug I have is Farm Oyl Heavy Duty Anti Freeze/Coolant. The back of the jug says it is ethylene glycol based. This stuff is purple.
My question is: what can I mix with what? I have green coolant in my 180; can I top it off with the Zerex or the purple stuff?
Will any of the four types I have here be happy with another one?
Confused
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skipwelte
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Joined: 29 Oct 2009
Location: Anthon, Iowa
Points: 723
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Posted: 24 Feb 2010 at 12:36pm |
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Anything with ethylene glycol or ethylene glycol bases (the green stuff) will mix. Anything that says DexCool or Dex Cool compatable wont mix. Extended life anti freeze is a sales gimmik. Anti freeze itself never wears out, the addatives in it are depleted but the ability to lower the freeze point never differs and it can become contaminated with sludge if the addatives arent replenished.
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john(MI)
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: SE MI
Points: 9262
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Posted: 24 Feb 2010 at 12:41pm |
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I have been making a point of making sure the jug says, "Universal, can be mixed with any type" before I buy it. I have six new gallons I found in the garage. Whenever I open a gallon, I immediatly mix it 50/50 in and empty jug. When I went looking for an empty or jug of mixed, all I could find were new jugs. Sure was a pleasant surprise!
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D14, D17, 5020, 612H, CASE 446
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Brian Jasper co. Ia
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Prairie City Ia
Points: 10508
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Posted: 24 Feb 2010 at 1:16pm |
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Another thing to look at is if the stuff is approved for "Heavy Duty Diesel" engines. Diesels need anti cavitation additives to prevent sleeve erosion. I've seen sleeves with pinholes all the way through them. Could have been prevented if the cooling system had been maintained with the proper stuff.
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"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford
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Dave in PA
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Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Location: Mars/Wexford PA
Points: 2627
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Posted: 24 Feb 2010 at 1:31pm |
Brian, I was waiting for your reply! My son has one of them diesels, do you have a better brand than others? What do we need to look for to be sure?
I just hate when he lets that 7.3 warm up in the morning, the windows just rattle! LOL
Thanks, Dave in PA
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Brian Jasper co. Ia
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Prairie City Ia
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Posted: 24 Feb 2010 at 1:45pm |
Any of the big name brands will be just fine in a gasoline engine. The cavitation issue on a diesel is what the difference is in regular and diesel approved. All engines have steam bubbles form on the coolant side of the cylinder. The sharp increase in cylinder pressure when a diesel fires causes the sleeve to flex slightly and the steam bubble is forced off the liner. Because the sleeve is forced into the bubble, it takes a small bit of metal with it. The SCA additive in diesel coolant prevents these steam bubbles. Having the correct coolant in a 7.3/ 6.0/ 6.4 is all the more important since they use a bored block. Erode a hole through a cylinder and the block is junk. Ford sells the SCA additive for diesel coolant. I'd have to look to be sure, but I think it's every 30K you're supposed to add it to the cooling system on a Ford. You can use diesel approved coolant in a gas engine. We use bulk supplied coolant that is diesel approved here for everything.
Ford used dexcool for a few years, but now pretty much everything is gold. There is supposed to be a green colored coolant coming out that is extended life like the dexcool and gold.
Always read the label. If it says universal, you can use it with any color coolant.
Edited by Brian Jasper co. Ia - 24 Feb 2010 at 1:50pm
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"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford
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Brian Jasper co. Ia
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Prairie City Ia
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Posted: 24 Feb 2010 at 1:55pm |
 Bruce Nelson wrote:
Right now I have four different kinds of anti freeze in my shop.
I have some that is green, like I am used to. This is called Full Strength Conventional Green Anti Freeze and Coolant. I got it at Tractor Supply.
The next kind I have is Havoline Extended Life Anti Freeze/Coolant. This is Dex-Cool approved, and is red or gold/red in color. I know that this is the stiff I put in my Chevy pickup and that I should not mix it with any of the old green stuff.
The next jug is Zerex G-05 Formula, Phosphate Free, Anti Freeze/Coolant. It is sort of gold in color.
The last jug I have is Farm Oyl Heavy Duty Anti Freeze/Coolant. The back of the jug says it is ethylene glycol based. This stuff is purple.
My question is: what can I mix with what? I have green coolant in my 180; can I top it off with the Zerex or the purple stuff?
Will any of the four types I have here be happy with another one?
Confused
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Bruce, read the label. The Farm Oyl jug likely is heavy duty diesel approved. It will say something like contains SCA
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"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian." Henry Ford
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Dave in PA
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Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Location: Mars/Wexford PA
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Posted: 24 Feb 2010 at 2:06pm |
Brian, if you can, update me when you can!
Dave
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Gerald J.
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Hamilton Co, IA
Points: 5636
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Posted: 24 Feb 2010 at 2:35pm |
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And I found out last year that it IS important to change the stuff every few years else it may eat a hole in the truck heater core. That core is cheap, but getting to it is expensive.
Gerald J.
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