Coolant Level

[kilobravo]

Dave: With all that's going on, this is a nice respite and your discovery, quite interesting.

Checked the Supplement PDF and it calls for:

Motorcraft® Orange Prediluted Antifreeze/Coolant WSS-M97B44-D2 (U.S.)

..and then I checked the printed version that came with the car. Same thing.

Mine was Produced on 10/28/19, chassis 0171.

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[Jmeo]

Dave: With all that's going on, this is a nice respite and your discovery, quite interesting.

Checked the Supplement PDF and it calls for:

Motorcraft® Orange Prediluted Antifreeze/Coolant WSS-M97B44-D2 (U.S.)

..and then I checked the printed version that came with the car. Same thing.

Mine was Produced on 10/28/19, chassis 0171.

Thats why I was surprised to hear you say your car head the green antifreeze. It was built before mine (VIN 954 / Chassis 261), and mine is orange.

 

[kilobravo]

I don't have an answer, Jaime but hopefully, it's a moot point.

Thoughts and prayers are with you, my friend..be safe as you can out there.

 

[CaptDave]

Dave: With all that's going on, this is a nice respite and your discovery, quite interesting.

Checked the Supplement PDF and it calls for:

Motorcraft® Orange Prediluted Antifreeze/Coolant WSS-M97B44-D2 (U.S.)

..and then I checked the printed version that came with the car. Same thing.

Mine was Produced on 10/28/19, chassis 0171.

Very interesting. Seems to me like that had a re-print of the manual sometime after production started with this change. Appreciate all the info you provided. Hope you're staying safe down there in Texas.

 

[kilobravo]

Yep, we're hunkered down at Casa KB, it's just the better half and two Dobies. My wife loves Sam's so we have oodles of supplies. <chuckling>

As for the coolant, I figure if Ford put the green IAT fluid in my car, they are responsible if it harms the engine. And, the car has been holding right at the thermostat temp a hundred percent of the time.

I'm gonna worry about it another day but thanks again, Dave, for the excellent attention to detail needed to spot the color difference. :-)

 

[Jmeo]

I’m more worried what the reason was to change mid production. Had to be a reason they switched, and Is green superior, or better for the cooling system, over the orange?

Perhaps this was the hold up, and mine being the first to ship in the US, it got out before they switched it to green?

 

[Cobra Jet]

My chassis number is 0240. Organic Acid Technology (OAT) coolants generally have orange as one of their colors while Inorganic Additive Technology (IAT) coolants are green. I suspect there was a change in the cooling system components/construction that necessitated the change.

This is interesting as I was going to say it was strange to see the IAT in the OP’s coolant bottle... when all S550’s since inception have been OAT.

Can anyone confirm why there was a coolant change and is this due to a possible change in materials used in the engine, heads or radiator?

Also I I’ve not seen any TSB or SSM informing of a production change.

 

[16Kobra]

I’m more worried what the reason was to change mid production. Had to be a reason they switched, and Is green superior, or better for the cooling system, over the orange?

Perhaps this was the hold up, and mine being the first to ship in the US, it got out before they switched it to green?

maybe they ran out????

 

[CaptDave]

This is interesting as I was going to say it was strange to see the IAT in the OP’s coolant bottle... when all S550’s since inception have been OAT.

Can anyone confirm why there was a coolant change and is this due to a possible change in materials used in the engine, heads or radiator?

I also found it interesting because both my '16 and my '19 mustang's used the orange OAT coolant.

Regardless of exactly why it changed, I picked up a gallon on the correct coolant from the local parts department this morning and I'm going to fill my car to the correct level since the factory didn't seem to do so. Hopefully I don't have a leak anywhere.

 

[kilobravo]

Dave: I'm betting the bottle ran out at the factory and the installer didn't complete the fill. Very slim chance it has a leak.

 

[CaptDave]

Dave: I'm betting the bottle ran out at the factory and the installer didn't complete the fill. Very slim chance it has a leak.

I agree KB. Figured better to be safe than sorry.

 

[The Chairman]

My coolant is orange and filled to the seam like normal. Built date of 4 Dec. chassis L0410.
I would think the entire Mustang production would have orange coolant. Strange....

 

[CaptDave]

My coolant orange and filled to the seam like normal. Built date of 4 Dec. chassis L0410.
I would think the entire Mustang production would have orange coolant. Strange....

Very Strange. Does your manual and/or supplement call for orange or yellow coolant? There seems to have been a change at some point early in production.

 

[The Chairman]

Very Strange. Does your manual and/or supplement call for orange or yellow coolant? There seems to have been a change at some point early in production.

My owners manual is still sealed, but the cover date of the package says it was printed on 23 Oct 2019.
I also have the full 2020 Mustang Service Manual, and it says:
Note: During normal vehicle operation, the engine coolant may change color from orange to pink or light red. As long as the engine coolant is clear and uncontaminated, this color change does not indicate the engine coolant has degraded nor does it require the engine coolant to be drained, the system to be flushed, or the engine coolant to be replaced.
• DO NOT MIX different colors or types of coolant in your vehicle. Make sure the correct coolant is used. Mixing of engine coolants may harm your engine’ s cooling system. The use of an improper coolant may harm engine and cooling system components and may void the warranty.
• In case of emergency, a large amount of water without engine coolant may be added in order to reach a vehicle service location. In this instance, the cooling system must be drained, chemically cleaned with Motorcraft® Premium Cooling System Flush, and refilled with prediluted coolant as soon as possible. Water alone without engine coolant can cause engine damage from corrosion, overheating or freezing.
+++++++++++
The Capacities and Specifications section says "Orange Coolant"
+++++++++++
Seems to me that all Mustangs should have the orange coolant and they are not inter-changable.
What color is your inter-cooler coolant? Might be a giveaway as to what is going on....

 

[CaptDave]

My owners manual is still sealed, but the cover date of the package says it was printed on 23 Oct 2019.
I also have the full 2020 Mustang Service Manual, and it says:
Note: During normal vehicle operation, the engine coolant may change color from orange to pink or light red. As long as the engine coolant is clear and uncontaminated, this color change does not indicate the engine coolant has degraded nor does it require the engine coolant to be drained, the system to be flushed, or the engine coolant to be replaced.
• DO NOT MIX different colors or types of coolant in your vehicle. Make sure the correct coolant is used. Mixing of engine coolants may harm your engine’ s cooling system. The use of an improper coolant may harm engine and cooling system components and may void the warranty.
• In case of emergency, a large amount of water without engine coolant may be added in order to reach a vehicle service location. In this instance, the cooling system must be drained, chemically cleaned with Motorcraft® Premium Cooling System Flush, and refilled with prediluted coolant as soon as possible. Water alone without engine coolant can cause engine damage from corrosion, overheating or freezing.
+++++++++++
The Capacities and Specifications section says "Orange Coolant"
+++++++++++
Seems to me that all Mustangs should have the orange coolant and they are not inter-changable.
What color is your inter-cooler coolant? Might be a giveaway as to what is going on....

It’s the same color as the main coolant reservoir, the greenish yellow color from the original post photo. It’s all just very strange. Main car manual says greenish yellow coolant. GT500 supplement says orange coolant. And then the added December 2019 printed insert says greenish yellow coolant. So at the end of the day I’m thoroughly confused, lol.

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