G-05 Incompatible With Any Cars?

[Gannet167]

Valvolene Zerex G-05 is suppose to be great stuff. Is it OK to use with my 1991 Mazda MX6? It has an aluminum rad, head and water pump, brass/copper heater core.

Could it cause any problems with this older car? It doesn't have the "Compatible with ANY car" claims on the bottle that the Prestone long life does.

 

[Eddie]

Coolant recomendations seems to change by the seasons. I prefer to do a complete drain and refill when changing any coolant. I have used G05 with great results in Subarus, Volvos, Jeep GC and Mazdas.

 

[Ken2]

Here's Valvoline's compatibility chart.

http://www.valvoline.com/zerex/pdf/Zerex_CoolantChart.pdf?coaid=1B5D1AEA1AFC

You're OK with G-05 for your '91 Mazda...a '96+ would require the Dex-Cool type product.

 

[Gannet167]

Ok, I just emailed Valvolene, hopefully they will reply tomorrow. My only concern is there are a lot of articles about how G-05 is not compatible with some systems.

 

[Ross]

I was not aware about the incomatible issues, I would be interested in seing a link.

As long as you completely flush the old stuff there should not be no problem with G05

I am using it in two cars that came with dex in them. No issues here.

 

[Gannet167]

Here's one of a few pages I read after googling "G-05 not compatible incompatible"

http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f24/zerex-g-05-my-99-powerstroke-206658/

Apparently it is not compatible with some seals, o-rings, gaskets etc. in some Navistar engines. Now, my little Mazda is not a Powerstroke Diesel, but, if G-05 can eat through their gaskets then maybe it will eat through mine as well.

 

[Gannet167]

Ashland just replied, they say that Zerex G-05 is compatible with all metals and is fine for my older Mazda. Here goes...

 

[doitmyself]

Excellent link that points out the confusion that still exists about all these coolants.

While Zerex says it is compatible with all metals, what about the seals, gaskets, etc.. Someone here pointed out to me that Zerex has flip flopped between their recommendations of OAT vs. HOAT at least once.....how much do you trust them?

And, even if it is compatible, is it the best? Here is a link that suggests that "conventional" coolant MIGHT protect older copper/brass systems from solder corrosion better:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3828/is_200408/ai_n9453107/pg_4

So, choose your poison. I get a kick out of all the anecdotal stories here that say "I've used X brand of coolant for X months with no problems". Maybe so, but there may be slower acting problems that might show up at a later date. I'm not a risk taker. Others are.

 

[Kestas]

We've had similar discussions in the past. The best info to date is the article doitmyself just linked. I have an old car with soldered copper/brass components. Because of this previous discussion I now use conventional green antifreeze.

 

[Rolf]

Originally Posted By: Gannet167
Here's one of a few pages I read after googling "G-05 not compatible incompatible"

http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f24/zerex-g-05-my-99-powerstroke-206658/

Apparently it is not compatible with some seals, o-rings, gaskets etc. in some Navistar engines. ....


That post contained some misinformation.

"The Gold/Zerex G-05 is an OAT-containing coolant (Organic Acid Technology). International does not recommend OAT-containing coolants in engines built prior to 2/2/99 (SN 940614) - This would be your engine jet4power. This is due to testing which showed incompatibility with injector cup material, sensors, o-rings, gaskets, front cover, and probably some other things under certain conditions."

G-05 is most certainly not an OAT. It is a HOAT, Hybrid Organic Acid Technology.

The issues mentioned involve DexCool, and some related products primarily in Europe, which is an OAT and which contains 2-ethylhexanoic acid, a plasticizer.

"Ford has also produced numerous bulletins explaining not to use Gold coolant in a vehicle that originally came with Green (conventional) coolant, obviously to avoid compatibility concerns with OAT's and early-build engines."

As Ford's own chart shows:

http://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubricants.com/supplier/quickref/scuc.pdf

many of the green coolant equipped applications can be retrofitted with the Yellow Coolant (G-05):

"GY = Factory filled with green-colored engine coolant. Service as normal with green-colored engine coolant, or service with yellow-colored engine coolant with the following important conditions:"

"1. If the green-colored engine coolant is thoroughly flushed out of the cooling system and then the system is filled with yellow-colored engine coolant, the system maintenance (change-out) intervals of the yellow-colored engine coolant can be followed."

"2. If the green-colored engine coolant is not completely flushed out of the cooling system (e.g.. yellow-colored engine coolant is used to top off the system), then the service maintenance (change-out) intervals of the green-colored engine coolant must be followed."

We use it in a mixed fleet with no problems.

I can imagine some diesel HD applications where a full-charge commercial coolant would be an improvement, but that's about it.

 

[Ross]

Rolf, thanks for the information!

 

[doitmyself]

I believe Rolf is the one that pointed out Valvolene's inconsistent recommendation between OAT and HOAT on some applications over the past few years. And, I thanked him for that and ate some crow on particular anecdotal opinion I stated. He knows his stuff!

However, even his link to the Motorcraft chart shows that Ford still recommends the "green conventional" fluid in pre-1999 cars. That, added to Zerex's and Texaco/Havolines similar recommendation shows that there is still compatibility concerns with older cars. Maybe not proof or fact, but still, concerns.

Let's also remember that today's "green" coolant is not the "green snot of death" coolant that we were accustomed to back in the ice ages. Zerex even goes as far as recommending their low silicate green stuff for 5 years/100,000 miles. I disagree, but still, it is very good stuff and in MY opinion, is not that far behind G05 in performance, and, MAYBE better for older brass/copper containing systems.

That's about as for out on a limb I will go.

 

[Audi Junkie]

http://www.eetcorp.com/antifreeze/Coolants_matrix.pdf

 

[Audi Junkie]

Valvoline says G-05 is fully formulated to prevent linear pitting in Heavy Duty diesel engines.

 

[D-Roc]

Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
Valvoline says G-05 is fully formulated to prevent linear pitting in Heavy Duty diesel engines.


AND its factory fill on the Dodge Cummins.

 

[GMGuy]

[ no need to repeat ]

Alex.