Coolant for dummies

[Slippery_Pete]

I've been reading a lot on here and wished i understood more about coolant OAT HOAT G-05 means zero to me. Is there an existing topic or post that could educate me?

I want to replace the AFAIK stock dexsludge on my 110k 2003 Buick regal GS. But reading most of the coolant alk makes my head spin.lol
THanks
Fred

 

[Oregoonian]

Co to the Valvoline and Prestone websites.....and you'll get a good education on coolants.

 

[mechanicx]

G-05 is hybrid with benzoate and silicates. You can go with original Green or G-05. I slightly prefer Green for these GM applications, especially the 3.8.

Shell has a version of original Green called Shellzone that i think is good but i don't know where you'd find it.

 

[njohnson]

Mechanicx,

Our local Rural King carries the Shellzone, they also carry Shell's extended life antifreeze. The product data sheet says Shell's Dex-cool antifreeze contains "a unique extended life carboxylate inhibitor system."
Is this the same inhibitor that is causing all the problems with the original Dex-cool antifreeze?

 

[mechanicx]

Yeah I belive Shell ELC is a dexclone and uses 2-EHA for the OAT. It's similar to Zerex Dexcool but Shell ELC has nitrite for diesels.

 

[Slippery_Pete]

And green is just ordinary cheap ethylene glycol? that's where i get lost. From what I can tell anything labeled longlife is going to be a dexclone. so cheap is better? How long does ordinary green last?

 

[mechanicx]

Original Green coolant's inhibitors is an inorganic acid technology, silicates and phosphates. This was what was used for decades. Silicates are very effective and fast acting. The drawback is they get used up. Green protects for about 2-3 years/30k miles, but some say it can protect longer.

Dexcool and the other extended life clones protect longer but can have some issues on some vehicles. Dexclones are the cheapest coolant you can find at least in most of the US.

 

[doitmyself]

Slippery Pete,

To add to mechanicx excellent advice, the following has been repeated here many times.....today's conventional "green" coolant has been reformulated also. It has lower silicates than the old green coolant and the Valvolene product says it is good for 100,000 miles or five years.

In fact, if I remember correct, the valvolene product data sheets indicate that G05 can have more silicates than the green. So don't let silicates scare you away.

So, even for us old school guys raised on 2 year "green" changes, I think that three years/50 to 60 thousand miles works fine (I've done this) with the green.

 

[Slippery_Pete]

Are silicates bad?
Are they responsible for eating plastics?
This is the type of information I was looking for. Not information on various name brands.
Thank you

 

[Ursae_Majoris]

Originally Posted By: Slippery_Pete
Are silicates bad?
Are they responsible for eating plastics?
This is the type of information I was looking for. Not information on various name brands.
Thank you

No and No.

 

[doitmyself]

Pete,

here's a pretty good article on coolants, but it is dated and has a few errors:

http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=2822&location_id=2877

Back in the old days of high silicate coolants, it was claimed that these coolants:
1 - could cause harm (cavitation) in wet sleeve diesel engines if an SCA was not used (Supplemental Coolant Additive). This is true IMO.

2 - Silicates could harm water pumps and/or their bearings. I "think" todays water pumps have sealed bearings and this is a non issue. Also, the lowering of silicate levels has helped.

3 - It was claimed that silicates could "fall out" with the old formula under abuse conditions.

These are just things I have read about and I believe are a non issue with today's formulas and engines. I think that today's conventional low silicate "green" coolants are under appreciated.

 

[Slippery_Pete]

Thanks doitmyself Just what I was looking for.