I noticed my coolant was low so I picked up some Prestone premixed coolant. It says compatible with all vehicles and mixes with any type of coolant. Just figured I would get an opinion from here before I mixed the two. It's bright yellow. Thanks.

 

I would recommend you stick with the approved coolant and not mix in another type. At best you dilute the 5-year formulation, at worst you could have some leaching or precipitation that causes problems.

The correct stuff is the Zerex G-05 HOAT. (there may be other brand names, but the G-05 HOAT is what you want.)

 

You have me nervous now!! Maybe I'll hold off

 

When you said your coolant was low, is there a leak? or did it just seem low in the overflow-bottle?

Its very hard to see (I couldn't see it until someone showed me) on the overflow-bottle there are markings for max/min. Those are for a warmed-up engine.

If there is not any coolant in the overflow-bottle when warmed up, then you should add some. And look for leaks! Especially around the water pump.

In my manual, they are pretty strident about not mixing non-HOAT, especially not PG based coolants.

 

I don't think I have any leaks, but it was definitely low in the overflow bottle. It was reading below min. I went ahead and mixed the Prestone with what was in there. They guarantee that it mixes with "any make any model". So we"ll see how it goes.

 

I did the mixing with the prestone and my radiator exploded two days later......NO not really but I totally think you will be fine, I wouldn't worry if I was you

 

Ha ha sounds good thanks!

 

Ok....so when adding coolant....I just add it in the overflow bottle and not directly in the radiatior?..I have heard that by opening the radiator can allow air to get in and cause "air pockets"....any feedback on this?

 

Just add directly to the overflow bottle. Fill to the max line, at operating temp.

Is your overflow bottle empty?

(as for air pockets, the system would "burp" itself)

 

What makes this HOAT so special? Didn't the 3.8l minivans of yore use the good old green coolant while they pumped 10w30 thru their veins?