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Are there any quality differences in the conventional green antifreeze brands (Zerex,house brands,etc)? Or are they probably all made in the same plant with different labels on the jugs according to brand?
Any differences in "green" antifreeze brands?
- Thread starter aquariuscsm
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Zerex is a low silicate formula; most of the others like Peak Green are not low silicate.
It's always best to check out the PDS, MSDS and look at the contents on the bottle. I had used WM Green for years in my T4R and had no problems. When I last checked the bottle....it is now a G-O5 formulation and not the low silicate green that they once had on the shelf.
To make matters simple, I flushed my cooling system this past summer with distilled water and replaced the green WM coolant with Original Toyota Red, long lifetime, full strength, that I found for a great price at Car Quest.
I picked up 4 gallons of Toyota Red, Full Strength, Long Lifetime at Car Quest for $22 a gallon.
To make matters simple, I flushed my cooling system this past summer with distilled water and replaced the green WM coolant with Original Toyota Red, long lifetime, full strength, that I found for a great price at Car Quest.
I picked up 4 gallons of Toyota Red, Full Strength, Long Lifetime at Car Quest for $22 a gallon.
Drew, the conventional Peak specification page says it meets ASTM D4985, which is the standard for low silicate ethylene glycol coolants that require an additional SCA for diesel engine use.
To my knowledge, all conventional green coolants are low silicate now. Even the house brands (i.e. Tractor Supply) state low silicate.
Cressida, if your car came with conventional green, then that is never a bad choice. The coolant manufacturers recommend conventional green in older vehicles, but I haven't looked at the cutoff date. The "experts" claim it protects copper/brass/solder in older systems slightly better. SCAs are only needed in diesel applications.
To the OP, how could we know if the brand names are better than the house brands? I imagine the cheap brands could be mixed to the lowest additive level to meet specs. and one would hope the name brands exceed this (Peak claims this). Zerex claims theirs is good for 5 yr./100K.
If someone knows, please enlighten us.
To my knowledge, all conventional green coolants are low silicate now. Even the house brands (i.e. Tractor Supply) state low silicate.
Cressida, if your car came with conventional green, then that is never a bad choice. The coolant manufacturers recommend conventional green in older vehicles, but I haven't looked at the cutoff date. The "experts" claim it protects copper/brass/solder in older systems slightly better. SCAs are only needed in diesel applications.
To the OP, how could we know if the brand names are better than the house brands? I imagine the cheap brands could be mixed to the lowest additive level to meet specs. and one would hope the name brands exceed this (Peak claims this). Zerex claims theirs is good for 5 yr./100K.
If someone knows, please enlighten us.
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Are there any quality differences in the conventional green antifreeze brands (Zerex,house brands,etc)? Or are they probably all made in the same plant with different labels on the jugs according to brand?
There are differences. Whether they are "quality" differences depends on what your requirements are.
The trend is towards low silicate, and the Zerex "Original Green" is a low-silicate. It is nitrited for use with diesels so it is Detroit Diesel 7SE298 and Cummins 90T8-4 compliant.
Comparable in the Peak line is Fleet Charge, which is nitrited and low silicate, and in Prestone it's Heavy Duty Antifreeze/Coolant.
Personally I would avoid "universal" coolants like Peak Global and Prestone Extended Life. They lack the silicate, which can create a variety of problems in some circumstances.
Another choice, if you want to go long life, is Zerex G-05, which is a HOAT that is low silicate and nitrited. If you go that way you'll want to do a thorough flush but after that it should be good for up to 5 years or 150,000 miles.
Are there any quality differences in the conventional green antifreeze brands (Zerex,house brands,etc)? Or are they probably all made in the same plant with different labels on the jugs according to brand?
There are differences. Whether they are "quality" differences depends on what your requirements are.
The trend is towards low silicate, and the Zerex "Original Green" is a low-silicate. It is nitrited for use with diesels so it is Detroit Diesel 7SE298 and Cummins 90T8-4 compliant.
Comparable in the Peak line is Fleet Charge, which is nitrited and low silicate, and in Prestone it's Heavy Duty Antifreeze/Coolant.
Personally I would avoid "universal" coolants like Peak Global and Prestone Extended Life. They lack the silicate, which can create a variety of problems in some circumstances.
Another choice, if you want to go long life, is Zerex G-05, which is a HOAT that is low silicate and nitrited. If you go that way you'll want to do a thorough flush but after that it should be good for up to 5 years or 150,000 miles.
Is the Peak Fleet Charge or the Prestone Heavy duty or the Zerex orginal green OK in a 99 Ford diesel without additional SCA?
Originally Posted By: White 03
Is the Peak Fleet Charge or the Prestone Heavy duty or the Zerex orginal green OK in a 99 Ford diesel without additional SCA?
Take a look at the coolant requirement in the owner manual and then take a look at the specs on the coolant. Here are the approvals for Zerex G-05:
DaimlerChrysler MS 9769 Approved
Ford WSS-M97B51-A1 Approved
MTU/DDC Approved
Detroit Diesel 7SE298
Deere & Company Approved
Mercedes Benz Approved
Cummins 14603 Approved
ASTM D6210
Perkins Diesel
SAE J1034 / SAEJ814
GM 1825M / GM 1899M
TMC of the ATA RP 329
GE Wind Turbines
for example.
Is the Peak Fleet Charge or the Prestone Heavy duty or the Zerex orginal green OK in a 99 Ford diesel without additional SCA?
Take a look at the coolant requirement in the owner manual and then take a look at the specs on the coolant. Here are the approvals for Zerex G-05:
DaimlerChrysler MS 9769 Approved
Ford WSS-M97B51-A1 Approved
MTU/DDC Approved
Detroit Diesel 7SE298
Deere & Company Approved
Mercedes Benz Approved
Cummins 14603 Approved
ASTM D6210
Perkins Diesel
SAE J1034 / SAEJ814
GM 1825M / GM 1899M
TMC of the ATA RP 329
GE Wind Turbines
for example.
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