Quick answer
Ford coolant: a current Ford manual we checked lists Motorcraft Orange to WSS-M97B44-D and Motorcraft Yellow to WSS-M97B57-A2. Ford says yellow can service orange-filled vehicles, but yellow-filled vehicles must stay on yellow. Older Fords used other specs, so check yours.
Which Ford specification is in your manual?
Motorcraft Orange Prediluted · WSS-M97B44-D2
Check price on AmazonProducts listing WSS-M97B57 — e.g. PEAK OET Yellow 50/50
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Spec codes to look for
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On this page
What coolant does Ford use?
- Motorcraft (Ford's parts brand) describes Motorcraft Orange Prediluted as "Approved to Ford Specification WSS-M97B44-D2" and says it "meets or exceeds the requirements of WSS-M97B44-D2, GMW 3420 (superseded GM 6277M) and ASTM D 3306". [1]
- A current Ford owner manual we checked (1.5L EcoBoost, "Capacities and Specifications") lists Motorcraft Orange Concentrated Antifreeze/Coolant VC-3-B to WSS-M97B44-D and Motorcraft Yellow Prediluted Antifreeze/Coolant VC-13DL-G to WSS-M97B57-A2. [2]
- The same manual says: "The WSS-M97B57-A2 yellow coolant is compatible with the WSS-M97B44-D orange coolant so all vehicles with orange or yellow coolant can be serviced with yellow coolant. However, if the vehicle was manufactured with yellow coolant it must be serviced with yellow coolant to maintain a longer service life." It adds that yellow coolant "may appear fluorescent green". [2]
- Ford has published a position statement on "universal" antifreeze and coolants. Read it before you choose a coolant sold as fitting all makes. [3]
- Older Ford specs also appear in coolant makers' literature, for example ESE-M97B44-A (listed for Zerex Original Green, a green low-silicate coolant) and WSS-M97B51-A1 (listed for Zerex G05). [4]
How Ford coolant changed over the years
How Ford coolant changed over the years
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury have gone through more coolant colours than almost any other maker: conventional green, then Gold, a short-lived Specialty Green on some models, then Orange and now Yellow [5]. Each change is tied to a Ford engineering spec (WSS-M97B…) rather than a colour [2].
| Period | Coolant | Colour | Interval / note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to about 1999 | Conventional green | Green | Shown as "G" on the Motorcraft usage chart [5] |
| Most 2002–2010 models | Motorcraft Premium Gold, WSS-M97B51-A1 | Gold / yellow | Per the Motorcraft brochure [6] |
| Some 2009–2012 models | Motorcraft Specialty Green, WSS-M97B55-A | Dark green | Model-specific per usage chart [5] |
| From about 2011–2013 onward | Motorcraft Orange, WSS-M97B44-D | Orange | Changeover year varies by model [5] |
| Current models (example) | Motorcraft Yellow, WSS-M97B57-A2 | Yellow | Can service orange-filled vehicles [2] |
Ford coolant chemistry
Ford coolant chemistry
Motorcraft says Orange meets WSS-M97B44-D2 and also GMW 3420, the GM Dex-Cool standard [1]. So on paper, Ford's orange-era fluid and GM's are close relatives, but Ford still lists its own code first.
Known Ford coolant issues
Known Ford coolant issues
- The Yellow/Orange relationship only works one way. Ford says yellow can service orange-filled vehicles, but a vehicle filled with yellow from the factory should stay on yellow [2].
- Because the Gold-to-Orange changeover happened model by model, two Fords from the same year can need different coolant. The usage chart lists the changeover per model [5].
Genuine Ford coolant we list
All genuine Motorcraft products and the details Motorcraft publishes are on the Motorcraft coolant brand page.
Aftermarket coolants listing a Ford code
23 products in our data list one of these codes, per their maker:
Codes these products list (tap for every match)WSS-M97B44-D 10WSS-M97B51-A1 6ESE-M97B44-A 5WSS-M97B55-A 3WSS-M97B57-A1/2 2WSS-M97B57-A1 2WSS-M97B44-D2 2
Plus 13 more in the finder.
Coolants whose maker mentions Ford
5 more only mention Ford in application text, which is weaker than a code:
Other car makes
Other car makes
Sibling pages: GM / Chevrolet, Kia, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram & Dodge, Hyundai. Each quotes its own manual, and none of them is interchangeable with Ford by default. If two cars in one household need different coolants, keep separate bottles; mixing coolant covers why. Full list in the make index.
Ready to buy?
Ready to buy?
Our best coolant for Ford page puts the genuine coolant and the aftermarket products that list a matching code side by side, with buying links. It is not a test or ranking.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put orange coolant in a Ford that has yellow?
No. Ford says yellow can go into orange-filled vehicles, but not the other way round.
What coolant did 2002–2010 Fords use?
The Motorcraft brochure says most 2002–2010 models used Motorcraft Premium Gold to WSS-M97B51-A1. Check your model, because some used Specialty Green or changed to Orange early.
Is Motorcraft Orange the same as Dex-Cool?
Motorcraft says Orange meets GMW 3420, the Dex-Cool standard, as well as Ford's WSS-M97B44-D2.
Is Coolant.com affiliated with Ford?
No. We are independent of Ford.
Ford coolant part numbers and spec codes
Ford coolant part numbers and spec codes
Quote these numbers at a parts counter. Each comes from the Ford listing linked in its row, and your manual still decides.
| Genuine product | Part no. | Code shown | Listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcraft Orange Prediluted Antifreeze/Coolant | VC-3DIL-B; VC-3DIL-BD | WSS-M97B44-D2, GMW 3420, GM 6277M | motorcraft.com |
Repair manuals & accessories
Repair manual for your car
Haynes repair manual for Ford
Step-by-step procedures, including draining, refilling and bleeding the cooling system. Manuals cover specific models and years: check the coverage on the cover before you buy.
Examples of the tool type, not a test or ranking by us. Check fit and instructions before you buy. See the full cooling system tools guide.
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How we source this page
- Facts come from manufacturer pages, datasheets, owner's manuals and standards bodies, linked under Sources.
- We do not test products, and no brand pays to be listed or ranked. Advertising and affiliate links are labelled and never change the data.
- Anything we could not find is marked "not published" rather than guessed. Spotted an error? Tell us.
Sources
Sources
- Motorcraft: Orange Prediluted Antifreeze/Coolant
- Ford owner manual: Capacities and Specifications (1.5L EcoBoost)
- Ford Motor Company position statement on universal antifreeze and coolants (2020)
- Valvoline Zerex Original Green product information sheet
- Motorcraft: service coolant usage chart (rev. 6/17/13, PDF)
- Ford Parts: Motorcraft coolants brochure (PDF)
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