Asian Blue Coolant

[Carlostrece]

If your local Napa doesn't have it in stick, they can order it for you

I don't care if I buy Peak or Zerex Asian Blue. Based on what we've talked about, one is as good as the other, and it's OK to mix them. Pentafrost would be fine too, but no one local carries it.

So it's just price, availability, and convenience that decide which of those I buy and from which store. However, I won't buy coolant from Amazon because coolant jugs from Amazon sometimes arrive leaking.

 

[Coolant Kid]

Yeah, the reality is you can pick any of these options and be just fine.

 

[mojoe]

$10K follow up question...
I have Peak and Zerex in the garage. Can I mix 'em?

It's my understanding that you should not mix types of coolant. Peak Blue Asian is type PHOAT, and Zerex Blue Asian is type HOAT, and therefore they should not be mixed.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Correct. You can't know if Prestone has 2EHA or how much.

Not knowing is 1 reason not to use it (because Prestone is being evasive on the topic).

The fact that it might (and likely does) have 2EHA is a 2nd reason not to use it.

Like Nancy Reagon used to tell kids... "Just say no to Prestone".

I’ve been running Prestone with 2EHA in Dexcool for 18 years in a 3/4 ton Suburban. Still has the original water pump, radiator, and heater core after 275,000 miles changing every 5 years. The fears of 2EHA are from grandpa’s bad GM gaskets from 35 years ago. Yawn.

 

[Snagglefoot]

There is nothing wrong with 2EHA, it is the holy grail of corrosion inhibitors. I have been using cheap house-brand Dexclones like Supertech since 2007 in all kinds of Asian vehicles with no issues whatsoever. I've had it in my current daily driver, a 2006 Honda Civic, since 2008 and again, not one single issue. I changed the thermostat in 2021, just as a preventative measure and the cooling system passages and the old thermostat itself were all absolutely pristine looking. The old thermostat's rubber seal that surrounds the wax pellet looked basically the same as the seal on the brand new thermostat. All I could think while doing that job is it was a waste of time and money to change it.

This is the truth.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Prestone has European Max coolant for ALL years of BMW. It’s good for 5 years and contains 2EHA. Check it out, I don't want to be dinged for copyright violation.

 

[rszappa1]

Since I dont change my coolant in my honda till around 75000 miles..I will stick to OEM Honda Coolant...no guess work no worry...

 

[Coolant Kid]

Prestone has European Max coolant for ALL years of BMW. It’s good for 5 years and contains 2EHA. Check it out, I don't want to be dinged for copyright violation.

I always thought this was interesting. For the Asian and American formulas, Prestone first used their first generation Cor-Guard formulation that is rated to 10 year/300k miles. Now, they're using the Platinum/Max Cor-Guard formulation, now rated to 15 years/350k miles. So basically this is a level up from standard OEM protection. As I think about it, the Asian Red and Blue were the first to get this upgrade, then American followed later on.

But, for the European formulas, they've always used what appears to be the pre-Cor-Guard formula (first generation Dexclone without phosphates), only rated to 5 years/150k miles. Unless you need the color match for warranty purposes, anyone with a European car would be better served by simply using the yellow bottle universal formula.

 

[mojoe]

It's my understanding that you should not mix types of coolant. Peak Blue Asian is type PHOAT, and Zerex Blue Asian is type HOAT, and therefore they should not be mixed.

Wait - my bad. Peak Blue is labeled as POAT (no H). Zerex Blue says it's HOAT with "phosphated organic acid additive technology", which sounds like PHOAT. Now I'm totally confused.

 

[JHZR2]

I had old BMWs. People said the BMW coolant was supposed to help the plastic. I switched 1 to G05 coolant and it didn't seem to matter. Same typical parts failed and leaked over time. I liked the theory that the cooling system pressure was too high as they got older and caused the parts to fatigue and fail. They run nearly double or more the cooling system psi as most other manufacturers.

