G-05 Shelf Life.

[George7941]

I just bought four jugs of Zerex G-05 from a local jobber. Date code on the jugs is 105264 1543.

This is the same code that was on the G-05 that I bought from the same jobber two years ago! I called Valvoline and their tech guy said the date of manufacture is Oct (first two digits) of '03 (last digit)

So. this coolant has sat around for four and a half years. According to the Valvoline tech guy, G-05 has unlimited shelf life. He said ethylene glycol does not deteriorate. My concern was not over the ethylene glycol, it was over the additives in the ethylene glycol. When I pointed this out, he repeated that "ethylene glycol does not deteriorate"

Should I go ahead and use this G-05, or should i return the jugs?

 

[Gregory]

I'd use it.

I've got cars with the same coolant since 1992.

 

[George7941]

Now you have piqued my curiosity.

Which coolant has been in your cars for sixteen years? Are you following some "Fill for Life" program with SCAs added every few years?

 

[Gregory]

What ever motorcraft used at the factory.

 

[George7941]

In 1992, that would have been the conventional green coolant.

You are going against the prevailing wisdom by leaving green coolant (for that matter, any coolant IAT, OAT or HOAT) in for 16 years.