AntiFreeze -- how to identify

DUMMKOPF352

MEMBER
2000 DODGE CARAVAN
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
95,000 MILES

I have antifreeze dripping (maybe a few tablespoons per night) on the garage floor. Bought a UV light but notice the fluid to be added is different, depending on whether DexCool is the coolant. My drips on clean white paper look orange pinkish, certainly not blue or green. Unfortunately no tags, no records. Charitably helping a neighbor. Thanks for any advice you may be able to offer. Happy Holidays!

5 Replies

DOCFIXIT

MECHANIC
18,828 POSTS

Maybe power steering or transmission fluid.

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Tuesday, November 30th, 2010 AT 1:54 PM

WRENCHTECH

MECHANIC
20,761 POSTS

I believe that truck uses a reddish coolant but look to see which level is dropping.

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Tuesday, November 30th, 2010 AT 2:02 PM

DUMMKOPF352

MEMBER
9 POSTS

Thanks, guys. No question it's antifreeze. Viscosity/fluidity is not oily, as you would expect for power steering or ATF. The level of coolant drops over a couple of weeks. So the question I have is really which fluorescing additive to buy: regular or DexCool?

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Tuesday, November 30th, 2010 AT 2:37 PM

DOCFIXIT

MECHANIC
18,828 POSTS

DexCool exclusive to GM

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Tuesday, November 30th, 2010 AT 2:40 PM

WRENCHTECH

MECHANIC
20,761 POSTS

There is no additive. You're talking about totally different coolants that happened to be colored so they can be identified. What you have is a "silicate free" long life coolant called Mopar MS-9769. Any long life coolant (5yr/50K) will be compatible. They make a universal that is colored yellow so it will blend with all coolant colors. Just make sure it's a "silicate free" long life coolant.