Mixing OEM coolant with aftermarket
- Thread starter Whiter0se
- Start date
mazda doesn't use motorcraft chemicals, and the motorcraft coolant is a concentrate, so you can mix to whatever ratio you want... the TSB is irrelevant as it applies to mazdas, not fords... it's still FL22 as it was used on some fords that shared common engineering with mazdas about 15 years ago
sounds like you didn't even bother reading the page I linked, which shows how coolants formulations are different between brands/automakers that aren't made to a specific type/formulation
go on following the manual to the T topping off the coolant with unsanctioned coolant... that's about as good as not following the manual at all... all because you want to nickle and dime over something that's seldomly changed, and costs only a fraction of the cost of the components or the entire vehicle.... if you really wanted to smartly saved money, you wouldn't have over thought this and just put in the few ounces of distilled water needed and go on with life... at least with just adding distilled water, you predictably know what changed/what the effects are... mixing aftermarket coolant with unknown formulation differences is probably going to be ok, you still don't know if and what detrimental effects there are... you must like gambling with wild cards because you like conspiracy theories and demand proof that can't be given due to trade secrets
I prefer to trust the engineers who had millions of dollars backing instead of aftermarket companies that had to reverse engineer and change stuff slightly to not get into legal trouble.. all on razor thin budgets
if it makes any difference for you, the Mazda and Subaru coolants are made by CCI... not sure who makes the Toyota coolants, but it could be Aisin.... these companies have nothing to do with Peak, Prestone, etc, and do not make anything for those brands.. they are strictly private label OE suppliers only
but I'm done here... I wanted to just drop a quick note telling everyone not to overthink topping off coolant (by just using distilled water, which costs $1 gallon... use the left over for your clothes iron or steamer), only to get sucked into a pointless debate over spending $20-40 more on coolant that is supposed to be spent only after 10 years... you go on nickle and diming maintenance over your car, which this stuff and oil is cheap insurance... your car, your money... not my problem if things go wrong and you end up spending hundreds to thousands to fix... I rather spend $20 more for the kosher stuff and not have to worry about it
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- 2023 CX-5 2.5 Turbo AWD Auto
RIP 8/23:2013 CX-5 Sport FWD Auto 120k
It’s literally $30 MSRP, and I shared the part number and source: MazdaSwag selling for $20 /gallon plus shipping. $60 for 2 gallons shipped to my door of ready to use coolant. A whopping $35 extra for OEM coolant vs a gallon of Motorcraft concentrate LOL
Dealerships may be willing to price match others, too. Mine would but they were out of stock at the time. Doesn’t hurt to ask.
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181962
Your CCI note is interesting. Their Extended Life Green which can be bought in the aftermarket is recommended for "Nissan, Infiniti, Kia, Hyundai , Mazda , Subaru , Mitsubishi." I'd still like to know the basis for your believing that Mazda put millions of dollars into a proprietary formula. Or is it that the stuff in those CCI aftermarket jugs is the same stuff in the Mazda branded bottles. Show me something anywhere where Mazda put the words "proprietary" and "coolant" together.
I find it odd that on the one hand the Mazda product would be touted while on the other hand it would be diluted with water when that TSB specifically stated that the switch to 55/45 mix was to get more anti-rust components into the mix.
For me it is not about the the nominal money difference between one option or the other. Its about separating facts from assumptions.
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I'm going to say this one last time and not spend another minute replying here: you keep demanding "show me something", when it's nearly impossible to produce because the formulations are trade secrets
FL22 is a specific formulation, just like GM Dexcool is... the old 2 year dark green, phosphate based Mazda coolant had no special name for it, and was the same stuff Subaru used to put in until the switched to blue coolant... it's possible other Japanese manufacturers such as Honda and Nissan used that same stuff back then, but I haven't looked into it because I own neither of those cars... Toyota's coolants for the longest time were red until they switched to pink in around 2004... Japanese coolants used to be pretty much the same in the old days until the switch to these extended life coolants, which is when manufacturer specific formulations started... because there was no name, and nothing specifically stated in the manuals or the jugs, many people assumed it was just overpriced coolant that you can buy under the top brand name "prestone" back then... but it's not... green prestone was silicates based while the old japanese dark green coolants were phosphate based... japanese engineers determined silicates wore out water pump seals and bearings faster, and subaru engineers at the very least even determined silicates based coolants and tap water contributed to radiator build up
so how is using some random brand of coolant or mixing not a big deal? go ahead and mix away... your money, your car... go **** it up, not my problem
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- Plano, Texas, USA
Agreed. That’s why I use OEM fluids all the time even if they’re more expensive. This eliminates any possible compatibility issues.
