Topped off coolant with Prestone Universal Coolant. Manual says to use MOPAR HOAT. Do I need to get a flush before a long trip?
I had a Freeze plug block heater installed by the shop most trusted by my parents. When they were done they refilled the coolant. Unfortunately I don't know what type they used and the receipt only says Extended Life Antifreeze.
Today I was looking at the fluids and noticed the reservoir was almost empty and I couldn't see where the fluid was or see the coolant at all so I used a little of the Prestone 50/50 Universal coolant to bring it above the ADD line. But later I was reading the manual and it said to use MOPAR HOAT Coolant.
My question is, since I am going on a long road t
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Not knowing which exact type of coolant was used to refill the system after the block heater install, I would consider flushing the cooling system and refilling with the correct coolant. Years ago, we just had "green coolant that went into every car. In recent years, different manufacturers call for different coolants. There are a number of different metals in contact with the coolant nowadays. The engine block can be cast iron, the cylinder heads can be aluminum. The head gasket may have steel rings surrounding each cylinder bore. The coolant has to be able to interact with all the different metals and not cause additional corrosion. Mixing different coolants can cause some issues. Sometimes the mixture can cause gelling and clog smaller passages in the radiator and heater core. They can also interact poorly with the different metals when mixed. I’ve replaced a few heater cores because they were so badly clogged from mixed coolant. Considering these things and the climate you are taking the vehicle to, a cooling system flush is definitely a good idea.
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Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The new universal coolants use unique OAT-based corrosion packages with proprietary organic acids (such as carboxylate) to provide broad spectrum protection. When a universal coolant is used to top off a cooling system that already contains an extended life OAT or hybrid coolant, the service life is unaffected.
Makers of universal coolants say their products are formulated to be compatible with all cooling systems (foreign or domestic) and all coolant types (traditional green, OAT and OAT-hybrid with silicate).
Prestone® Platinum antifreeze+coolant is Prestone`s best universal antifreeze & coolant product. This advanced product delivers Extreme Protection against both freezing temperatures (-50°) and overheating / boiling over of the engine (+268°).
Top off the coolant reservoir
If the coolant level is low in the reservoir, you can refill it to the max fill line but do not overfill it. The coolant mixture expands when it heats up and needs the extra room. Keeping your coolant at the correct level is one of the ways to keep your radiator good working order.
Water will NOT keep the engine running cool enough. It will boil and evaperate quickly as well. If you use regular tap water instead of DISTILLED water to mix with the antifreeze, then the minerals in the tap water will collect inside your engine, radiator, and heater core…
It remains five years or 150,000 miles. If a universal coolant is added to an older vehicle that has traditional green antifreeze in the cooling system, the service interval is also the same as before: two to three years or 30,000 to 50,000 miles.
Prestone coolant/antifreeze has been specially developed and rigorously tested by our lab in the US to ensure that it can be used in all vehicles. Many manufacturers will advise on a particular colour as there are differences between other products, but Prestone is compatible with all cars and light duty vehicles.
Mopar 50/50 prediluted antifreeze/coolant 10-year/ 150,000 mile. Do not add water. Ethylene glycol based formulation to prevent freeze-up and boil-over while inhibiting corrosion.
Every vehicle manufacturer, including Jeep has developed its own coolant or requires a specific coolant that is unique to individual years and models. There are many colors of coolants to help distinguish each including green, red, yellow, purple blue, and orange.
Prestone 1 Gallon Yellow 50/50 Antifreeze – AF2100.
A sealed bottle of antifreeze has an indefinite shelf life. Once opened, it will keep for years if stored in the original container.
The extended life formula is safe for use with all types of metals & rubbers; including aluminum. Prestone Prime will guard against temperature extremes and the effects of rust, corrosion and premature water pump failure.
Can I add coolant/antifreeze to a hot car? In instances where an engine has overheated, causing a breakdown, there may be a need to add fresh coolant/antifreeze to the cooling system. However, you should never add coolant/antifreeze when the engine is hot, and instead, wait for it to cool.
If the coolant level is dropping and there is no external leak evident, then the coolant is probably leaking internally, into the engine. If the car has recently overheated then this could have caused the head gasket to fail. If it has, it could be leaking coolant into the combustion chambers.
Pure antifreeze lacks sufficient heat capacity to keep the engine cool. In fact, if you put pure antifreeze into the cooling system, the heat-transfer capabilities are lowered by 35%, and it could really damage on the engine, especially in hot weather.
For normal driving of 12,000 to 15,000 miles per year, five years will pass long before the odometer hits 150,000 miles. So, for most applications, five years is the recommended service interval for changing the coolant.
This deteriorated liquid can trigger severe harm to your engine by failing to control the temperature. Therefore, manufacturers suggest replacing the coolant periodically. It is recommended you change coolant after the first 210,000 km (140,000 miles) or 120 months, then every 30,000 km (20,000 miles) or 24 months.
Yes, engine coolant does go bad. Older fluid may cause acid buildup, may become contaminated by rust or scaling, and may have reduced resistance to boiling and freezing. Deteriorated coolant/antifreeze may cause your engine to run hotter than normal or keep the engine from starting in colder temperatures.
It is important that You do not mix different types of coolant in Your vehicle because that can lead to corrosion in Your cooling system.
Prestone is guaranteed for all cars and can be mixed with any other colour of coolant/antifreeze, making it the best choice for you.
