Dexcool vs. Universal coolant

falconbrother wrote:
But, I was at the Wallyworld and noticed that they didn't seem to carry an orange coolant at all.

As an FYI, the color of the antifreeze isn't always an indicator of the type of antifreeeze. The color is just a dye since antifreeze is clear. The colors should designate the type but you'll be surprised that a manufacture can make a standard IAT (green) antifreeze and dye it orange which a person not reading the label would think is HOAT. So long as the container's label has the correct type, it's perfectly legal (and a bit more common than people think) to sell.

Ralph Cramden wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
Pretty sure OP just lobbed up a random thought. Like looking for a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.

Well I never!..........looking for a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist? At Rvnet? You're kidding? LOL.

I'd be careful mixing it, you could end up torching your face like Richard Pryor. He mixed skim and whole milk together and when he dipped his donut in it sploded.

:B

.

Walmart has Zerex Dexcool, Prestone Dexcool and Shell Zone Dexcool

Walmart probably only offers a universal antifreeze because it simplifies their inventory. Stop at NAPA and pick up a gallon of 50/50 Dexcool and carry that in your travels.

falconbrother wrote:
What's your thoughts on mixing universal coolant with Dexcool orange? The label on the universal says it can be mixed with any coolant of any make. I personally don't feel good about it. But, out on the road it could be a body's only choice..

Personally, I wouldn't do it. Prestone makes a version of Dexcool you can buy at Walmart. I'd use that. In fact I have a jug in the garage for the wife's Traverse.

No. Use distilled water until you get the right stuff.

OP here.. I don't need any dexcool now. But, I was at the Wallyworld and noticed that they didn't seem to carry an orange coolant at all. All that I saw was "Universal Coolant, can be mixed with all makes and models". Well, that just sounded like snake oil to me. I have used it with an old Honda that used the green coolant and ran it for years like that, mixed with the original green. But, this stuff is sort of a blue green color. It made me ponder what one might do if out on the road and needing to top up the coolant, fix a broken hose, etc.., and all that's available is the universal stuff.

Would you use it mixed with Dexcool? It says all makes and models but, in the modern era veracity doesn't seem to be important in marketing.

falconbrother wrote:
What's your thoughts on mixing universal coolant with Dexcool orange? The label on the universal says it can be mixed with any coolant of any make. I personally don't feel good about it. But, out on the road it could be a body's only choice..

I would not mix coolants. In a pinch add distilled water.

I recommend a good washout if changing coolant types.

One of the biggest problems with the quick lube shops is some of them top of the radiator fluid and get it wrong and mix fluid technologies and causes havoc down the road.

Many years ago I was working a lot hours and decided to try a quick lube shop to change the oil in my '98 F150 and luckily I just happened to walk towards my truck thinking they were done and low and behold the guy was just about to pour some red coolant into my coolant degass bottle which had green coolant. I quick shout prevented a big mess on my truck, but it happens to many vehicles all over and causes big problems.