Apparently IH used lifetime coolant in the 1970s...

[01rangerxl]

I was browsing Bring a Trailer and saw this 1977 Scout SSII:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1977-international-harvester-super-scout-ii/

I thought this sticker was pretty interesting...

That seems like a pretty bold claim for 1977. I didn't know any passenger vehicles had long life coolant back then. Maybe it was the same stuff they were putting in large trucks and farm equipment, but even then I'm surprised they'd call it "permanent."

I tried looking it up on Mitchell but didn't find anything.

According to this thread, it was probably just ethylene glycol...
http://www.binderplanet.com/forums/index.php?threads/permanent-antifreeze.3644/

 

[Chris142]

Back then "Permanent" meant year round. Guys would only run antifreeze in the winter and water in the summer. Still pretty common here with disastrous results.

 

[bullwinkle]

As above-permanent meant ethylene glycol, non-permanent meant alcohol based, which would have to be replaced with water every spring. No wonder there used to be so many radiator shops!

 

[01rangerxl]

Interesting terminology they chose. Seems like "all-season" would be better.

 

[NormanBuntz]

Too bad it didn't help gas mileage. My father's 1972 Scout got about 10 mpg. That V-8 was a pig.

 

[dogememe]

Originally Posted by NormanBuntz
Too bad it didn't help gas mileage. My father's 1972 Scout got about 10 mpg. That V-8 was a pig.

That sounds about right. I only manage like 11MPG in my 95 Silverado... a whole 20+ years newer just to get like 10% better MPG.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

But then jump to 2005, and you can probably get 18-19 in a Tahoe with a judicious right foot. Oh, the joys of VDS and extra transmission ratios!

 

[bullwinkle]

I used to get 17 MPG highway in my (200K mile plus) ‘94 350 TBI Suburban-just need long, flat road runs, keep it in O/D & converter lockup under 70! No O/D in a Torqueflite, & old school 4WD & brick aerodynamics hurts too.