2004 E350 gold coolant

[Twister]

So we have an 04 E-350, 5.4 auto. I was thinking it might be time to change the coolant in it, it has the gold coolant.

Do i have to put the gold coolant back in or can i use regular green coolant?

 

[exbass94]

Stick with the gold. Why would you even want to use green? The gold is almost the same price and easy to find and is a way better coolant. You can use Zerex G-05, available at Napa, or go to a Ford dealer and pick up Motorcraft Premium Gold. Don't use anything else.

 

[srteach]

Coolants are not interchangeable, unless you flush real well and replace some hoses. Stick with the gold color.

 

[Twister]

Stick with the gold. Why would you even want to use green? The gold is almost the same price and easy to find and is a way better coolant. You can use Zerex G-05, available at Napa, or go to a Ford dealer and pick up Motorcraft Premium Gold. Don't use anything else.

Until i mentioned changing the coolant in my moms van, i didn't know there were so many different types of coolant. I knew there was dex-cool and the green stuff. So what makes gold coolant better than green?

 

[Mark_88]

Gold rhymes with cold...so it must be better!

I use the green stuff...but that's not saying it's better...it's cheaper and I can spot it immediately when it leaks...

I'd stick with what's in it unless you really want to flush the system...which isn't a bad idea either way...amazing what comes out of the engine when you flush it

 

[shane96ranger]

I know my Escape says very specifically in the owners manual not to mix the gold with anything because it will change it's anti-corrosion properties. I read on www.bobistheoilguy.com that Zerex G-05 is the exact same stuff (they make it for Ford).

 

[Twister]

I am going to try and tackle changing the coolant and the accessory belt tomorrow. Would it be a waste of time to just try and get the max amount of coolant out and then replacing it with a 50/50 mix of gold coolant and distilled water?

 

[shane96ranger]

If it's not premixed, you should be fine. This is what Ford's description of the Gold says:

Motorcraft® Premium Gold Engine Coolant with Bittering Agent

Recommended by Ford Motor Company; meets warranty requirements
Yellow-colored, longer-life, ethylene glycol-based antifreeze/coolant for use in gasoline and diesel engines
Provides year-round antifreeze, anti-boil and corrosion protection
A 50/50 mixture of coolant and distilled water provides freeze protection down to -34°F (-37°C) and boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C)
Use only when specified:
Use when Ford Specification WSS-M97B51-A1 is specified
Do not mix different colors or types of coolant in your vehicle. Make sure the correct coolant is used. Mixing of engine coolants may harm your engine’s cooling system. The use of an improper coolant may harm engine and cooling system components and may void the warranty
Do not use this product in systems originally equipped with the orange-colored Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant, meeting Ford Specifications WSS-M97B44-D or –D2, or with the fluorescent green-colored Motorcraft® Premium Antifreeze/Coolant, meeting Ford Specification ESE-M97B44-A (refer to the Motorcraft® usage chart for exceptions), or with the dark green-colored Motorcraft® Specialty Green Engine Coolant, meeting Ford Specification WSS-M97B55-A
Meets or exceeds the requirements of WSS-M97B51-A1, ASTM D 3306, Chrysler MS-9769, Cummins 14603, and ASTM D 6210
Contains a bittering agent

 

[Twister]

Bringing up old threads. Are the coolant systems on these later models self burping. When i changed the coolant a while back i filled it to the cold fill level, now that it has gotten colder outside we have been using the heater a lot and the level has dropped in the tank. I just wanna make sure i didn't do something wrong.

Also when i did it, i didn't premix the coolant, but poured the coolant and water in the tank. I haven't had any problems, but i am overly cautious.

 

[shane96ranger]

My F150 sure appears to be. Does your overflow double as the fill/radiator cap, and have a hose that goes down to the lower radiator hose? I'm pretty sure that is what that design is for.

Also to add to the rest of this thread, I used a Valvoline anti-freeze that said you could mix it with any other coolant on the market and it would work.

Sent from a Commodore 64 using a 300 baud modem

 

[Twister]

My F150 sure appears to be. Does your overflow double as the fill/radiator cap, and have a hose that goes down to the lower radiator hose? I'm pretty sure that is what that design is for.

Also to add to the rest of this thread, I used a Valvoline anti-freeze that said you could mix it with any other coolant on the market and it would work.

Sent from a Commodore 64 using a 300 baud modem

Yes it has that weird design, what i meant with the second part was, i would pour the whole bottle of coolant in, full strength, then the water.

 

[shane96ranger]

You should be OK. Pre-mixing beforehand is better, but I'm sure it's mixed now. If you don't feel comfortable with it, get a tester at Vatozone. They are about 5 dollars IIRC.

Sent from a Commodore 64 using a 300 baud modem