Prestone all makes all models - Disguised Dexcool?

[Sayjac]

You said regarding Toyota Long life Red...

Originally Posted By: Gokhan
It's basically a traditional (green-colored, even though it's red-colored) antifreeze without silicates,...

Which it obviously is not, no matter how it's spun. I responded by accurately pointing out that LL Red, which is being superseded, is an older short life Asian P-Hoat with all the characteristics of such. And with the exception of the similar short 2year/30k max service as written in Toyota owners manuals including 01, is nothing like a traditional original silicate green.

Then I asked follow up clarification, "So LL Red has Phosphates ie., P-Hoat, and no silicates but is still "basically" a traditional green, which has no phosphates but has silicates?" Other than basically having a similar short service interval, that answer is no. One never actually answered except with a qualifier, depends. The unqualified answer is, it isn't.

And nowhere was color noted as the/a main identifier of chemistry, but in this case traditional/original green happens to be green, thus the name. And uses silicates as the main inhibitor, not phosphate used in Long Life Red.

I call that attempting to be accurate as opposed to the alternative. Now that that's cleared up for readers, enough off topic discussion for me of an older Asian PHoat, LL Red.

 

[Gokhan]

In any case, chances are that Toyota has prohibited silicates in coolant for a long time, probably since 1980s. Phosphates and benzoate have also been common in traditional American coolant, in addition to silicates. So, according to your definition, many traditional American coolants are Si&P-HOAT. I really don't care about what to call OAT, HOAT, IOAT, traditional, etc. -- that conveys little information and coolant chemistry is much more complicated than that.

Toyota Pink hasn't superseded Toyota Red in the eleven years since it's been introduced. If it has, I would have used it but they are still made and sold as different part nos. and I want to used the Red because of reports of Pink doing harm on copper/brass/metal. Apparently Pink is to be used in 1996 and newer Toyotas and Red in 1995 and older Toyotas.

One thing that's certain is that the coolant chemistry is much more subtle than oil chemistry and there is a lot of confusion even for the experts and car makers. The words OAT, HOAT, IOAT, traditional/original, extended-life, Dex-Cool, G-05, universal, all makes/models, global, etc. help little in choosing the right coolant.

 

[Gokhan]

Coming back to the topic of this thread, my answer to the question asked is:

Yes, Prestone All Makes and Models (AMAM) and Prestone Dex-Cool are probably the same formula except for the color dye.

There is no such thing as a universal, global, or all-makes-and-models coolant. Therefore, that's deliberate deception by Prestone to sell their coolant as all-makes-and-models.

Prestone uses 2-EHA, which greatly harms silicone and certain plastics such as certain types of nylon. Therefore, it should be avoided for many cars. Many car makers prohibit 2-EHA in coolant.

Japanese car makers for example require phosphates but Prestone has no phosphates. They also prohibit 2-EHA. So, Prestone isn't suitable for any Japanese car.

Also, cars with copper/brass/lead heater cores and radiators don't do well with extended-life OAT coolants like Prestone.

The only applications I would recommend Prestone AMAM and Dex-Cool are those Dex-Cool applications without copper/brass/lead heater cores and that are OK with 2-EHA. If you're certain you don't have silicone or nylon seals or gaskets where coolant passes through and you don't have copper/brass/lead heater cores or radiators, Prestone should be safe to use.

All makes and models? Not even anywhere close.

 

[edhackett]

This is from another thread here:
Quote:

You would be perfectly fine to switch your vehicle over to Prestone Extended Life Antifreeze, or even to use that coolant to top off the Dex-Cool antifreeze currently in your truck. Those two coolants are extremely similar as they use all the same corrosion inhibitors, the Dex-Cool simply has a higher concentration of some of them in order to meet the GM spec.

We offer the GM Dex-Cool so that people can have the peace of mind that comes with filling their car with a manufacturer approved coolant, but we are fully confident in the Prestone Extended Life's ability to provide your cooling system with all the corrosion protection and heat transfer capabilities it requires. Please let me know if you require anything further.

Sincerely,

Aaron Jones
Prestone Consumer Relations Representative
Phone: 203-731-8191


Prestone Longlife AMAM doesn't even meet the specifications for Dexcool. It truly is "No makes No Models".

Ed

 

[Sayjac]

^^^Funny you should mention that because the Fram/(Prestone) rep that frequents these boards posted something similar regarding using Prestone AM/M in a Kia Rio in this recent thread.

To be fair though, while Prestone AM/M gets much of the attention because of advertising and name brand recognition, the largest majority of AF's stocked and sold in auto part stores, many under store brand name, are the "universal" all makes/models using 2eha as an active inhibitor. Peak Long Life (not Global Lifetime) is an example of another name brand using similar 2eha based chemistry. Walmart store brand is another example.

That said, I'm not disagreeing that the 'universal all makes models' term is really a misnomer.

 

[Petersubaru]

Believe what you want, but for those that have not seen this already..an MSDS from GM ..Prestone is the supplier and it is Universal .. 1) http://www.centralstatesbus.com/MSDS/ACDelco Anti Freeze.pdf and 2) http://www.acdelco.com.au/PDFs/Specs_ACDelco_DexCool.pdf ..( not the same as Havoline original formula )…I have used the above product in every engine design combination with no problem including vehicles from 1985 onwards...

 

[Gokhan]

Even some Dex-Cool-specified GM engines have had breakdowns thanks to Dex-Cool and there have been class-action lawsuits.

There is no such thing as universal antifreeze. Many car makers recommend against 2-EHA in Prestone Dex-Cool for good reasons (damage on silicone and nylon seals and gaskets). Others require different inhibitors not found in Dex-Cool. In addition, for older cars with copper/lead/solder radiators or heater cores, Dex-Cool and other OATs don't protect well.

It's simply impossible to make a universal antifreeze because the requirements of various car makers are often mutually incompatible.