coolant confusion

[rattus18]

Merry Ccristmas all, I was wondering if anyone can tell me EXACTLY what type of coolant I should use in my 2004 1.8L zetec focus. The fluid used to be red or orange but I had work done to it and it was replaced with std green stuff. Please help?

[pertuan]

I have an LS but yours should tell you in the manual along with all the specs for the other fluids in your LR.

[olfella]

Nothing wrong with going green - only make sure you replace it within the twelve month or two year life of it. Just ask the bloke who replaced it if it is the long life (two year) or not.

[rattus18]

Cheers, I wasn't game to drive it, but I think I will go back to original fluid

[FOCUSonTHIS]

I would recommend using the Red coolent. Also put in distilled water as well. When I had my Focus I replaced with it with the orginal Ford coolent....expensive but worth it in my books

[rattus18]

Originally Posted by FOCUSonTHIS

I would recommend using the Red coolent. Also put in distilled water as well. When I had my Focus I replaced with it with the orginal Ford coolent....expensive but worth it in my books

Yeah sounds good. Cheers.

[NO2]

The red and green are 2 different types. the green is B type I think and is for older cars. Newer ones use the red. Ask at your local car parts as you don't need to use the ford brand.

[FOCUSonTHIS]

The new Falcon still uses green. It is just a different type of coolent. I think the red caters for the european winters a lot more

[melbzetec]

Just don't mix the two colours. Choose either one of the other, but not both

[rattus18]

Sounds good to me. as long as I dont mix them I should be fine

[XR Martin]

Red is just organic coolant, (which probably makes it worse than the green.. ;) )

[mrbaxr6t]

the red is arguably better stuff lower ch temps and does a better job at keeping your engine cooler - but the cost jump of red over green is too high to justify the couple of degrees in temp it saves you - it is better stuff in terms of temperatures but if your cooling system is performing so badly that you NEED the red over the green you need to fix your cooling system

the above comments are based on red being this below:

if by red you refer to "water wetter" url : http://www.redlineoil.com/Products.aspx?pcid=10

that stuff is red and is superior - but I googled and found that "red" is kindof a "longer life green" so to speak

I use standard green concentrate (usually nulon) with distilled water, or if in a pinch tap water

[Mainlube]

The yank standard is what the world standard has copied.

The Australian Standard is a copy of the American, our spec is just a little tougher. (allowable loss of aluminium in the corrosion test is less for oz)

The spec you are after is AS2108.2004.

Colour doesn't matter.

Organic Acid coolants are the best (that's what we make) Organics have a much larger alkalinity reserve.

Don't mix different types of inhibitors.

Cheers

Steve

[Fredo]

Don't mix them . . cause red and green makes a nasty brown colour and anything brown only belongs in Camrys NOT Fords!!

Sorry . . . I could have said Red goes faster, but I resisted :