It`s never a good idea to mix two different colors or types of antifreeze. Mixing two formulas won`t cause any dangerous reactions or explosions, but it could turn your coolant into a sludgy chemical mixture that won`t be able to flow properly through your cooling system.
Yes, certainly you can. Use the same color antifreeze that`s in there now. Modern automotive cooling systems should not need flushed or drained, so long as they are filled with only quality modern antifreeze and distilled water.
It`s never a good idea to mix two different colors or types of antifreeze. Mixing two formulas won`t cause any dangerous reactions or explosions, but it could turn your coolant into a sludgy chemical mixture that won`t be able to flow properly through your cooling system.
It is important that You do not mix different types of coolant in Your vehicle because that can lead to corrosion in Your cooling system.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Topped off coolant with Prestone Universal Coolant. Manual says to use MOPAR HOAT. Do I need to get a flush before a long trip?
ANSWER : Not knowing which exact type of coolant was used to refill the system after the block heater install, I would consider flushing the cooling system and refilling with the correct coolant. Years ago, we just had "green coolant that went into every car. In recent years, different manufacturers call for different coolants. There are a number of different metals in contact with the coolant nowadays. The engine block can be cast iron, the cylinder heads can be aluminum. The head gasket may have steel rings surrounding each cylinder bore. The coolant has to be able to interact with all the different metals and not cause additional corrosion. Mixing different coolants can cause some issues. Sometimes the mixture can cause gelling and clog smaller passages in the radiator and heater core. They can also interact poorly with the different metals when mixed. I’ve replaced a few heater cores because they were so badly clogged from mixed coolant. Considering these things and the climate you are taking the vehicle to, a cooling system flush is definitely a good idea.
No coolant in the reservoir. Seen low coolant message. I added 2 quarts of 50/50 coolant. Still getting the message. How much coolant doe it need?
ANSWER : Hi there. For the coolant light to go out, you would need to have the coolant between the low line and the full line for the light to go out. If the coolant is low and keeps on being low, then look for any signs of coolant leaks. You may have to use a coolant pressure tester to pressurize the reservoir to allow the leak to be found.
If you need further assistance with the coolant being low and the warning light being on, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
I cant find my owners manual for my 2004 toyota avalon xls and i have a question. I did a trip using trip a for a total of 19.7 mi
ANSWER : Hi there. If I understand your question correctly, you are saying that you completed a driving test; selecting trip "A" for the ride out and trip "B" for the ride back. Once you arrived back home, trip "A" was 39.2, which would be the distance of both individual trips. This is natural if the trip "A" was not deactivated or cleared when you started trip "B". When you begin a "trip" rating, it will continue until you shut off or clear that individual trip. The multiple trip settings is typically used to measure individual distances from one point to another. So, essentially, the trip meter will continue to add miles until it is deactivated; even if a second trip is activated. If you can’t find the owner manual, you can buy a new one from a dealership or even download them online in most cases.
Flushed coolant month ago now glitter in radiator
ANSWER : Hi there. Quite frequently when red and green coolant is mixed and inside the coolant tubes for a long time, it can cause excessive wear of the coolant tubes. The ’glitter’ you see may be excessive debris that may have worn off the coolant hoses. Whether or not you can continue to run with this coolant; it shouldn’t be a problem. However, I would recommend that the next time you flush your coolant, that you also replace the coolant hoses and tubes.
i have a 98 explorer sport sport 4.0 manual 5 speed after i get it out and the top off what do i need to do and look for to fix it
ANSWER : When you get the top cover of transmission off you should first check to see if the shift forks will move freely and shifter can move into each gear position freely. Then look inside transmission and see if you see broken or missing gear teeth and shift collars. You most likely have a broken shift fork.
Can I drive my 2010 Infiniti Ex35 long distance if I was told that I need brake pads and rotors? I have to take a trip ASAP but I
ANSWER : It would be irresponsible for me to tell you your brakes are safe to drive on without looking at them. The problem is, when you need your brakes most, as in an emergency stop, that’s when you really stress them, so if they are marginal you could be in a lot of trouble in a panic stop situation. That said: the devil is in the details. If you were told you need pads and rotors by a workshop when they were doing routine service, it could be that there is as little as 0 or as much as 50% of the lining left because many shops have the policy of recommending pad replacement when the linings show more than 50% wear. If that’s the case, there could be several thousand miles of driving left. Check the work order and see if the tech wrote down the measured thickness of the lining somewhere. If it’s more than 1/8 inch, you can probably drive around OK for a few more weeks. If you can’t find out for sure, you can contact Your Mechanic to have a technician come over to your home or office to check out your brakes and make a recommendation.
Do I need tranmission fluid change and coolant system flush? If so, for how much?
ANSWER : Hello, yes, with your mileage, and the age of the vehicle, these are all likely needed services. Sent to CS
transmission fluid service
coolant system flush service
front brake pads replacement
front brake rotor replacement
Questions about cooling system flush service.
ANSWER : Hi there. i have forwarded your request to our service and sales department, which should be contacting you shortly with specifics to the questions you’ve asked. In general however, a proper radiator flush would include removing coolant from the lower hose connection (not the petcock) and the block. Our mobile mechanics always bring more than enough coolant than what is required, and will use the recommended type of coolant with the correct 50 / 50 ratio of coolant to distilled water. The brands are pretty much all identical in formulation. The critical thing is making sure to correctly bleed the system afterwards, which is something all of our professional mobile mechanics will do after completing this service.
