Nightmare of modern coolants.

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CivicFan

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So, my Honda requires a low silicate coolant. Almost impossible to find an aftermarket replacement in retail outlets.

The Z4 requires a blue BMW coolant. Unavailable at retail outlets so I am at the mercy of the dealer or taking a chance buying online.

The A6 requires either blue or pink coolant - not sure which as I haven't checked the color yet. Blue or pink are not compatible. Neither of it is available in retail outlets so again I am at the mercy of the dealer or take a chance online.

All these proprietary coolants are getting ridiculous.
 
I agree with you. Its like alphabet soup of engine coolants
54.gif
 
try working at a dealer and having your tech come in and say "takes green" and you grab the old green and when you bill it out 10 minutes later you see it takes the new green that does not work with the old green. or on the models that take ford dex-cool clone and the tech says "its brown i think."
 
ehhh. online, all these coolants are roughly $20/gal or less. Expensive, yeah, but far less than engine parts or a radiator. For an MB, I wouldnt hesitate using Zerex G-05... For a GM, I wouldnt hesitae using a licensed Dex-Cool. If this is such an issue, get another vehicle manufacturer with better standards on how they deal with their fluids... or change to an acceptable similar fluid. For BMW, for example, I reviewed the specs and found G-05 to be so similar that it would be suitable... and is somewhat OTS.
 
I used to get my G-12 for the TDI at the dealer or on line.

It sure would be nice if there was a standard across the board for coolant though.
 
really there are only two manufacturers of coolant in the world. Now the only coolant that i have noticed is different is Dex Cool which is a bunch of natural crazy additives that eat seals and intake manifolds.

but ya it is crazy i agree
 
yes, it's maddening. and some people believe the "universal" coolants that are available from Prestone. I wish I could find G05. I actually called Zerex (Ashland) and they referred me to a local Carquest - who then told me it was special order. grrrrr!
 
I agree, I have 4 different kinds of antifreeze sitting in my garage right now.

Blue Honda antifreeze (only comes in 50/50 diluted form) for son's Civic.
Dexcool for Chevies.
Universal yellow.
Nissan proprietary.
 
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First donot make a lot of this.....If you flush your options open up....Toyota Ultra Long Life is widely available through the dealerships but pricey. Honda and TOyota use very simalar materials for seal and parts so outside of chemistry interaction if you did not flush we know it wouldnot kill anything!

Many people that own TOyota's have had greatluck useing G-05 from Zerex again as long as they flush the system.....I wouldnot use it as my choice but my Dad has used GM Dexcool in his Taco for a long time and again no issues at all!
 
In fact if I flushed completly I would not even be afraid to use old school Green Coolant! Never seen anyone have an issue from useing Non-OEM coolant seen far more issues from people useing the right coolant for 5 years 120,000 miles to be honest!
 
That's my take. I like to use PG based coolants since I don't have to be as tidy on the flush and fills. What doesn't get contained won't kill anything. Make them sick, perhaps, but not kill them.

This has more to do with keeping the money flow heading in a given direction than it does true superiority in performance, imo. It allows you to neglect your system to the point of making it problem for someone else.


I'm sure Chris gets plenty of business from customers using these fine superior coolants. How can it be otherwise? There are no "old green" OEM coolants out there, are there?
54.gif
 
Originally Posted By: tomcat27
check this out - I thought it was pretty "cool" (ha!) - it's a list and chart of the properties of each type of coolant:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/coolant-chart.121004/



Yeah that is a neat chart but there's a couple things on it that are old or not correct. Peak Longlife/Extended Life is a 2EHA dexclone and Prestone no longer has convential just dexclone. Peak does have a green convential though, and of course Global and Professional.
 
Originally Posted By: Corvette Owner
I agree, I have 4 different kinds of antifreeze sitting in my garage right now.

Blue Honda antifreeze (only comes in 50/50 diluted form) for son's Civic.
Dexcool for Chevies.
Universal yellow.
Nissan proprietary.


+1

I have 4 gallons of Peak GL, 1 gal of Peak LL, 1 gal of Dexcool, and 2 gallons of Honda Blue.

But I also have 2 kinds of ATF, 3 kinds of oil, and 3 kinds of PSF. So, I dunno.
 
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
I'm sure Chris gets plenty of business from customers using these fine superior coolants. How can it be otherwise? There are no "old green" OEM coolants out there, are there?
54.gif

Actually there are. AZ sells traditional green under it's own name, and Advance sells Peak Traditional green. But, the universals, generally yellowish in color, now predominate the majority of coolants at AAP, AZ, O'R and Wally World.
 
Originally Posted By: JohnBrowning
In fact if I flushed completly I would not even be afraid to use old school Green Coolant! Never seen anyone have an issue from useing Non-OEM coolant seen far more issues from people useing the right coolant for 5 years 120,000 miles to be honest!
Most Hondas get an early water pump failure if you use silicated coolant, and apparently so do some other Japanese cars.
 
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
There are no "old green" OEM coolants out there, are there?
54.gif



My Kia and Isuzu both use regular green. I use NAPA's low silicate version for annual radiator drain-and refills.
 
Originally Posted By: tomcat27
yes, it's maddening. and some people believe the "universal" coolants that are available from Prestone. I wish I could find G05. I actually called Zerex (Ashland) and they referred me to a local Carquest - who then told me it was special order. grrrrr!


Saw Zerex G05 at the local Walmart (Ontario, Canada). Have you check a Walmart near you?
 
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