Coolant Dilemma for '99 Altima

[badbrad358]

I wouldn't normally make a new thread for this but have a question regarding my wife's '99 Altima and my coolant situation. Before knowing about this site and learning all the details on how important each coolant type is for specific makes I used original green Zerex for the last several AF changes, but now the water pump has started leaking (original with 150k miles) and I need to change again when I replace the pump.

My question is: should I continue using original Zerex or start using their new Asian vehicle formula? Now that I'm more informed I've used OEM Nissan long life AF in my '06 Frontier, but wondering if it would be best to continue with what I've been running the Altima or go to the Asian formula?

As a side note, would the Zerex Asian formula be a good replacement for the OEM Nissan since it's less than 1/2 the cost?

 

[rewote500]

I use Universal Prestone in my Nissan with no problems, have for many years.

 

[mechanicx]

If you got 150K miles out of a waterpump that is better than the average for even OAT coolant. It looks like Green is working for you and it'd be fine to stick with it. On the other hand Zerex AVF is the same as the older Nissan coolant but not exactly the same as the newer extended life for what I can tell.

You continue with Green in the Altima or do a total switch to Zerex AFV but I don't see the point if its not an extended life coolant and comes in premix.

 

[The Critic]

If the new Nissan Super Long Life is backwards compatible, then I would use that fluid.

 

[badbrad358]

Originally Posted By: rewote500
I use Universal Prestone in my Nissan with no problems, have for many years.

I'm not going to say you're wrong for running Prestone, but it's not my 1st choice with what I consider more appropriate formulations available. If it's working for you, keep using it.

 

[badbrad358]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
If the new Nissan Super Long Life is backwards compatible, then I would use that fluid.


I am going to guess that it is, but I'm not going to pay that price for that fluid for a car I will keep at most another 50k miles when the original Zerex has worked so well. Heck, I'm not even running the newest extended life Nissan fluid in my '06 Frontier, but am using the OEM Long Life L248SP fluid, I'm not taking any chances on that cooling system.

I will say, every time I have opened up the cooling system for anything on the Altima and also looked inside the radiator it has kept the system in really good shape with no visible signs of corrosion or major scale build up, including flush and refills. This is something I cannot say for the GM Dex-cool vehicles I've worked on

 

[badbrad358]

Overall, I think the silicate question is not a big deal to me as the WP lasted a long time anyway. Original Zerex green has very low silicate, it is actually a lower PPM than their G-05 formula.

I'll probably stick with their original formula in this car. I feel it is a pretty good anti-freeze and certainly better than a lot of the old standard AF's.

If I get a wild hair maybe I'll try the new Asian formula, but it might not make sense. It is a long life formula according to Zerex stating 5 years/150k miles.

One question, do you think there would be any compatibility issues between the original green Zerex and new Asian vehicle formula? I don't think there were any compatibility issues with the original factory fill Nissan AF and the green Zerex, so my inclination is no?

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: badbrad358
Overall, I think the silicate question is not a big deal to me as the WP lasted a long time anyway. Original Zerex green has very low silicate, it is actually a lower PPM than their G-05 formula.

I'll probably stick with their original formula in this car. I feel it is a pretty good anti-freeze and certainly better than a lot of the old standard AF's.


I agree. Although silicates have a limited service life they are the best inhibitor for aluminum, probably as good or better than any of the best OATs.

Quote:
If I get a wild hair maybe I'll try the new Asian formula, but it might not make sense. It is a long life formula according to Zerex stating 5 years/150k miles.


Yeah but it was found out that the Zerex AVF is more similar to Japanese Long Life and not the newer extended life. That is, Zerex AFV and LL have benzoate, while newer OE EL uses sebacate which is a more effective inhibitor. What's confusing is Zerex AVF comes in premix like OE EL but OE LL comes in concentrate. In some ways I think Zerex is overstating the life of Zerex AVF while Japanese OE are understating the life of LL and overstating the life of their extnded life.


Quote:
One question, do you think there would be any compatibility issues between the original green Zerex and new Asian vehicle formula? I don't think there were any compatibility issues with the original factory fill Nissan AF and the green Zerex, so my inclination is no?


I don't think there is any compatibility issues. Original Green got mixed with the long life FF a lot in the past. But the thing is they have slightly different formulas so I think it's best to get primarily a full charge of one or the other or at least 80-90%. They are pretty compatible though both being phosphated. I would try to get most all of the former coolant out. Draining the block and radiator would easily accomplish that.

 

[badbrad358]

"Yeah but it was found out that the Zerex AVF is more similar to Japanese Long Life and not the newer extended life. That is, Zerex AFV and LL have benzoate, while newer OE EL uses sebacate which is a more effective inhibitor. What's confusing is Zerex AVF comes in premix like OE EL but OE LL comes in concentrate. In some ways I think Zerex is overstating the life of Zerex AVF while Japanese OE are understating the life of LL and overstating the life of their extnded life."


