Aftermarket Subaru Blue Coolant Ok?

[panthermike]

Have a good buddy of mine who has a '19 Forester 2.5. He typically gets things done at a dealer local to him. They recently told him he needs several services including Coolant exchange. I would like to help him by saving a considerable amount of cashola.

I was reading about the blue coolant and noticed that both Zerex and even Supertech have a blue option. Any qualms to using the alternatives? If so, I have no issue letting him know to buck up for the OEM stuff.

 

[BHopkins]

I did a fair amount of research and decided to go with Zerex Asian Blue coolant for the Outback we used to own. I had no problems at all, and would have no qualms with recommending it for the right application.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

I put the Zerex blue in my ‘07 Impreza 4 years ago (with a new OEM thermostat and gasket!!) and it’s been perfect. I’m getting ready to do another round of coolant and thermostat when I do the timing belt this spring.

 

[panthermike]

I did a fair amount of research and decided to go with Zerex Asian Blue coolant for the Outback we used to own. I had no problems at all, and would have no qualms with recommending it for the right application.

I put the Zerex blue in my ‘07 Impreza 4 years ago (with a new OEM thermostat and gasket!!) and it’s been perfect. I’m getting ready to do another round of coolant and thermostat when I do the timing belt this spring.

Thank you both for the real world experience.

 

[CarbonToast]

Used Zerex Asain Blue a few years ago on my 2015 forester no issues

 

[Coltron_Actual]

I used the Zerex Asian Blue in my Yamaha Super Tenere years ago. Not a car, but Asian , no issues whatsoever.

 

[Passport1]

Get him a jug of this, <$20. I've used it in several of my Japanese vehicles.

 

[The Critic]

There's a specific way they need to be bled. You don't have to vacuum fill, but if you don't, make sure you follow the procedure precisely.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Zerex Asian Blue is good stuff.

Other good coolants include Pentofrost A3, Peak OET Blue, and Recochem OEM Blue

The ST coolant could come from Reochem or Prestone. If it's from Recochem, it will say made in Canada. The Recochem is good to use. The Prestone is not.

 

[MRC01]

Does Subaru still recommend the coolant additive for the 2019 models?
For prior years the additive is a Subaru rebranded Holts Radweld.

 

[BHopkins]

No. I can't remember the exact year, but the additive hasn't been required since around early 2010.

 

[siriusc1024]

Get him a jug of this, <$20. I've used it in several of my Japanese vehicles.



View attachment 278964

No don't do that. Supertech is supplied by Prestone. Prestone includes 2-EHA even in their Asian coolant. Asian coolant should not contain this. Get Peak or, preferably, Zerex.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

There's a specific way they need to be bled. You don't have to vacuum fill, but if you don't, make sure you follow the procedure precisely.

Lisle radiator fill kit. Makes it painless. But yes it takes a long time to get all of the air burps out.

 

[panthermike]

There's a specific way they need to be bled. You don't have to vacuum fill, but if you don't, make sure you follow the procedure precisely.

Any link by chance to good procedure or would filling with the Lisle tool be sufficient?

 

[The Critic]

Any link by chance to good procedure or would filling with the Lisle tool be sufficient?

https://www.subaruforester.org/thre...-air-out-of-the-cooling-system-merged.853240/

 

[panthermike]

https://www.subaruforester.org/thre...-air-out-of-the-cooling-system-merged.853240/

Thank you. It looks pretty straight forward, have you done this yourself?

 

[The Critic]

Thank you. It looks pretty straight forward, have you done this yourself?

Yes - and I'll say that item #8 is critical.

 

[BHopkins]

I used a Lisle radiator funnel when I did the flush and fill on my wife's Outback. It worked pretty good.

 

[panthermike]

Yes - and I'll say that item #8 is critical.

Wonderful. The first set of steps is ignition on, engine off? Also, item #7 (refrigerant), what's that about?

 

[The Critic]

Wonderful. The first set of steps is ignition on, engine off? Also, item #7 (refrigerant), what's that about?

Probably borrowed instructions from a procedure that requires coolant drain/refill.