Orange coolant in radiator

[JOHNGAAA1]

Do yourself a favor. when you do flush it, switch to the green coolant. the dexcool eats the intake gaskets. change it about every 3 years. i have 7 obs's and all are green coolant and guess what "NO INTAKE GASKET PROBLEMS EVER ".

 

[Caman96]

If the original intake gaskets are replaced Dex Cool is fine. The gasket was the problem!

 

[Schurkey]

I'm going to replace the engine and entire coolant system probably within 6 months. I'm just looking to top it off for now as I won't be driving it much until then.

Why top it off? Why get concerned about the coolant now?

Put the cap on, shut the hood. Come back when you're ready to yank the engine.

 

[Courchained]

Could you use the pink toyota super long life coolant in a 98 5.7 vortec?

 

[kennythewelder]

Could you use the pink toyota super long life coolant in a 98 5.7 vortec?

Well, I have never tried. I like the good old fashioned green Preston. To answer your question though, you can run any collamt you want to, IF, you completely flush out everything in the system. Prestonakes a flust and fill kit that back flushes the system by giving you a way to hook up your garden hose, and flush the whole system through the filler neck of the radiator. You have to install a tee in the heater hose. I have been using these kits for many years. They work grate. Thing is, it is critical to be sure that your system ONLY has water in it before you change you coolent type.

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[xXxPARAGONxXx]

Why top it off? Why get concerned about the coolant now?

Put the cap on, shut the hood. Come back when you're ready to yank the engine.

I understand your point. Why now? Well, when I bought the truck, I picked it up at PO's home. I didn't have any fluids to top it off, nor would I have felt right doing maintenance in the PO's garage (and I don't think he would have aprpeciated it).

Fortunately, it made it home. Next day I inspected it, and noticed several fluids leaks (probably engine oil and power steering fluid), and the coolant wasn't at the top of the filler neck. I will need to drive it on at least two occasions: Discount Tire for tire replacement, and a state inspection in order to get it titled/registered.

I would like to just top it off to prevent overheating in the meantime. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother if I was just going to have it in the garage the entire time.

 

[Schurkey]

The radiator tubes are completely covered. You gain no additional cooling by topping it off.

 

[Drunkcanuk]

I see you are from Texas, I would go with the adding of distilled water. If you were up in Canada or the northern states I would worry about just adding water. As a cracked block due to the ice expansion is a real thing up here.

 

[RI Chevy guy]

Not sure if it’s cold where you are, if so, I’d probably just get cheap autozone 50/50 to add also to overflow tank. Just adding water to that in freezing weather not good!

DO NOT mix Dex with anything! Top it with Dex or flush and refill with the green stuff and distilled water

 

[1998_K1500_Sub]

Could you use the pink toyota super long life coolant in a 98 5.7 vortec?

Very interesting reading may be found here in these Motor Magazine stories about coolant types and additives, and how / why they vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and application to application:

Coolant Confusion: It's Not Easy Being Green ... or Yellow or Orange or ...​

https://www.motor.com//magazine/pdfs/082004_04.pdf

Relearning the Alphabet: Making Sense of the Cooling System Scene
https://www.motor.com/magazinepdfs/082010_08.pdf

Both these should be required reading for any shade tree mechanic, IMHO.