Okay a few questions, because im about to hit the 60K mark ive gota drain and flush my system. So in my crappy haynes manual it says to park in the street and drain the coolant. Now to me that seems just a little messed up to our lovely drainage system. Anyone take thir coolant to a recycling center? Also should i just put 50% coolant from pepboys or what ever and 50% water in it, or 100% distilled water with a jug of redline waterwetter?

Oh btw, im talking the radiator stuff here, is that antifreeze or coolant?

Coolant is distilled water. It has antifreeze in it.

I have a related question: is the newer, orange stuff (as opposed to the older, green stuff) bad for our cars?

Coolant is distilled water. It has antifreeze in it.


Que!

is the newer, orange stuff (as opposed to the older, green stuff) bad for our cars?

There is an EXCELLENT editorial on antifreeze in the latest Car&Driver (the one with the SVT Cobra on the cover). Unless your car came with Dex-cool (the orange-red stuff) you should not switch types. It is damn near impossible to get out all the old coolant from everywhere in the engine and the two antifreeze types should not mix.

Use distilled water instead of tap water when you change your coolant.

I'd better change the coolant back, then; I switched to the new stuff in March.

I read the CD article, which is why I posed the question. I came out of it unsure whether it was really a bad idea or not, after already having done it.

I came out of it unsure whether it was really a bad idea or not, after already having done it.


The way I read it, it is not a good idea. Not an immediate death sentance, but over time, apparently the two types of corrosion inhibitors in each do not play well together.

Depends on which "orange stuff" you use! If you get the Dex-Cool, then that's the wrong "orange stuff." If you buy what I buy, Prestone 5/150 Extended Life, you should be fine. On the back of the bottle it states, "Add to any antifreeze, including DEX-COOL coolant." If you have any questions you can call 1-800-862-7737 which is also listed on the back of the bottle. While I'm quoting everything, it also says, "GUARANTEED to protect all cooling system metals for 5 years or 150,000 miles or your money back." I think that means if it eats your radiator they'll give you a mear $10 back and may say sorry. :(

If you daily drive your car and have cold weather at all, I would not run strictly water and Water Wetter. Not good. Coolant and antifreeze are considered the same thing, just different names for it.

Originally posted by Synx
Okay a few questions, because im about to hit the 60K mark ive gota drain and flush my system. So in my crappy haynes manual it says to park in the street and drain the coolant. Now to me that seems just a little messed up to our lovely drainage system. Anyone take thir coolant to a recycling center? Also should i just put 50% coolant from pepboys or what ever and 50% water in it, or 100% distilled water with a jug of redline waterwetter?

Oh btw, im talking the radiator stuff here, is that antifreeze or coolant?

uh, please don't drain that junk into the sewer system. i am fortunate enough to have an auto shop where i can do my work, and they have a 55 gal. drum for coolant disposal. i used Prestone Extended Life coolant w/ drinking water (couldn't find distilled) and Redline Waterwetter. i simply poured a 3rd of the water out of each jug and refilled w/ antifreeze. i poured the whole bottle of Waterwetter in.

AFAIK coolant refers to water and antifreeze mixture. Antifreeze is the concentrated green or orange stuff that you buy to mix w/ the H2O.