Yes. The same applies to aftermarket parts. For example, aftermarket oil filters are always “one-size-fits-all”, use one filter for every Mazda engine, whereas Mazda has different filters with different specs for current 2.5L NA and 2.5T.
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- Plano, Texas, USA
Yes, the MSRP for Mazda OEM FL22 coolant, part no. 0000-77-508F-20, is $26.42. Although it’s significantly more expensive than before pandemic, but so as everything else. My Mazda dealer is always selling parts at MSRP without any markups; or 15% ~ 20% off with coupon.
But apparently there’s a shortage on Mazda FL22 coolant. It’s no longer available on Amazon and eBay. And I really missed the OEM FL22 concentrate which was selling for ~$2 more than current 55/45 pre-mixed FL22 coolant.
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- South Carolina
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- 21 CX-9 13 CX-5
Even at that price, it's not $60 for 2 gallons, it's $120 for two gallons. Half of what you are paying for is literally water. The whole premix thing is a complete scam, and has been ever since they started that crap.
No thanks.
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- 2023 CX-5 2.5 Turbo AWD Auto
RIP 8/23:2013 CX-5 Sport FWD Auto 120k
You’re multiplying when you should be dividing. If I buy $20 of a gallon of 55/45 premix, I’m paying $11 for coolant and $9 for water. I did an apples to apples conversion of $25 Motorcraft gallon of concentrate to the $60 I paid for 2 gallons of Mazda 55/45. I don’t understand why you keep doubling that to $120. I give up.
Like Yrwei, I wish Mazda still had the concentrate available. But the OP needs to top off the coolant reservoir. No need for a gallon of concentrate there. Getting an oil change and asking the dealer to top off fluids would probably be the best bang for the buck, but OP doesn’t want dealer service. And honestly? The dealer would likely top off with distilled water if FL22 weren’t available.
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- South Carolina
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- 21 CX-9 13 CX-5
You're paying $20 for only half of a gallon of actual coolant, plus shipping. Even though it comes in a gallon jug, you are still only buying half of a gallon of coolant. The rest is literally water, so you absolutely cannot count that in the price. So with your shipping, that is $30 for a half of a gallon. $60 would be for a gallon. $120 would be for 2 gallons.
It's this right here why the premix stuff is such a scam. It depends on people who can't do math.
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- Plano, Texas, USA
Ha, that’s very true! With high price on FL22 coolant (or any other OEM coolant, and I still remember paying less than $10 in old days for OEM coolant and that’s 100% concentrate), I’ve seen Mazda dealers using tap water or distilled water to top off the coolant during new car perpetuation quite a few times including my Mazds dealer. But I have to say Mazda should keep all fluid levels at maximum level when they deliver new vehicles to the dealership, not rely on dealers top off every fluid which is getting more expensive for their dealers nowadays.
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- Plano, Texas, USA
I can understand your calculation and also I agree it’s a scam selling premixed coolant for the same price as the concentrate if it’s available. But the good old concentrate is getting scarce, and IMO we should still use any kind of FL22 coolant (although I’d use Mazda OEM FL22 coolant) as recommended by Mazda for our CX-5’s even if it’s getting more expensive.
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- South Carolina
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- 21 CX-9 13 CX-5
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- Plano, Texas, USA
Yes, Prestone or Zerex aftermarket coolant used to cost $2.99 per gallon and that’s the concentrate! But I use OEM coolant all the time since I saw people screwed up on their 2001.5 VW Passat (I used to own one) by adding green Prestone coolant instead of VW recommended G11 to top off which makes the entire coolant turning brown and getting all jell-o like! A disaster no doubt!
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Conrad 16.5
Banned
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- 2016.5 CX-5 GT AWD titanium/black 2016 Miata Club ST MT white
FL22 only comes premixed, that you can find? Check out post #2 above...
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- 2023 CX-5 2.5 Turbo AWD Auto
RIP 8/23:2013 CX-5 Sport FWD Auto 120k
Brother, I see what you’re doing but you just aren’t doing it right:
$25 for 1 gallon concentrate. Add a gallon of water = 2 gallons of mixed and ready to use coolant.
I paid $60 for 2 gallons of what? Ready to use coolant. End of story. No $120. No doubling. It’s that simple. I begrudgingly paid $35 extra for shipping and water to obtain the same end product achieved with concentrate!
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- Mazda CX-9 Signature
1 page of discussion and 2 pages of premix pricing tennis. Just link the source for the members and let them decide.
Yea, but what about an oil FILTER thread. Can't wait for the next one!Who knew a coolant thread could be more fun than an oil thread! I'mma have to go fix another bowl of popcorn!