I did the same and never had an issue after.

Not sure it was a scientific fact that it was 2-EH of course.

I know my current BMW runs coolant temps hotter than any other vehicle I own. That will degrade plastics for sure. Time at temperature.

 

[Carlostrece]

It's my understanding that you should not mix types of coolant. Peak Blue Asian is type PHOAT, and Zerex Blue Asian is type HOAT, and therefore they should not be mixed.

I'd like to hear 2nd & 3rd opinions (or more) on that ^ because it'd be handy if I could mix Peak & Zerex Asian Blue in future (if it's not a problem).

It'd be handy to be able to buy whichever of those is on sale at any given time. Walmart and NAPA sell Peak. Oreilly sells Zerex. Those are the 3 stores I have convenient access to.

Also, Supertech Asian Blue is (allegedly) made by Peak (at this time).

 

[mojoe]

I'd like to hear 2nd & 3rd opinions (or more) on that ^ because it'd be handy if I could mix Peak & Zerex Asian Blue in future (if it's not a problem).

It'd be handy to be able to buy whichever of those is on sale at any given time. Walmart and NAPA sell Peak. Oreilly sells Zerex. Those are the 3 stores I have convenient access to.

Also, Supertech Asian Blue is (allegedly) made by Peak (at this time).

Please see my follow up post in this thread. I'm sure certain types/technologies should not be mixed, but it's very confusing as to exactly how that applies in this case.

 

[Carlostrece]

Please see my follow up post in this thread. I'm sure certain types/technologies should not be mixed, but it's very confusing as to exactly how that applies in this case.

Your posts 43 & 49 both raise a question about a potential problem with mixing Peak Asian Blue and Zerex Asian Blue. I appreciate you asking the question so we can think and discuss it, but I don't think your posts provide the answer.

So my question still awaits answers from people who might know.

 

[mojoe]

Your posts 43 & 49 both raise a question about a potential problem with mixing Peak Asian Blue and Zerex Asian Blue. I appreciate you asking the question so we can think and discuss it, but I don't think your posts provide the answer.

So my question still awaits an answers from people who might know.

I understand and I agree. I was not offering an answer. I was just pointing out that I would like a clear answer as well.

 

[Carlostrece]

I understand and I agree. I was not offering an answer. I was just pointing out that I would like a clear answer as well.

Earlier in the thread, another fellow and I asked if it'd be OK to mix Peak Asian Blue & Zerex Asian Blue. At that time we were told "yes they can be mixed".

However, I don't know if it was known at that time that (you claim) Peak AB is POAT (no H) and Zerex AB is HOAT. Does anyone know if this this correct?

Our bottom line question is can Peak Asian Blue (allegedly a POAT (no H)) be mixed with Zerex Asian Blue (allegedly a HOAT)?

 

[mojoe]

Earlier in the thread, another fellow and I asked if it'd be OK to mix Peak Asian Blue & Zerex Asian Blue. At that time we were told "yes they can be mixed".

However, I don't know if it was known at that time that (you claim) Peak AB is POAT (no H) and Zerex AB is HOAT. Does anyone know if this this correct?

Our bottom line question is can Peak Asian Blue (allegedly a POAT (no H)) be mixed with Zerex Asian Blue (allegedly HOAT)?

For clarification:

From PEAK Website: PEAK® ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TECHNOLOGY™ ANTIFREEZE + COOLANT for ASIAN VEHICLES - BLUE is an ethylene glycol-based antifreeze/coolant specifically developed for use in any Asian vehicle requiring a Blue phosphate-enhanced organic acid technology (POAT) formulation.

From Zerex website: Zerex Asian Vehicle Blue Antifreeze/Coolant is proven to maximize engine life in vehicles made by Asian auto manufacturers such as Acura, Honda, Infiniti, Nissan and others which specify a blue formula that’s silicate and borate-free with HOAT (Hybrid Organic Acid Technology). Specially formulated with a phosphate additive, . . .

