Old Prestone no longer available: Is Lo Tox a safe alternative?

[Bill D]

I've noticed the traditional, pure Prestone coolant concentrate in the yellow jug we've all used for years seems to be replaced by the for all makes and models variety. I'm not confident this new forumla is truly safe for my older vehicle (seldom driven '89 Cadillac) in the long run, so I wonder if switching to the Lo Tox vaiety, which I assume has not had a formula change, would be "safer".

Any feedback appreciated.

 

[HEV]

You can still buy old school coolant, just not Prestone branded. I buy the NAPA coolent. It's still the tried and true formulation for those of us who change their fluid every couple of years.

 

[Big Jim]

Like you, I'm still in a "wait and see" mode on the new "one formula fits all" Prestone. I'm not sure that the lo-tox stuff will fit your needs any better though since it also has always been a bit on the experimental side. Both the old and new Prestone are still Ethelyne Glycol based, lo-tox is Propelene Glycol based. PG does not transfer heat as well, will not protect to as low of a temperature, and boils at a lower temperature. PG just doesn't do the job quite as well. It has enough of a track record that it isn't junk, but just not quite as good.

You can still find plenty of the old green coolant though. Peak and others still make it.

You may decide that the new Prestone is just fine after it builds a bit of a track record. I'll re-evaluate my position in a year or two.

 

[labman]

I used Prestone since it came in red square tin cans. I am big on picking a good name and sticking to it. Of course then Prestone was sold by Union Carbide and not Allied Signal like Fram. I did switch to the Low Tox some time in the 90's when it became available. I have quite a few years with it in my old truck and can't blame it for the blown head gasket that was already leaking before I switched. The truck has an iron block with an aluminum head. The head gasket was over 5 years ago, and no problems since, never add any between changes. I have also let the changes go longer than I should. My truck sets a lot too.

Likely when I decide to dump the Dex Cool in my 02 Cavalier, I will replace it with Low Tox too.

Oh, let me add I sometime have dogs around the house it would cost more to replace than most cars.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

http://www.valvoline.com/pages/products/product_detail.asp?product=8

 

[CoolantChemist]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Big Jim:
Like you, I'm still in a "wait and see" mode on the new "one formula fits all" Prestone. I'm not sure that the lo-tox stuff will fit your needs any better though since it also has always been a bit on the experimental side. Both the old and new Prestone are still Ethelyne Glycol based, lo-tox is Propelene Glycol based. PG does not transfer heat as well, will not protect to as low of a temperature, and boils at a lower temperature. PG just doesn't do the job quite as well. It has enough of a track record that it isn't junk, but just not quite as good.

You can still find plenty of the old green coolant though. Peak and others still make it.

You may decide that the new Prestone is just fine after it builds a bit of a track record. I'll re-evaluate my position in a year or two.

---

What you said was technically true. However, most people will not experience conditions where PG will hurt performance. I wouldn't recommend it for canadians or other very cold places, however if you live in some of the warmer regions of the world, there should be no problems. In fact, in south america and other places with similarly hot climates, PG seems to be the preferred glycol.

 

[Bill D]

Thanks for the info everyone.

Yeah, I enjoyed using the pre mix for the convenience also. That's what's in the car now. But it appears they first discontinued that and then the "regular" Prestone and replaced them with the "For All Makes and Models" variety.

I do know of one place that still had it and another that had the old premix. Since I read coolant unopened or not, as long as it's unused in its container, is still good for some time. Seems like it can't hurt to seek them out and buy them

 

[jthorner]

It seems that I saw some of the old style Prestone still in Costco. Maybe it was just old inventory.

I have been using the traditional style Peak 50/50 premix for the last several years. Seems to stay nice and clean for the two years I leave it in. If not using pre-mix then I use distilled water for the water portion, but I'm finding the 50/50 premix to be very convenient!

John