don't mix anti-freeze.

 

You dont want to mix different types of anti-freeze. IE dont pour DexCool in there, or that G20 purple stuff that VW uses. A splash of all make wont hurt to top off, but I wouldnt fill the system with it without a good flush. Ive always topped off with all make and have never had an issue. I HAVE seen what happens when you mix coolant types. A friend of mine worked at a garage and he had an S10 that was over heating. The owner mixed the DexCool with another brand and it turned into a jello like mess.

 

the safest bet is to swing by your local Ford dealer and buy a gallon of what the Focus owners manual recommends.

 

I just got my ST and soon pan on putting this in the unit since I plan to have it for awhile >>>

AMSOIL Antifreeze and Engine Coolant

Put it in and never worry about changing again......had it in my last 2 cars that went for close to 250K and no issues.

 

Top up with some distilled water. The car cools more efficiently with a less than 50/50 mix, anyway.

 

Maybe in Texas, but adding more water will raise the freezing point which is bad here in the north. If you are protected to -10 on a 50/50 mix and you make it say 40/60, you could raise the freezing point to 0* which we see regularly here. Not good for the engine.
Yes that is a bit extreme but the point is, unless you have a hydrometer to measure the glycol:water and its effective freezing/boiling point, dont stray from the 50/50.

 

40% gives you -10 F, adequate for anywhere except Alaska.

 

No.
That would've frozen here in ND this year. My wonderful weather
Don't make blanket claims you can't back up.

50/50 on the other hand is good until -34*F.


Just put in whatever came in the car from the factory, with whatever mixture it was already at. Don't mix, don't dilute. It's not that hard.

 

Some info...

Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Concentrated VC-3-B (US p/n); CVC-3-B2 (Canada p/n) WSS-M97B44-D (specification)
Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Prediluted VC-3DIL-B (US p/n); CVC-3DIL-B (Canada p/n) WSS-M97B44-D2 (specification)
Motorcraft® Premium Cooling System Flush VC-1 (p/n) ESR-M14P7-A (specification)
Capacity in a bone-dry system: 6.81 qt

WARNING: Always allow the engine to cool before opening the cooling system. Do not unscrew the coolant pressure relief cap when the engine is operating or the cooling system is hot. The cooling system is under pressure; steam and hot liquid can come out forcefully when the cap is loosened slightly. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious personal injury.

NOTICE: The engine cooling system is filled with Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant. Always fill the cooling system with the manufacturer's specified coolant. Chemically flush the cooling system if a non-specified coolant has been used. Refer to Cooling System Flushing in this section. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the engine or cooling system.

NOTE: During normal vehicle operation, Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant may change color from orange to pink or light red. As long as the engine coolant is clear and uncontaminated, this color change does not indicate the engine coolant has degraded nor does it require the engine coolant to be drained, the system to be flushed, or the engine coolant to be replaced.

Recommended coolant concentration is 48/52 to 50/50 (freeze protection -31°C to -37°C [-30°F to -34°F]) engine coolant to distilled water. For concentrations measured 48/52 to 50/50 (freeze protection -31°C to -37°C [-30°F to -34°F]), use Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Prediluted to maintain a coolant concentration in this same range. Material : Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant Prediluted / VC-3DIL-B (WSS-M97B44-D2)

For extremely cold climates (less than -37°C [-34°F]):
It may be necessary to increase the coolant concentration above 50%.
NEVER increase the coolant concentration above 60%.
Maximum coolant concentration is 60/40 for cold weather areas.
A coolant concentration of 60% provides freeze point protection down to -50°C (-58°F).
Engine coolant concentration above 60% will decrease the overheat protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.

For extremely hot climates:
It is still necessary to maintain the coolant concentration above 40%.
NEVER decrease the coolant concentration below 40%.
Minimum coolant concentration is 40/60 for warm weather areas.
Engine coolant concentration below 40% will decrease the corrosion and freeze protection characteristics of the engine coolant and may damage the engine.
Vehicles driven year-round in non-extreme climates should use a 48/52 to 50/50 (freeze protection -31°C to -37°C [-30°F to -34°F]) mixture of engine coolant and distilled water for optimum cooling system and engine protection.
@hemiCouple@Stratified

 

Y'all forget that Texas is a big place. It is as cold in the pan handle as it is in Pennsylvania. Record low in Texas -23 F. Remember, wind chill does not affect cars.

 

Recorded low is not the norm. Please dont try to tell me that you regularly see sub freezing temps anywhere in Texas. No, wind chill does not affect cars, however when it is already -10* out..

 

You're kidding, right? It is 30 in Amarillo and 33 in Carlisle.

 

Mixing coolants will cause a scale and sediment build up and clod your heater core usually it so much the radiator

 

Depends on the formula for both fluids. It CAN cause scale and build up, but WILL is not a true statement

 

You mean it never get above -6 F where you live!

 

And auto correct destroyed my post. But show me where I said will. But mix it and drive the car a few years and see

 

After about 2 years it was a tad low, so I added about a cup of distilled water to top it off. Never really gets much below 32F here in winters. Summers can be 110+. Freezing protection is not really needed in these parts, and a small amount of water will not change the 50/50 mix much. A cup will take it to about 48/52 -- Not really concerned about it.

The right coolant mix for you is not the same for everyone. As stated earlier, ideal is somewhere between 40/60 and 60/40 depending on weather.

 

I run a 30/70 mix with no-rosion. It's good for +5 f. The lowest we see here is 35-40 f.

No-Rosion Cooling System Corrosion Inhibitor

 

BTW Prestone dex-cool meets Ford WSS-M97B44-D from the supplement

 

Evans Cooling » High Performance Coolant

I have read through this post and see that most of you only use the OEM fluid, witch makes perfect sense. however I'm having slight heat issues when doing a hard pull. I have read a lot about this coolant, but I'm no mechanic no a scientist for this matter and understand there are other things that I may be overlooking. What are your thoughts on this non aqueous coolant?

 

Go to the dealer and get some coolant. It was like 12 bucks for a bottle and it's the stuff the car came with. No need to go to an auto parts store and start using off-brand stuff.

 

manual says Six years or 100000 miles for coolant change, I think that's way too long? how many miles do you guys change that's recommended? (and time/years if miles never got that high)

manual says to check coolant concentration every oil change, does this work? Amazon.com: Prestone AF-1420 Antifreeze / Coolant Tester: Automotive Manual says don't use hydrometer but my neighbor uses that.