No coolant in the reservior and looking down I see a little yellow fluid. Doing some research people use old green stuff which I believe also comes in yellow. BUT some people are using Xerex 05 which is yellow-orange.
So assuming that the previous owner or car lot put in old-type coolant (just yellow dye instead of neon green), would it hurt if I put in some Xerex 05 in there to top it off?
If you’re talking about the plastic overflow canister/bottle near the radiator, just top that up with water from the garden hose if you’re in a pinch, unless the temps are freezing where you are. If its freezing where you are then you have to have some ethylene glycol in there. If it was me, id buy a cheap gallon of pre-mix green cheap regular ole antifreeze, top up the overflow, and throw the rest of the jug in the back of the jeep, just in case.
Yes you can use Zerex 05 but mix it 50/50 (or whatever the manufacturer recommends for the outside temps in your area) with water first.
Don’t use the old green stuff in a newer vehicle. Use OE or an OE compatible antifreeze.
Annoyed, not a problem since I have a full jug of Xerex 05 that I don’t need now since I jot rid of my old Jeep. My big concern is aren’t there combinations of coolant (IIRC old version of DexCool and Od Green Stuff) that will severely fudge up you engine?
Nothing to worry about if you’re just topping off the overflow. Id just put whatever I had in it as long as its a 50/50 mix. It will not severely fudge up the engine. Engines are not that fickle. Its just a little top up.
Or go to any gas station and get a $5 gallon jug of the premix green stuff and top it off with that.
End of the day you should drain and flush the radiator and put your preferred antifreeze in there.
Why do I do this if mixing coolant types is not a bad thing and won’t mess the engine up?
Zerex G-05 is a HOAT formula which is essentially compatible with IAT (typically green) and OAT (e.g. Dex-Cool, typically orange/red) antifreeze. As best I remember, it’s the factory recommended type for that era Chrysler/Jeep products. I’d use it with no worries.
Mixing IAT and OAT is where there’s a problem.
If you have yellow longer life coolant (check your manual!) then the G05 should be compatible. Like Gary T says, don’t mix old style green stuff with a modern long life OAT coolant. Unfortunately many times you have to find charts to figure out which factory coolants are OAT or HOAT.
FWIW I say check your manual since googling for it doesn’t give me anything firm whether your Cherokee used green stuff or long life from the factory.
There is always a risk of mixing coolant, but typically this happens where DexCool and the ubiquitous green are mixed and if you’ve never flushed or changed out your radiator fluid. Most of the time it will be okay. There is a small risk of the coolants ‘gelling’ and clogging if you don’t know the vehicles history. The bigger issue here is why are you missing coolant? It should remain at a stable level lest there be a leak (in most cases).
Fill it up with coolant and put a folded cardboard box (roughly 4x4ft) under the car after driving it for a while. Check in the morning for drips, and inspect/smell the droplets to see if any coolant is leaking.
If you have a 4.0L Inline 6 Cyl. Cherokee, check around the belt, where the radiator hose meets to see if the water pump is weeping fluid (about to fail). Check the hoses (no bulges or are too soft when cold). Any overheating? Bright white smoke from exhaust (after driving for a bit)? Stumbling engine or rough idle?
Check the drain plug on the radiator (lower passenger side) to make sure its plugged.
Because you’re so worried about it.
And because its piss easy to drain and flush the radiator at home. Theres a little petcock on the bottom of the radiator for just that.
Coolants do not last forever. If you don’t know when the coolant was changed last, a flush and refill is cheap insurance to prevent a leaking heater core.
Funny you mention that. One question is why he lost almost all of his coolant? I figured he just needs a new radiator but today he told me his heater isn’t working.
One symptom of being significantly low on coolant is no heat from the heater. If the coolant level drops just a bit more, the engine could overheat severely. Top it up before driving, and find and fix the leak.
Think the problems is there is still air in the radiator (put over a gallon directly in it). So burping it again.