Orange, Yellow and Green Motorcraft Coolant oh my?

[ShoMe1More]

I recently had a coolant flush on 2013 Interceptor Ecoboost. The reservoir cap says to only use Motorcraft orange coolant. Supposedly the dealer says it has been upgraded to a Gold coolant.

1) Can anyone verify an updated color, or why it was updated?

2) And does this stuff really last for the 100k mile maintenance schedule that the manual claims, vs the regular green stuff?

3) And does it really matter to use distilled water, instead of tap water, as the dilution agent?

 

[Majestic]

I don't know why it was updated. I don't like to switch between coolants regardless of what the dealership says. I changed my coolant about 500 miles ago and was able to order the orange. It still looked and tested fine at 90k miles so I'm inclined to think the 100k claim is probably true based on normal driving.

Yes, use distilled water to prevent scaling and other issues. It is cheap and available everywhere.

 

[RonPorter]

Or, if you have a reverse osmosis filter at home, use that water for a battery and for coolant.

 

[jman1200]

Or, if you have a reverse osmosis filter at home, use that water for a battery and for coolant.

Didn't know that reverse osmosis gave water corrosion inhibiting properties and lowered its boiling and freezing points... been throwing money away for decades.

 

[luigisho]

Yes. Ford changed from the orange to the gold coolant.

 

[Irish Pride]

VC3B was the old Orange coolant. It has recently been phased out and replaced with VC13G which is Yellow. The VC3B is no longer being made and when supplies run out it will be gone. The new yellow is 100% compatible with the orange as well as the old green(VC5). No flushing required. Just pour it in and go.

New vehicles sometimes have new requirements which cause the need for updated products. Instead of having to supply several different products for various years, Ford developed the new yellow to cover all of them. No need to guess what color you need because it does it all.

-Chad
Certified Ford Parts

 

[Irish Pride]

Yes. Ford changed from the orange to the gold coolant.

Gold is different. The gold coolant is VC7B and was used starting in 2002 and running thru 2012. Most vehicles that require the gold are no longer being produced or have already been switched to Orange. Gold is not compatible with the orange or yellow so it requires a coolant flush to make the switch.

-Chad

 

[Ecoboost_xsport]

Here's a thread were we spoke quite a bit about the new coolant and what is different about it:

https://shoforum.com/index.php?threads/radiator-drain-valve.142011/#post-1550326

 

[luigisho]

I mixed up gold for yellow. They are using a new mix with phosphate. I think I read somewhere that this does m=not like calcium and magnesium in tap water and to use distilled but that is fuzzy memory. I also forgot there even was an older Gold offered by Ford. The japanese mfgs didn't go to the dexcool style orange silicate based stuff. I think they had testing where it started gelling up.

 

[Ecoboost_xsport]

I mixed up gold for yellow. They are using a new mix with phosphate. I think I read somewhere that this does m=not like calcium and magnesium in tap water and to use distilled but that is fuzzy memory. I also forgot there even was an older Gold offered by Ford. The japanese mfgs didn't go to the dexcool style orange silicate based stuff. I think they had testing where it started gelling up.

Gelling happens when green is mixed with dexcool. The new yellow stuff has had some phosphates added.

 

[RonPorter]

Didn't know that reverse osmosis gave water corrosion inhibiting properties and lowered its boiling and freezing points... been throwing money away for decades.

Obviously, rather than distilled water.

If you live in Duluth, go ahead, replace your coolant with reverse osmosis water, and get back to us on how that works out!

 

[Peetah75]

My local dealer used VC13G when they did the system flush and test at 100K, last august. I checked the level this week and it was in the full range.

 

[The Gemini]

Here’s a good video explanation -

II

 

[Ecoboost_xsport]

Here’s a good video explanation -

II

Good video, confirms what I had read in other places. The new yellow is basically Ford's version of the Prestone Cor-gaurd stuff, whish is also a P-OAT coolant.

 

[A-A-Ron]

I recently purchased the Prestone Universal 50/50 Prediluted "yellow". After watching the video that was posted and doing some research is this essentially the same as the FoMoCo Yellow coolant and therefore safe? My coolant is lower than I'd like and wanted to top it off until I can get the FoMoCo Yellow.