Subaru Super Coolant Causes Super Confusion

R

redwolf4k

Joined
Oct 6, 2008
Messages
89
Location
NY
Good morning,

Let me start by saying, I did some searching here, did some research, even toyed around with A.I. for a while.

Until recently, Subaru Super Coolant came in white jugs, and recently the jugs are now black. The listed formula has changed along with the new bottles:

WHITE GALLON SUPER COOLANT:
water, Ethlene glycol, diethylene glycol, bitterant and “proprietary inhibitors”

BLACK GALLON SUPER COOLANT:
water, Ethlene glycol, diethylene glycol, 2-ethyl hexanoic acid, bitterant and “proprietary inhibitors”

They also sell concentrate by the quart, but call it “extreme cold weather” Super Coolant. Ingredients match the older formula, despite a different name.

ZEREX Asian Blue has ingredients that closely match the original white bottle formula.

I have a 2024 Outback that needs its first coolant top-off. Help me BITOG, you're my only hope.

Are all of the listed coolants the same **** thing? Why the addition of 2-ethyl hexanoic acid?

I went to my only local dealer and they are sold out of the gallon 50/50 mix, and gave ne a complimentary “extreme cold weather” concentrate quart as a “sorry”.

I cannot deal with this long term. Can I make a 2 quart 50/50 distilled water mix with this “extreme cold” version - is it actually the same as the normal concentrate?

Ideally, I would like to just start using the ZEREX Asian Blue, and forget this entire headache.

Can someone help me sort this confusion?

Thank you!
 
Last edited:
I has been posted this sub forum AND confirmed that Subaru has broken ranks with other Asian OEM AFs and added 2eha as an inhibitor to their branded OEM coolant. In that case, seems Subaru is saying "for them" they are ok with it.

If the extreme AF is just concentrate by another name then yes you can make a 50/50 premix. No idea though if that is the case, but seems very likely. Similar to what Honda does with Type II, for colder climates.

All that said, If I owned a Subaru "I" would still be VERY confident using one of the Asian aftermarket AFs same as always. That would include but not limited to Zerex Asian AF. Peak OET Asian in premix or concentrate, Napa Asian AF.
 
redwolf4k said:
Good morning,

Let me start by saying, I did some searching here, did some research, even toyed around with A.I. for a while.

Until recently, Subaru Super Coolant came in white jugs, and recently the jugs are now black. The listed formula has changed along with the new bottles:

WHITE GALLON SUPER COOLANT:
water, Ethlene glycol, diethylene glycol, bitterant and “proprietary inhibitors”

BLACK GALLON SUPER COOLANT:
water, Ethlene glycol, diethylene glycol, 2-ethyl hexanoic acid, bitterant and “proprietary inhibitors”

They also sell concentrate by the quart, but call it “extreme cold weather” Super Coolant. Ingredients match the older formula, despite a different name.

XEREX Asian Blue has ingredients that closely match the original white bottle formula.

I have a 2024 Outback that needs its first coolant top-off. Help me BITOG, you're my only hope.

Are all of the listed coolants the same **** thing? Why the addition of 2-ethyl hexanoic acid?

I went to my only local dealer and they are sold out of the gallon 50/50 mix, and gave ne a complimentary “extreme cold weather” concentrate quart as a “sorry”.

I cannot deal with this long term. Can I make a 2 quart 50/50 distilled water mix with this “extreme cold” version - is it actually the same as the normal concentrate?

Ideally, I would like to just start using the XEREX Asian Blue, and forget this entire headache.

Can someone help me sort this confusion?

Thank you!
Click to expand...

50/50 Universal. Good for everything. Says it right on the jug lol I would think Zerex Blue would be fine, especially since you are just topping it off?
 
redwolf4k said:
Good morning,

Let me start by saying, I did some searching here, did some research, even toyed around with A.I. for a while.

