1995 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 Coolant

[Kira]

Hello, We're servicing the cooling system in the car above. Its hoses are shot and the coolant is disgusting.

The "Zerex Chart" shows G-05 for that year VW. Is that correct/optimal?

The search function on this board produces an avalanche of scattered, unrelated posts.

Thanks for any info/experience. Kira

 

[DuckRyder]

It should have a label on the cap or a shield on the side of the expansion tank at least my VR6 did.

Pretty sure it takes blue G11...

 

[Thermo1223]

It does take G11 but you should be able to use G12+ with no issues. I do not know about G13 however.

Just make sure it gets a good flush.

 

[scurvy]

Flush it out well and fill it with whichever recent formulation you can get from VW. It'll either be G12+/++/+++ or G13.

Blue G11 was difficult to find last I had to look for it. The introduction of the plusses to G12 made it backwards-compatible with G11 (AFAIR) among other chemistry tweaks.

 

[Kira]

Hello and thanks, I have to ask......the G11 and 12's seem straightforward enough...does that mean the published chart stating G-05 is acceptable is really wrong? Kira

 

[antiqueshell]

Actually that model year used G 11 which is very close in chemistry to G 05, they are almost identical for all intensive purposes. I would use the G 05 without hesitation, just make sure you get as much of the old coolant out of the system first. OE product is from a company called Pentosin.

Many European cars from that era used something called
Glysantin G 48 which is from BASF, but you cannot get that product here in the USA through the aftermarket for some weird reason, I could never figure this one out.

G-05 is a duplicate of G 48 designed for the USA and sold under license by Zerex to the aftermarket.

 

[scurvy]

Originally Posted By: Kira
Hello and thanks, I have to ask......the G11 and 12's seem straightforward enough...does that mean the published chart stating G-05 is acceptable is really wrong?


I wouldn't say that it isn't acceptable, but that the OEM G11 or modern replacements work very, very well. I would use what VW recommends for it these days - for all the wailing and gnashing of teeth about 'them yoo-rope-eee-uhn cars' one thing (among others) they do exceptionally well is picking coolants.

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
for all intensive purposes

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Many European cars from that era used something called Glysantin G 48 which is from BASF, but you cannot get that product here in the USA through the aftermarket for some weird reason, I could never figure this one out.

It is available through the aftermarket, and from VW (and BMW and Jaguar and Mercedes and Opel/Vauxhall and Saab and Volvo and...) - it's G11!

Here's a nice chart what might help you out, Kira: http://www.glysantin.de/files/basf_glysantin_approval-code-overview_a4_e_1.pdf

 

[antiqueshell]

scurvy:

I have never been able to find BASF Glysantin branded fluids ANYWHERE in the USA, ever. Where have you found them to be available?


You can buy G11 from Pentosin (which is made under license
from BASF) Which is as expensive as the VW branded G11, not worth the cost considering that G 05 will do the job perfectly and is a near copy of G48.

 

[scurvy]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
I have never been able to find BASF Glysantin branded fluids ANYWHERE in the USA, ever. Where have you found them to be available?


BASF doesn't sell to consumers. You have to buy Pentosin, VW, Opel, Saab, Ford or etc...'s own branded version of it. Sounds as if you're asking to buy straight from the factory when you have to go through a distributor instead.

Motorex seems to have the least 'branded' version, which is just called Motorex G48.

 

[antiqueshell]

scurvy:

Just to clarify the (BASF) Glysantin brand IS sold in the aftermarket to consumers in most of Europe and other places around the world.

 

[scurvy]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Just to clarify the (BASF) Glysantin brand IS sold in the aftermarket to consumers in most of Europe and other places around the world.


I was under the impression you were looking to buy something locally but didn't care to buy it from VW.

 

[antiqueshell]

I'd prefer to buy the OEM product directly from the division of the company that created the product in the first place, if I had a choice. I'm puzzled that BASF has chosen not to market their products here in North America. But then again other large well known companies also seem to leave out one of the biggest markets when it comes to various products, Castrol, Shell, Valvoline, and others refuse to offer their GL-4 manual transmission oils available for sale in the USA.

 

[ARB1977]

If I remember correctly it takes red VW coolant. I bought concentrated coolant and use distiller water in our old 97 Jetta with the same engine.