i've got a '99 f150, 4.6 with 185k miles. the radiator hoses are the original. should i change them out, or wait? Thanks!

 

Change them.

Also, how old is the coolant?

Also, inspect for corrosion.

 

coolant has been in there since 2009. then i had the heater core replaced.

 

7 years? Overdue for change.

 

Are the hoses sold today as good as the OE hoses? When Autozone and Advance Auto came to my area several decades ago, their hoses were crap and would fail within a year. My 02 is still running the OE hoses.

 

Rockauto.com sells Gates, AC Delco, Continental, Dayco, and Motorcraft hoses.

 

Would it be alright to use this antifreeze or should I use something else?

 

My 02 manual said check the color of the coolant. If it is green use the old style coolant that has to be changed more often. Mine is green so I'm using the old style coolant that is green. If it isn't green use the long life coolant. I don't think it is okay to mix them.

 

You can use the Deere stuff, but only if you do a complete flush. The hard part is going to be doing a complete drain including the block after you flush it. If you used concentrated instead of premix, this wouldn't be an issue. The Deere coolant is top quality.

 

Would it hurt if any if the two were mixed?

 

I would not mix it. That Deere stuff is semi-proprietary.

 

Alright...thanks!