I'm not in a rush with just 10,000 miles on my '14 GT but this original Ford 'orange' coolant is Dexcool from what I have read. It is getting old, near the 9 year mark as my car was built in late 2013. Having a Trans Am, I know well the horror stories of the GM Dexcool and flushed mine out long ago for the multi purpose green stuff. I've had zero issues.
I'm sure Ford did not follow the GM scenario but what has everyone else done here? Flush and replace with the same Ford coolant or switch out to the universal green stuff?? Any other thoughts appreciated as well.

 

Here is Something a Lot of Folks are Unaware of. Test Strips for Coolant & Brake Fluid. This will Let you Know if you even need to Replace the Coolant or Brake Fluid. So I am Posting this Info For Others as Well.


Sounds to Me Like you Want to Replace because of Age & I get That. Also you Sound Like you are Leaning Towards Green & I Like The Old School as Well!

Product Description

Most of the time, knowing when to change your brake fluid or coolant is a guessing game. With Brake Strip and Coolant Strip, in as little as sixty seconds you have clear, repeatable and reliable proof of the level of corrosion in your vehicles brake fluid and the acid plus freeze/boil point of your coolant. The test starts with removing your brake master cylinder cap and dipping the Brake Strip end of the test strip into the fluid, next you will remove your radiator cap and dip the coolant end of the test strip into the antifreeze. CAUTION: DO NOT remove the radiator cap when HOT! Once dipped in brake fluid, Brake Strip begins the corrosion measurement reaction - changing color from white to purple in direct proportion to the corrosion level. High levels of corrosion indicate brake fluid that has lost its ability to protect your brake system. Corrosive brake fluid should be changed and a dose of "Brake Shot" should be added to protect against future corrosion Simply search for "Brake Shot" Once dipped in coolant, Coolant Strip begins the pH and glycol measurement reaction. The glycol pad can range from pink to red/blue depending on your glycol percentage. The pH pad can range from orange to yellow/green depending on the acid or alkaline level. Low levels of glycol can quickly lead to a corroded water pump, heater core and radiator. Low glycol can also cause an engine to freeze in cold weather and create a crack through the engine block. pH levels below 7 indicate acidic coolant. Acidic coolant will also quickly corrode a cooling system and lead to premature breakdowns and an unreliable vehicle. Coolant Brake Test Strips give you confidence to know the right time to change your fluids. Don't let a shop pull the wool over your eyes! Find out for yourself if your fluids needs to be changed or not.


KC

 

The Ford Orange Replacement Ford Coolant is the Yellow
Coolant

 

I get Double the Fun as Both My Shelby and HD-150 Have Two Cooling Systems One Engine and One Intercooler!

Fun Fun Fun!

KC

 

Thank you so much! This is the way to go. No guessing or wondering. When I need to get the fluids done, these strips will tell me. I went with this ebay guy instead of the Amazon link since they were $2 less.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/185334428318

 

No Worries, I would always Rather Buy from Other Than Amazon! I need to Get Some of Those Myself with all my Cars!

Oh and on A Side Note Make Sure you Check For The Proper Brake Fluid Some are Compatible and Some are Not! Being you Have The Fleet o Muscle Cars!

You Are Quite Welcome!

KC

 

My "06" GT has always been with OEM/Motorcraft yellow coolant ..

 

I always stuck with the Ford coolant in my '07 as well. This original coolant in my '14 is Dexcool though apparently and I really don't want the stuff after all the GM issues. My mechanic wants to completely flush out the old and replace it with Service Pro Universal. I looked it up and I think it should be fine.

 

05stangkc The strips arrived ultra fast and my brake fluid checked out fine. The coolant was protecting real well for the freezing/ boiling part but the corrosive / PH part failed and fell into the 'replace' category. I'm sure 'age' was the factor with such low miles. These strips are well worth it. Thanks again! I'll be going in to my mechanic in a few weeks (see post just above).

 

This is the first time I've ever heard Ford Orange coolant related back to dexcool. I'm going to have to look into that. But what I can say, is that in my 7 years with Lincoln, I have never seen a problem that stemmed from the orange/yellow coolant.

 

Not A Dex Cool Fan Either. On the Late Model Stuff Customers Were Always Calling on What Coolant to get . I always had to find the Latest Spec's From Ford. They Got More Fluids Than Carters Got Pills. Whoever gets that you are a Dinosaur Like Me! Anybody Remember Ford Type H Transmission Fluid?

You Are Quite Welcome!

Good Wrenching!

KC

 

Ran into problems (I think) with the test strips.The brake fluid was fine and the temperature zones were fine, but the PH level showed 'replace'. No big deal for 9 year old coolant. For grins I tried my Trans Am and the results were the same even though i just had the coolant done when the water pump was replaced this year. That seemed odd so I went to my 2020 R/T that has 5,300 miles on it. It showed the same thing. Something is amiss here and I feel the strips are not accurate for the PH tests. Two of my 3 cars should be fine and they are not. The GT actually looked better than the Challenger! Anyone have any experience or thoughts about this?? 05stangkc perhaps?

Here are the results below. The colors are accurate from the strips to the cards. the order is the same when flipped over.

 

Do They Have an Expiration Date on Package?

First I would Check out their Website And Then If I still Had Questions I would Certainly Call Them.
https://www.brakebleeder.com/products/

I checked the Ford Workshop Manual and for the (Dexcool}Their Words on the 2014 Mustang and they Recommended this Company.
https://www.acustrip.com/cgi-bin/prodcat.cgi?pc=auto

If I Had a New Brake Fluid Can & Coolant Bottle Laying Around I would Test as a Control Subject. If they Did Not Test Out as New I would Be Suspect to Accuracy. They Look to Be a Reputable Company with Patents Listed. So I Curiously wait to see Outcome.


KC

 

Thanks! No expiration date. The generic patent date on the package is 2018 so that's rather recent. The strips should be good. No bottles of coolant around so I can not test. The PH seems like the one that is 'off'. I'll stop by my local shop and see what they say. If the strips are good for the temp range and brake fluid, that's fine. I'll post again.

 

I appreciate the Interaction. It's How we all Learn!

KC

 

Update: I've learned of inaccuracies in my 'searches'. One owner had an 18,000 miles car that was 3 years old and the PH test failed. He did exactly like you suggested with a new container of coolant and the result was the same!. The new coolant failed the PH test. Another owner, like myself, tested 3 cars and all failed the PH test. Most everyone is leaning towards an old or expired product.
I contacted the seller on ebay and asked if had complaints with just the PH part of the test strips. He advised that he did not but that he did not have a newer batch of strips to send me. Apparently these have been sitting around for awhile. He sent me a refund so he certainly gets top marks for honesty.
I've spent way too much time on this. I'm getting the fluid flushed out anyway due to the age of the Dexcool in the GT..I'm sure my 5,000 miles R/T is perfectly fine and I rechecked the water pump/ coolant replacement on my Trans Am. It was just 10 months ago and a lousy 3,000 miles. Two gallons of new coolant were on my receipt. The coolant looks perfect so I am ignoring the PH test result on it as well.
Quite a learning experience. My only message to others is to make sure the test strips are really 'new' and not expired. They will probably work fine.

 

I have an Email into this Company. I will Advise when I get something to Report! Also Svo Paul & I worked on your Screen Name Change. No Luck So Far! Have Not Forgot about your Request.

KC

 

^^^ Thank you very much! I am looking forward to that e/mail response.

 

Well We Got your Name Change! No Email from Company Yet!

KC

 

Thank you! I realize you guys have better things to do. It's appreciated.