Pennzoil = Nissan OEM Coolant?

[NissanMD]

I just went to a Nissan dealership in upper MD (not R Nissan, don't want to give the impression of bad mouthing an excellent dealership) and was told that it would take 2-3 weeks to recieve the Nissan OEM coolant because they don't carry it in stock since they only use Pennzoil coolant in all their cars, in or out of warranty. Does Pennzoil make the OEM? This seemed odd because I was under the impression that I could not get the OEM formulation without buying directly from the dealer. Maybe, it is the same formulation or it doesn't matter what people use as long as it's "similar" or this dealership, which went downhill in the past few years, just don't care.

BTW...from what I've read, it seemed that only SOME people had problems using non-OEM, which was enough convincing for me to go ahead with the order at $14 a gallon as opppose to $32 at Infiniti.

 

[NissanMD]

Also, the reason the parts "salewoman" gave for using Pennzoil was because they got a better than buying the OEM stuff. Go figure.

 

[Finklejag]

I would stick to the OEM stuff. I have read a lot of people have problems using aftermarket brands. My local dealer wants around $32.00 for the gallon also. I bought my last gallon at my local Infiniti dealer for $12.99, go figure.

The list price on the coolant is $21.65. I found it on the net for $15.59. So $14.00 is a good buy. If you are really in pickle, Toyota and Honda coolant are pretty much the same as Nissan's stuff. All the Japanese manufactures use the same type of coolant. They are just different colors.

 

[Mickey_M]

quote:

---

NissanMD:

.... it would take 2-3 weeks to recieve the Nissan OEM coolant because they don't carry it in stock ..... Does Pennzoil make the OEM? ....

---

No.

The typical Japanese coolant is high on the phosphate, lacks silicate, and uses some sort of OAT as an inhibitor.

If you have the Red Nissan coolant, it is very similar to DexCool and you could top it off with that, or with Prestone Extended Life or Extended Life DexCool.

If you have the Green Nissan coolant, it is very similar to G-05 and the Zerex G-05, Daimler-Chrysler, and Fomoco coolants are close. Prestone doesn't offer a G-05 clone.

When you're ready to flush it, either G-05 or DexCool should work fine, although my own preference is for G-05.

 

[NissanMD]

Thanks for the replies... I'll just have to wait until they get these babies in. They are the green formula, btw. I was thinking about using the G-05 in the 04 Accord @90K (currently with 81K) since it's out of warranty but I guess I should just stick to the OEM stuff, and do it when I change the coolant in the Maxima which is under warranty.

 

[Ray H]

Sticking with the OEM stuff is probably the safest bet from the warranty standpoint. (It'd be hard for Nissan to argue if you present receipts for the real McCoy...) I have no way of knowing for certain, but the Pennzoil brew sounds like a reduced silicate reformulation of traditional "Prestone" type chemistry that's keeping that older technology alive for "legacy" vehicle owners or those who just resist change.

 

[Steelers]

Paying for OEM coolant is waste of money. The only two OEM fluids I pay through the nose for are Honda Z-1 and Honda Power Steering fluid. Everything else can easily and safely be substituted in the aftermarket. Would be interesting to know who makes coolant for the various manurfactures.