So according to your quote regarding Zerex AVF being more like Japanese LL formulas it would probably be a good replacement for what I'm running in my Frontier which is Nissan's OE long life formula (the green stuff)?

 

[mechanicx]

Yes I think Zerex AFV is the same as Nissan LL. I think AVF is compatible with all the japanese coolants basically.

 

[mechanicx]

Actually I should say Zerex AVF I think is similar to Nissan Genuine Green. I think Nissan has a "genuine" and a LL. Not real sure about Nissan coolant line. Anyway AVF is compatible and safe with any of the Japanese coolants.

 

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted By: badbrad358
As a side note, would the Zerex Asian formula be a good replacement for the OEM Nissan since it's less than 1/2 the cost?
Might be half the cost but at 50% water it's also half the strength. Nissan Long Life ~$25 a gal in this area.

Unless you are just doing a radiator drain and fill, or find block drains to get all old out, ZAF pretty much useless IMO. And, I don't like mixing half ZAF, with whats in the system. But, that's just me.

If you are determined not to use anything but Nissan proprietary or ZAF, I'd do a total flush and use the Nissan LL. Even though $25 a gallon is absurd, IMO.

Originally Posted By: rewote500
I use Universal Prestone in my Nissan with no problems, have for many years.

I've done the same now with Peak LL. I have a sneaking suspicion though, the plastic radiator tank top and bottom will fail long before any, if ever, issue with the coolant.

 

[badbrad358]

Originally Posted By: mechanicx
Actually I should say Zerex AVF I think is similar to Nissan Genuine Green. I think Nissan has a "genuine" and a LL. Not real sure about Nissan coolant line. Anyway AVF is compatible and safe with any of the Japanese coolants.


I think what I use is the Long Life green and from what I've read they released a new extended life or some other terminology that is blue in color.

 

[badbrad358]

I thought I'd let you guys know that I did contact Valvoline about Zerex formula compatibility and the response is below. I basically asked about compatibility between their original green formula and new AVF.

The tech support person got back to me the same day which was nice to see good response and product help. Their response in italics below.

"Thank you for your question. The Zerex Asian Vehicle Coolant will be perfectly compatible with the residual coolant left in the system on your Altima."

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: badbrad358
Originally Posted By: mechanicx
Actually I should say Zerex AVF I think is similar to Nissan Genuine Green. I think Nissan has a "genuine" and a LL. Not real sure about Nissan coolant line. Anyway AVF is compatible and safe with any of the Japanese coolants.


I think what I use is the Long Life green and from what I've read they released a new extended life or some other terminology that is blue in color.


Yeah this is what I was thinking the EL was blue. Zerex AVF is the same as the Nissan green.

 

[qship1996]

As a long time Nissan owner{ over 30 years with various nissan products} I have never had cooling system issues using prestone all makes or peak global....and I have owned all of them for over 150,000 miles.Some even got texaco havoline dexclone with zero issues. Change them at regular intervals and they are all ok for your nissan.

 

[badbrad358]

Originally Posted By: qship1996
As a long time Nissan owner{ over 30 years with various nissan products} I have never had cooling system issues using prestone all makes or peak global....and I have owned all of them for over 150,000 miles.Some even got texaco havoline dexclone with zero issues. Change them at regular intervals and they are all ok for your nissan.


Cool, thanks. I'm pretty open to all makes (except a few) but I still like Nissan a lot, they've been great for me. Thanks for the heads up on your experience.

 

[mechanicx]

We've been through this before. Any coolant might be OK but that is ignoring several things. Dexcool has only been around since '97 let alone Prestone all makes. Where the problem would be is a gradual deterioation of an incompatible gasket.

Just refilling a certain year and model of Nissan with a Dexclone and everything appearing good is not the same thing as the coolant formula being validated by the OEM for the specific model. There must be some reason the Japanese never jumped on the Dexcool bandwagon. One reason the Japanese OEM gave was that it can sludge.

Sure Dexcool might work on every year and model of Nissan but that is dependent on no air getting into the cooling system and the gaskets being compatible.

Havoline Dexcool is probably the best formula btw. They all contain 2EHA.

 

[qship1996]

Nissan usa only specifies "ethelyne glycol" based coolants in their owners manual......they have been around long enough to warrant against dex clones/etc if they believed there were any issues with its use in their products.....theres not, therefor no warning.

i have used dexclone in nissans since it first came out, in 4 different nissans, each for over 150,000 miles..... NO ISSUES

 

[badbrad358]

Just thought I'd let you guys know I ended up deciding to stick with Original green Zerex. It has served the car well over the past 4 years/100k miles and will just stick with it.

I also was able to buy a full strength gallon for $12.99 vs. the same price for premix Zerex AVF. I bought it at a Speedway gas station and can always find original Zerex there I guess because they're Ashland owned.