Cadillac: Fluids, coolant hoses, weather transmission

Question
what is the best type of fluids ( Anti-frezze, oil, transmitions fluids ) to use in a 1988 caddillac sedan deville?  

Answer
Since the engine is not new it's probably not a good idea to use synthetic oils, or mixtures of the two.  It helps only if you use it from the new engine stage.  What happens is that the synthetic oils on older engines seem to spring leaks on the oil seals like the oil pan... timing cover...etc.  If your engine is high mileage and you don't live in a super cold area use maybe 10w-40 or 20w-50 if you are in a very hot climate, because this will help keep your engine from burning so much oil.  No matter how new your engine is, there is always some oil consumption, and on high mileage engines the thicker oil makes it hard for oil to blow by the piston rings and other things.

If you are in a really cold climate, maybe just run what most manufacturers recommend which in most cases is 5w-30, or 10w-30.

If you plan on keeping the car a good while more, you could use the extended life coolant .... the pink stuff.  It doesn't contain silicates which ordinary "green" coolant does, and protects the engine a bit better than the green stuff, and may make your water pump last longer.  Of course they say it is 100,000 mile coolant, but in most cases the coolant hoses on the radiator will not last that long unless you are lucky.  Your best bet is to do the normal routine even with the red stuff... new hoses and coolant every two years.  It's usually not more than 30 dollars if you do it yourself, and it'll give you peace of mind when you are on long trips and extreme weather.

Transmission fluids.... use what the owners manual indicates, ever transmission is different.  There really isn't anything I can recommend since you have to use what the manual says.