Is there a specific anti-freeze I should be using in my 2001 GC or can I use any brand???

RIZ

 

A pre-mixed 50/50 "any make, any model" is what you should be looking for. If you choose not by a pre-mixed make sure you use distilled water as for dilution. Regular tap water will cause corrosion and rust

 

Colorado, I think the distilled water is a good idea, but it a little extreme. If you've got good clean municiple tap water, it shouldn't be a problem. My well water, on the other hand, might as well be "liguid limestone"!

My dad showed me the best way to mix antifreeze. Buy 2 gallons of straight, pour one gallon into the rad, fill that bottle up with water and pour that in. Take the second bottle and pour 1/2 into the first bottle and top off both with water. Fill the rad with the second bottle to capacity and what is left over is for topoffs. Just be sure to mark the bottle/s 50/50 with a marker.

I've used this method for as long as I can remember, and never had a problem with the mix being too weak or too strong. I've seen guys use straight antifreeze and then wonder why it overheats in the summer. Water's heat transfer properties are much better than straight antifreeze. A 50/50 mix will protect to -30*, begin to slush up at -40* and will freeze at -50* Unless you live on Alaska's north slope, a 50/50 mix is good enough.

Most people buy the ready-mix because it's cheaper per gallon and easier to put in. I wouldn't be so sure companies use distilled water in manufacture. It's probably just filtered.

Have a nice day.

 

Prestone 50/50 mix is diluted with demineralized water ( distilled ). The water here in Colorado is full of minerals (hard water ) Distilled water is preferable to tap water for use in automotive cooling systems. The minerals and ions typically found in tap water can be corrosive to internal engine components, and can cause a more rapid depletion of the anti-corrosion additives found in most antifreeze formulations.
We have hard water in Colorado, and that's why I have never used anything but distilled water

 

Sorry Colorado. I already said it was a good idea. I use cheap gallon bottled water in mine.

 

When the water pump went out my 04 JGCL 4.0 last year the dealer put the orange Dex-Cool back in. Not sure if they flushed the system or just added coolant. Idk, does the dealer buy coolant in a 55 gallon drum or by the gallon?

 

I am sure they have it in 50 gallon drums or larger. I remodeled, added on to two dealerships here in Colorado one a jeep dealer and the other a ford dealer. The bulk tanks they had for oil was around 250 gallons and other fluids had very large tanks. The bulk fill truck would show up about every other day.

 

When I worked at Valvoline Instant Oil Change, we had two 500 gal oil tanks and a 200 gal windshield washer tank. The antifreeze was in 55 gal drums and trans fluid was in 5 gal pails because we stocked 3 different types.

Dexcool was designed specificly for aluminum engines and radiators to reduce corrosion. I'm not aware of how it acts in steel engines.