My XK8 requires long life orange antifreeze. What brand antifreeze is good to use? Is there a good substitute for the Jaguar stuff?

 

I used the GM stuff.

 

The owners manual will quote a specification number. Any replacement fluid that meets this spec will be suitable. Brand name is irrelevant and colour is misleading.

 

For a simple solution(no pun intended) go to your local Walmart and buy Prestone Dexcool(around $15 a gallon) - meets Ford specification WSS- M97B44-D. Dilute 50/50 with distilled water.
It is also available ready diluted but that's a slightly more expensive route.

 

Agreed. I have been using Prestone DexCool for years with our previous Lexus SUVs and now our two Jaguars. It meets the required M97B44D specs as batroute pointed out. I have never suffered a coolant gelling issue with it. I believe you'll do just fine with it as well....

 

I went to Prestone for GM. On back it also listed Ford and listed the correct spec number and it was orange.

 

+1 for the Prestone and Walmart!

When was the spec changed? The earlier cars were different IIRC.

 

Choosing The Best Coolant: It?s Just Antifreeze, Right? | FCP Euro


If anybody wants some light bed time reading )

 

From the owner's manual

The cooling system should be filled or
topped up with a mixture of 50% plain
water and 50% Jaguar Antifreeze, Coolant
and Corrosion Inhibitor conforming to
specification: WSS M97B44-D, coloured
orange, Extended Life Coolant.

 

Another satisfied user of Prestone Dexcool.

 

Talk to your Mechanic before you use Dex-Cool. That's one of GM's worst products. It eats Rubber, Plastic & Metal Gaskets and any Aluminim it comes in contact with. If you don't belive me read about the class action lawsuit against GM Dex-Cool. GM lost!

When it gets to be a few years old and starts breaking down, Dex-Cool then takes on an electical charge (which can be measured). This occurs from the friction of the coolant and water circulating through the system. We now have what is known as electolosis. It kills cooling systems, eats head and manifold gaskets and destroys hoses. Build up enouch charge and you could potentially have electronic failures. Read up on ECD before you go that way.

I have no desire for a premature octopuss hose failure myself.

 

The particular culprit is 2-EH and latterly, 2-EHA. Known plasticizers which attack silicone and some plastics. 2-EHA is favoured by dexclone makers proclaiming
"No 2-EH in our product!" Technically correct, but ahem ... what about the 2-EHA?

Remember those nice silicone water seal rings around the water jacket openings
in the head gasket? Oh yeah, Jaguar V8's never blow head gaskets.