Anybody using the new "red in color" coolant? (a.ka. Prestone® Extended Life 5/150 Antifreeze/Coolant) Would there be any reason NOT to use this type of coolant.

I'm flushing my coolant system, so I just want to know.

 

Dude! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't use that type of coolant on an RX-7. It is suppoessed to be very corrosive to our engines. Bad!

 

I would recommend just using the regular Prestone coolant. But never use one of the RED colored coolants.

 

Also, NEVER use DEXCOOL.

 

WOW. I did not know this stuff could be that bad. Anybody know the reasons? Maybe I should not use it in my wife car too. (toyota sienne)

 

Before you go and start swapping coolant in other vehicles check and see what is supposed to be in them from the factory. My GMC Yukon requires Dexcool and (if it were still under factory warranty) would void the warranty if any other type of coolant is used. It needs it because it was designed for it.

And on the other hand the RX-7 needs the normal green coolant because it was designed for it. Using Dexcool in a rotary might not have a bad effect but there is a possibility that the Dexcool could disolve the coolant seals (made of rubber) or make them swell. It is hard to tell but it really is not worth the risk.

 

^^

 

dude your question was already answered. Trust me you don't want that stuff in your car. Check if that other car you mentioned is supposed to use dex-cool. If so use it in that car if not don't. nuff said.

 

I use Evans NPG+

 

I personally consulted Havoline about DexCool, considering it surpasses every coolant standard, and more importantly DOESNT contain anything harmfull, Lower alkalinity ,Contains NO silicates, BUT the green antifreeze has already coated the pores in the metal of your cooling system, lowering the corrosion protection abilities of Dexcool.

In other words, switching from the old green stuff to red will only cost more money with the only benefit being lower corrosive mineral levels (lower alkalinity).

Personally I put it in my Jeep and My RX-7 about 6 years ago using it ever since, no problems for me. Saying it is very corrosive is a myth that gets passed on by word of mouth on these message boards by people with no first hand knowledge of it, only here-say.

 

I used that orange stuff because everyone (not on here) said it was the best. Like a year later my coolant seals were fux0r3d for no apparent reason. Car never overheated and always ran fine. Use the green stuff and you'll be better off. Put some RedLine water wetter if you want better cooling. Listen to these guys because they know what theyre talking about.

 

So what about the people who use green coolant and still blow coolant seals, whats thier reason? Coolant seal failure is very common on a rotory.

 

But does your car run hot with the green stuff? I use it and it never gets up over 1/3 under very hot days and hard driving. Using enything else will not lower your temps. much, and possibly at the expense of your engine. Just seems retarded to use anything other than the regular anti-freeze to me.

 

I use coolant from Amsoil, expensive but works well.

 

This is MY experience with the stuff and I don't speak for everyone else. My engine was cool until I switched over to that stuff and it never overheated. I'm not the only one that blew the seals while using the orange stuff for no apparent reason.


What about people who blow coolant seals using the green stuff?

Make a thread about this and maybe these people will post why their engine blew.

 

They blow for one reason. The seals get too hot. This can be either from one rapid over-heating, or putting 100,000 miles on an engine running high boost...or the rubber seals just getting old. The seals do not go bad by using regular green coolant. Ask anyone who knows anything about these engines. If it doesn't work as well as you would like, buy some Redline Water Wetter!

 

Just read the back, it should give you most of the info you need. The rest will come from what Mazda recommends. You should have a ethylene glycol anti-freeze that is safe to use with aluminum engine parts. A bottle of red line water wetter dosen't hurt. I use the good old Prestone "Green". Next time I am in the auto store I willl check the "red stuff" out to see what all the fuss is about.

 

One can comment that its pointless to use the orange, being a rotory why bother with long life anti-freeze because you should be changing it when the acid level gets high or about once a year. Most peoples blow thier coolant seals probably because they got the car used, and the previous owner never changed it. I got my car with ORIGINAL coolant in it, about 7.5 years ago, put the orange stuff in it, and have been running it ever since. You should be using distilled water as well.

Say its pointless, but dont say it can harm your engine and have nothing to back it up cpnsidering it surpasses every coolant standard out there. Every new car is coming with it now. I bet the new RX-8 comes with it.
Most people do overheat thier engine at one time or another, and some time later the seals might go bad.

 

I think that the RX7 was designed for the green stuff just like most new cars are designed for the red stuff. Don't put it what it was not designed for. That is it man.

 

The red stuff is Dexcool. It was designed for GM's and has been a horrible venture even for the cars it was designed.

Plain Prestone green stuff is what you want.

 

~~~ ok so a lot of people think the red stuff is bad for your car, but what I want to know is WHY it is bad for it... I have red stuff in my car now, and I will change it out this weekend if I have a good, reasonable explaination of why it will do dertrimental damage...

 

All I can say is either call a mechanic at mazda or go to Autozone and ask one of the guys there. they will know a lot more than me about this stuff, but variious collants are desinged for various engines. if you want to risk your engine, be my guest. i am not saying that this stuff will ruin your engine, but as I said earlier, the gains in coolant prtection aren't enough to warrant using it.

And Rob XX 7, it is not my job to give you a chemical analysis to tell you what you should do. i am giving advice based upon my experience and the experiences of everyone I've talked to...If you value the well-being of your car, you will do the necessary research yourself. to be quite frank, I don't care what you do and it's not my car you're driving

 

I find it silly how everyone still uses such an archaic solution as ethylene glycol and water!. Especially in an engine with dissimiliar materials. USE NPG+

 

Hey Banzai,
I a'm planning to go with NPG+ but I want to ask you someq's on it. Does it really cool as good as the site say?? ANd If I get their coolant, do you think I still need to upgrade to a Fluidyne or Koyo (larger radiators) BTW I live in Canada, and the summers where I'm from never exceed 30C

 

With the "OLD NPG" you needed a larger tube size in the radiator due to the higher viscosity of the old Formula. The new NPG+ is a drop in coolant. The only change needed is a thorough flush. (See www.pineappleracing.com ) and a modified pressure cap