I emailed JD about the CoolGardII and it's compatibility with leaded solder and the other common metals in cooling. Their response was to ask my local JD dealer! Lol
Like the guy at the parts counter knows.......
That’s a shame. They have had good information and comms in the past, including their old site literature, and even some info posted on here between the JD engineers and site members. Sounds like you didn’t get the right people.
An example is here:
I needed to top off a vehicle I had converted to John Deere Cool-Gard (G-05) over a year ago so I stopped at a local John Deere dealer to get some. I saw they now have Cool-Gard II out. It appears to be chemically identical to the original Cool-Gard. Here are the original Cool-Gard...
bobistheoilguy.com
Cool Gard II is a HOAT specifically designed for mixed metal, and a cross of old school and advanced technology (e.g., cooled egr, etc) engines. Nitrite free IIRC, so better for aluminum, but it’s tri-HOAT supposedly protects lots of stuff…
The issue as I understand it is that typically OATs don’t protect solder as well. Ive read where warranties can be voided if running OATs in brass/soldered applications. My understanding is that molybdates are really the best for protecting lead. They can’t always be prescribed, but options may include fast acting silicate, or triazoles, or other additives.
While not a VCA, this would imply that Cool Gard II is a HOAT (by claim of the engineer quoted in the link above) that has silicate, phosphate, and molybdate, which should be good for solder and mixed metal protection:
Supposedly this product includes phosphate and molybdate, and is good for protecting solder:
Fleetcool products contain Ethylene Glycol (EG) base fluids and are designed for use in heavy duty diesel engines. Fleetcool Concentrate mixes readily with proper quality water, while Fleetcool Premix is formulated with de-mineralized water and is ready to use. Fleetcool contains a...
www.cumminsfiltration.com
If nothing else, it is “conventional”. I don’t have data on it..
Coolant selection is tough for sure. So much info but so much that isn’t clear or sometimes conflicts….