 

[Carlostrece]

For clarification:

From PEAK Website: PEAK® ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TECHNOLOGY™ ANTIFREEZE + COOLANT for ASIAN VEHICLES - BLUE is an ethylene glycol-based antifreeze/coolant specifically developed for use in any Asian vehicle requiring a Blue phosphate-enhanced organic acid technology (POAT) formulation.

From Zerex website: Zerex Asian Vehicle Blue Antifreeze/Coolant is proven to maximize engine life in vehicles made by Asian auto manufacturers such as Acura, Honda, Infiniti, Nissan and others which specify a blue formula that’s silicate and borate-free with HOAT (Hybrid Organic Acid Technology). Specially formulated with a phosphate additive, . . .

Interesting. That leads me to suspect that Peak AB & Zerex AB are mixable with each other. However, that's just a guess on my part. Hopefully others will let us know if they're mixable (considering their slightly different text descriptions of their chemistry). See Mojoe's post that I quoted above).

 

[Nukeman7]

I'm not a coolant expert, but my research indicates a Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT) is normally phosphate free and combines organic and non-organic acid compounds in an ethylene glycol base. However, it appears that both PEAK AB and Zerex AB are "phosphated" HOAT coolants (i.e., PHOAT). Look closely at the wording of the product information sheets for the ZEREX AB and the PEAK AB which confirm both are phosphated. The usage of the various terminology is often blather generated by their marketing departments.

Both Zerex AB and PEAK AB meet the ASTM 3306 and JIS K2234 standards, so mixing them would not be a problem.

 

[mojoe]

I'm not a coolant expert, but my research indicates a Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT) is normally phosphate free and combines organic and non-organic acid compounds in an ethylene glycol base. However, it appears that both PEAK AB and Zerex AB are "phosphated" HOAT coolants (i.e., PHOAT). Look closely at the wording of the product information sheets for the ZEREX AB and the PEAK AB which confirm both are phosphated. The usage of the various terminology is often blather generated by their marketing departments.

Both Zerex AB and PEAK AB meet the ASTM 3306 and JIS K2234 standards, so mixing them would not be a problem.

Thanks. What part of the PEAK is "H" or hybrid? I ask because nowhere on their website does it mention it. Instead it specifically omits it, and only claims the POAT moniker, which makes it a phosphated OAT, and based on what I've been able to determine, HOATs like Zerex should not be mixed with OATs. What am I missing? Is one or the other misrepresenting what they are? Also, HOAT blends are usually good for 5 years/100k miles, like Zerex, while OATs are good for much longer. The PEAK is supposedly good for 15 years/400k miles, which wouldn't add up if it were truly an H.

 

[Nukeman7]

Thanks. What part of the PEAK is "H" or hybrid? I ask because nowhere on their website does it mention it. Instead it specifically omits it, and only claims the POAT moniker, which makes it a phosphated OAT, and based on what I've been able to determine, HOATs like Zerex should not be mixed with OATs. What am I missing? Is one or the other misrepresenting what they are?

I have to provide a correction to my Post #58 above since I can no longer edit it. Both Zerex and PEAK Asian Blue are POAT coolants not PHOAT coolants. The "H" in Hybrid means the coolant contains silicates blended with organic acid. As such, Zerex AB is not a HOAT even though they call it that in their literature. Their spec sheet clearly states Zerex AB contains no silicates, borates, 2-EHA, amines or nitrites.

Also, HOAT blends are usually good for 5 years/100k miles, like Zerex, while OATs are good for much longer. The PEAK is supposedly good for 15 years/400k miles, which wouldn't add up if it were truly an H.

The usable lifespan of a coolant is all marketing ad spiel, so it depends on whose advertisement you want to believe. Here is a link to the Valvoline antifreeze page where they claim PHOAT, HOAT and OAT coolants are all only good for 5 years or 240,000 km.