This is what I woke up to this morning.

Turned out to just a a coolant hose, so no big deal, I'll just go get a new one... but here's my question...

I read somewhere not to use the pink coolant stuff. Why? I know nothing about coolant.

While I'm asking questions... I have an oil leak at the oil filter, not the filter itself, but the flange on the oil filter neck has been leaking a little bit of oil for a while. Oddly enough, the coolant line that leaked just about under the oil leak. Coincidence? Bah, I fix it all. Can I use liquid gasket for this one, RTV or something?

Thanks again, kids.

 

i was told that the ornage stuff eats the seals? I'm using notox green stuff now I might not have cat-converters... but damnit my coolant is safe

 

If the oil leak is under the filter, it's most likely the two O-rings that seal the oil filter pedestal to the engine. The dealer charged me $7.50 for the pair. Takes about 30 minutes to change them. Remove the filter, undo the two 10mm nuts holding the pedestal on, and that's it.

 

To put in the orange stuff (DEX-Cool), you have to flush out the green stuff, they turn into a hardened sludge when mixed.

There isnt really much of a difference between them. I've heard they eat seals, but never actually seen it happen.

However the orange stuff needs to be flushed every two years because it will harden on its own (That I've seen happen)

The Green stuff needs to be flushed every two years because it turns corossive.

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Any coolant line that gets a lot of oil on it will go eventually. That is the exact hose that blew for me recently :/

So remember, heater hoses are weak against oil elemental attacks, remember that when you get into a fight with one.

 

here are some reasons not to use the orange stuff:

1. Doesn't seem to work any better or worse than ordinary coolant

2. Your car was not made with orange coolant in mind or even available

3. It comes stock in GM's

 

great advice from all. I'll stick with the green stuff, and make a trip to the mazda dealer this weekend. Hey, the car almost made it a whole week this time

 

Heh, I've had to go down to the local dealer a few times the last month. I was suprised to find their all down to earth people. Pretty cool really. And they didn't bitch about dropping $1076 to fix my auto seatbelts

 

well, the dealer did nothing for me. He didn't have the 2 o- rings that nopistons mentioned, and suggested that I try and find some o- rings to replace them with. Sounds like great fun.

He didn't have the leaking coolant hose either (bypass hose) , but he did send me to an auto parts shop that had a similar hose that might work for me. Just not my lucky day, I guess.

nopistons, the dealer gave you no trouble about getting those o- rings? The dealers here in Athens are notorious for having attitude problems. The guy at the parts desk was nice enough, but couldn't get me a damned thing for my car