best coolant choice for iron block, brass radiator and Al trans cooler?

[Ray S]

Agree! Cool Gard II or G05.

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Cool Gard II has Sodium Tetraborate Pentahydrate Inhibitor (20 Mule Team Borax) as per https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/john-deere-cool-gard-ii.120804
The NAPA Conventional Green https://media.napaonline.com/is/content/GenuinePartsCompany/889651pdf does not list it - does it not have any rust inhibitor?

 

[dumkid]

I think Bmw blue has more silicates than g05. It definitely leaves more crust when it leaks

 

[Ray S]

I think Bmw blue has more silicates than g05. It definitely leaves more crust when it leaks

A little crust might help keep the 53 yo radiator sealed.

 

[Ray S]

And they don't answer the phone...
However I did find a well done Extended Life CorGuard (blue) test 2012 Ford Fusion fleet with "brass" analysis, but no mention of lead. 2012 has Al radiators.

 

[dfarr67]

Whatever you decide on, make sure it's widely available years down the road if you have to do a repair on the road and need a compatible coolant.

 

[Ray S]

Valvoline VALVOLINE™ HEAT TRANSFER FLUID PG has real info. Their info page doesn't mention brass/solder though.

 

[Ray S]

Whatever you decide on, make sure it's widely available years down the road if you have to do a repair on the road and need a compatible coolant.

Another reason to keep the NAPA green...

 

[JHZR2]

I think Bmw blue has more silicates than g05. It definitely leaves more crust when it leaks

Years ago I was comparing and I thought the main difference was the addition of 2-eha. Not silicate concentration.

 

[Ray S]

Years ago I was comparing and I thought the main difference was the addition of 2-eha. Not silicate concentration.

And I won't risk 2EHA in the old Dodge

 

[dumkid]

Years ago I was comparing and I thought the main difference was the addition of 2-eha. Not silicate concentration.

Peak German blue doesn't have 2eha but zerex does.

 

[JHZR2]

And I won't risk 2EHA in the old Dodge

I run cool hard II in both my 96 Dodge Cummins trucks.

 

[Ray S]

I run cool hard II in both my 96 Dodge Cummins trucks.

Aluminum or brass radiators?

 

[kschachn]

I don't know much about coolant chemistry, so I tend to always use the OEM rather than risk any issues. Having said that, at one time Honda marketed their Type 2 coolant stating it was appropriate for older vehicles that have brass heater cores (and aluminum heads and radiators) like my old Accord. I've used that coolant for many years in the Accord and it still has the original heater core. The insides of the head look pristine as far as you can see.

 

[Chris142]

When those manifolds warp from heat they will break off the studs that hold them to the head.The end ones go into the water jackets.

I have pulled many of those heads off to have a shop remove the broken studs. Used to have a head off in about 30 minutes

 

[Ray S]

I don't know much about coolant chemistry, so I tend to always use the OEM rather than risk any issues. Having said that, at one time Honda marketed their Type 2 coolant stating it was appropriate for older vehicles that have brass heater cores (and aluminum heads and radiators) like my old Accord. I've used that coolant for many years in the Accord and it still has the original heater core. The insides of the head look pristine as far as you can see.

+1

Who makes Honda Type-2 Coolant?

I swear I searched the Internet and could not find this answer. Does anyone know where the Honda branded coolant comes from (i.e., Idemitsu makes Honda ATF DW-1)? My first hunch was Zerex because the bottles are freaking identical but that doesn't seem to be the case based on what I could find...

bobistheoilguy.com

My 3 old Hondas all had brass cores and aluminum heads and tubes. I now see another quote

For Hondas (and Toyotas) they use an ethylene glycol base with a specially formulated OAT which is similar to GM's DEX-COOL, but removes the 2-EHA component and relies exclusively on sebacate for corrosion protection. For Honda's, either use the OEM coolant (regardless of color) or Zerex Asian Vehicle Antifreeze (once again, regardless of color); I've compared the chemical makeup of the coolant to Honda's specs and they are virtually identical.

which sounds reasonable. To that end I also see this 2-EHA free Ravenol

The plethora of variants boggles.

 

[Ray S]

When those manifolds warp from heat they will break off the studs that hold them to the head.The end ones go into the water jackets.

I have pulled many of those heads off to have a shop remove the broken studs. Used to have a head off in about 30 minutes

? This style? Very different than other 413/440s, and no headers made in the pattern...

 

[JHZR2]

Aluminum or brass radiators?

Aluminum. Ditto in some of my MB diesels, which are iron block, aluminum head, aluminum radiator. That’s part of the reason I started using CGII, based upon @Trav recommendation.

 

[Chris142]

? This style? Very different than other 413/440s, and no headers made in the pattern...

View attachment 217104

Ya the ears on each end warp, leak then break the studs or you break them taking the manifolds off

 

[JHZR2]

I don't know much about coolant chemistry, so I tend to always use the OEM rather than risk any issues. Having said that, at one time Honda marketed their Type 2 coolant stating it was appropriate for older vehicles that have brass heater cores (and aluminum heads and radiators) like my old Accord. I've used that coolant for many years in the Accord and it still has the original heater core. The insides of the head look pristine as far as you can see.

An OAT without 2-EHA is likely ok for old stuff. I’ve had the HD diesel truck version running in my 1982 MB 300cd when I bought it.

That said, anything OEM for this vehicle in OP’s post is obsolete. But we know it would have been a silicated AF, this Id run an HOAT.

 

[Ray S]

An OAT without 2-EHA is likely ok for old stuff. I’ve had the HD diesel truck version running in my 1982 MB 300cd when I bought it.

That said, anything OEM for this vehicle in OP’s post is obsolete. But we know it would have been a silicated AF, this Id run an HOAT.

Not only obsolete, but complicated by my adding 2015 RAM aluminum tubing and trans heater.