Is G-05, a good "one" coolant solution?

[akbrian]

I've been reading anti-freeze threads for about a day now and don't mind saying that I think it's crazy that the SAE, DIN, and JASO can't sit down and come up with one standard. I'd like to move to using one type of coolant, if practical. I have;

2002 I6 Jeep that came with G-05.

1990 I4 Jeep that came with classic green, and has a brass radiator. (unfortunately has Prestone "looks like traditional green, but isn't", in it at the moment.)

2005 Suzuki DL650 liquid cooled motorcycle, which Suzuki says requires an anti-freeze which provides "aluminum protection".

1998 Arctic Cat 4-wheeler (Suzuki engine).

Would Xerox G-05 be a reasonable coolant to move all the vehicles too? Would there be a better choice? I use distilled water, so phosphate concerns don't seem to make much sense.

 

[akbrian]

By the way, as I live in interior Alaska, I have always mixed my antifreeze 2 parts AF to 1 part distilled water.

 

[Colt45ws]

That or John Deere Cool-Gard II.

 

[artificialist]

No, Japanese engine typically specify non-silicate coolant, and G-05 has silicates. Silicates destroy those water pumps, it happened to my parents cars.

I would use G-05 in the Jeeps and Zerex Asian in the motorcycle and Arctic Cat.

 

[akbrian]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
No, Japanese engine typically specify non-silicate coolant, and G-05 has silicates. Silicates destroy those water pumps, it happened to my parents cars.

I would use G-05 in the Jeeps and Zerex Asian in the motorcycle and Arctic Cat.


My OEM Suzuki shop manual (actually from a '04) doesn't say anything about using their house brand coolant, or any other particular brand or type of coolant (other than ethylene glycol), it just says to not to mix brands. So I'm guessing that perhaps their design isn't as silicate sensitive as other Asian brands.

 

[901Memphis]

With a full flush G05 has proven reliable in many applications. I use it in my Buick now.

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: akbrian
Originally Posted By: artificialist
No, Japanese engine typically specify non-silicate coolant, and G-05 has silicates. Silicates destroy those water pumps, it happened to my parents cars.

I would use G-05 in the Jeeps and Zerex Asian in the motorcycle and Arctic Cat.


My OEM Suzuki shop manual (actually from a '04) doesn't say anything about using their house brand coolant, or any other particular brand or type of coolant (other than ethylene glycol), it just says to not to mix brands. So I'm guessing that perhaps their design isn't as silicate sensitive as other Asian brands.


My mazda 3 is the same. It had G-05 for almost 5 years now with no problems whatsoever.
Also it is worth mentioning that g-05 is a low silicate formula, but many seem to confuse it with full silicate formula coolants, so it will not destroy any water pumps.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
Originally Posted By: akbrian
Originally Posted By: artificialist
No, Japanese engine typically specify non-silicate coolant, and G-05 has silicates. Silicates destroy those water pumps, it happened to my parents cars.

I would use G-05 in the Jeeps and Zerex Asian in the motorcycle and Arctic Cat.


My OEM Suzuki shop manual (actually from a '04) doesn't say anything about using their house brand coolant, or any other particular brand or type of coolant (other than ethylene glycol), it just says to not to mix brands. So I'm guessing that perhaps their design isn't as silicate sensitive as other Asian brands.


My mazda 3 is the same. It had G-05 for almost 5 years now with no problems whatsoever.
Also it is worth mentioning that g-05 is a low silicate formula, but many seem to confuse it with full silicate formula coolants, so it will not destroy any water pumps.


I think even the "ole green" is low silicate.

 

[jrustles]

I used to be a huge G-05 proponent thanks to BITOG, until things started happening; personally to three cars a while after being switched over. I understand that "correlation is not causation" but I cannot afford to risk any silicates in a no-silicate application. G-05 is a great coolant, closely resembling charged diesel coolants. It has amines in it which helps with diesel engine liner cavitation corrosion protection, but a function not relevant in most automotive applications. It's a great mixed fleet coolant for compatible pumps IMO

 

[SHOPete]

How 'bout Valvoline MaxLife antifreeze?

 

[akbrian]

Originally Posted By: jrustles
I used to be a huge G-05 proponent thanks to BITOG, until things started happening; personally to three cars a while after being switched over. I understand that "correlation is not causation" but I cannot afford to risk any silicates in a no-silicate application. G-05 is a great coolant, closely resembling charged diesel coolants. It has amines in it which helps with diesel engine liner cavitation corrosion protection, but a function not relevant in most automotive applications. It's a great mixed fleet coolant for compatible pumps IMO


What were your applications you had issues with?

BTW, thanks for everybody's responses!

 

[akbrian]

Originally Posted By: SHOPete
How 'bout Valvoline MaxLife antifreeze?


What product would this be in their Xerox brand name line?

 

[chevrofreak]

Zerex not Xerox.

 

[tinmanSC]

Originally Posted By: akbrian
Originally Posted By: SHOPete
How 'bout Valvoline MaxLife antifreeze?


What product would this be in their Xerox brand name line?

Vavloline/Ashland owns Zerex and Eagle One. That would be really something if they owned xerox.

 

[akbrian]

^ oops!

 

[SHOPete]

Originally Posted By: akbrian
Originally Posted By: SHOPete
How 'bout Valvoline MaxLife antifreeze?


What product would this be in their Xerox brand name line?


MaxLife® Antifreeze/Coolant
"Only coolant with Alugard® Plus to ensure compatibility with all coolants"

http://www.valvoline.com/products/consumer-products/antifreeze-radiator-products/antifreeze/135

 

[antiqueshell]

Today's modern green fluid is so low in silicates that I doubt you would suffer any issues in cars that require no silicates, or it would take 400k miles for an issue to develop.

But why take chances?

If the correct replacement is easily available why not stick with it. Zerex Asian is the best choice short of buying the stuff at the dealer.

 

[akbrian]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Today's modern green fluid is so low in silicates that I doubt you would suffer any issues in cars that require no silicates, or it would take 400k miles for an issue to develop.

But why take chances?

If the correct replacement is easily available why not stick with it. Zerex Asian is the best choice short of buying the stuff at the dealer.

I haven't been able to find anything (yet) that indicates that Suzuki (at least from that era) ever specified "no silicates" anti-freeze.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: chevrofreak
Zerex not Xerox.


Maybe its a copy?

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Today's modern green fluid is so low in silicates that I doubt you would suffer any issues in cars that require no silicates, or it would take 400k miles for an issue to develop.

But why take chances?

If the correct replacement is easily available why not stick with it. Zerex Asian is the best choice short of buying the stuff at the dealer.


Given that you can buy coolant similar to what came from the factory from Zerex and others, I am not sure its wise to switch to another chemistry coolant just to keep only one coolant on your shelf.