Coolant ???'s

[JHALL]

Have an early '99 Powerstroke. Has the gree coolant in it. It needs topped off and was wondering what kind of coolant to buy? Can it be any kind of pre-mixed stuff or do I need to buy something special. I'm going to buy the additive from Ford come next week to add as well.

Thanks guys.

[cvdenson]

Don't use the Zerex any vehicle/any year crap. I use the ford coolant from the dealer.

[lcducote]

motorcraft with the additive.

[melmount]

the orig green is not an extended life, or a mix with all colors coolant. Its also a low silicate coolant. If in doubt get it from ford. Food lion sells old school green that says low silicate on the bottle. (i have used it)
If you dont add much, it may not, or wont bring up the sca's to par. A full drain and refill should, but even then some coolants dont have enough sca's in them to start with. The normal old school green is atsm4### the actual charged diesel coolants are atsm6###(forgot the rest of the numbers) It does not matter. If it starts with a 4 no sca's are in it.(theres also atsm3###, really really old school like 50's)
The atsm4 stuff is ok but add sca's. if you get atsm6, check sca's (try to find low silicate, if atsm4 is used)

[MountainMan]

Make sure to also check the nitrite level in the coolant annually. Nitrite reduces cylinder wall cavitation.

[Fk000]

Amen CVDenson

[JHALL]

You guys are making me go crosseyed lol

Should I just be able to go in Ford and tell them "I have a '99 Ford Powerstroke, I need a gallon of coolant and the coolant additive" and get what I need?

[melmount]

yes, get test strips too. they will know what that means. That way you add the correct amount of additive. Its does not have to be perfect. Its not chemestry. Just nitrates are real important to the powerstroke.
you can go to napa too. get old school grean low siicate and some dca-2 additive(nitrates) and get 2 way test strips.
napa's additive works fine