Until recently, Subaru Super Coolant came in white jugs, and recently the jugs are now black. The listed formula has changed along with the new bottles:

WHITE GALLON SUPER COOLANT:
water, Ethlene glycol, diethylene glycol, bitterant and “proprietary inhibitors”

BLACK GALLON SUPER COOLANT:
water, Ethlene glycol, diethylene glycol, 2-ethyl hexanoic acid, bitterant and “proprietary inhibitors”

They also sell concentrate by the quart, but call it “extreme cold weather” Super Coolant. Ingredients match the older formula, despite a different name.

ZEREX Asian Blue has ingredients that closely match the original white bottle formula.

I have a 2024 Outback that needs its first coolant top-off. Help me BITOG, you're my only hope.

Are all of the listed coolants the same **** thing? Why the addition of 2-ethyl hexanoic acid?

I went to my only local dealer and they are sold out of the gallon 50/50 mix, and gave ne a complimentary “extreme cold weather” concentrate quart as a “sorry”.

I cannot deal with this long term. Can I make a 2 quart 50/50 distilled water mix with this “extreme cold” version - is it actually the same as the normal concentrate?

Ideally, I would like to just start using the ZEREX Asian Blue, and forget this entire headache.

Can someone help me sort this confusion?

Thank you!
Click to expand...
2-ethyl hexanoic acid containing coolants were used by European makes for decades. It was typically labeled as G48. I'm surprised they're using it since 2-EHA was banned in the EU and this coolant is no longer sold in small "retail sized" quantities.

FCD

Thread 'EU Bans 2-Eha'

The EU recently passed a ban on coolants containing 2-Eha, i just happened to stumble upon this while on ATO24.de from Glysantin, stating that they have discontinued their G48 coolant, other brands like Febi Bilstein instead of discontinuing their G11/G48 coolants, have simply removed it, probably replacing it with other OAT inhibitors like Sebacate.

They also provided this helpful guide to find a suitable replacement for it based on Make and Year.

Alfa Romeo01/1976 – 01/2005Glysantin G64
Audi01/1981 –...
  • Helpful
  • Haha
 
redwolf4k said:
WHITE GALLON SUPER COOLANT:
water, Ethlene glycol, diethylene glycol, bitterant and “proprietary inhibitors”

BLACK GALLON SUPER COOLANT:
water, Ethlene glycol, diethylene glycol, 2-ethyl hexanoic acid, bitterant and “proprietary inhibitors”
Click to expand...
Which version is factory fill in your Subaru?
 
It is my understanding that 2-EHA must be disclosed on the SDS because its consindered hazardous. So presumably it didn't have it before.

I will let you decide if you wish to use 2-EHA - I personally will not. However if I were going to I certainly would not pay OEM prices for it. The reason Prestone and the like use it is its very cheap for the corrosion protection provided - at the potential cost of plastics and gaskets.
 
SC Maintenance said:
It is my understanding that 2-EHA must be disclosed on the SDS because its consindered hazardous. So presumably it didn't have it before.

I will let you decide if you wish to use 2-EHA - I personally will not. However if I were going to I certainly would not pay OEM prices for it. The reason Prestone and the like use it is its very cheap for the corrosion protection provided - at the potential cost of plastics and gaskets.
Click to expand...
I wonder if Subaru is no longer using CCI as their coolant supplier; it seems odd that Subaru would go out of their way to ask for 2-EH to be included in the formulation?

At least for their aftermarket line, CCI's formula is 2-EH free.

https://genuine-chemistry.com/products/coolants/asian-blue-coolant/
 
Last edited:
2EHA is the holy grail of cooling system corrosion inhibitors, I would use the new Super Coolant and sleep easy. By the way, I personally drove a Subaru from 2007 to 2023 and still have family members that own them and I use cheap universal coolant with 2EHA in it and never once had an issue.
 
redwolf4k said:
No one can provide me thst answer, it is a 2024 Outback. It seems the consensus is that it doesn’t matter and the white bottle and black bottle can be mixed without thought.
Click to expand...
Yeah, all it says in the online 2024 OM is Subaru Super Coolant, which is no help. I'd say the consensus is correct though. "Personally", I'd stick with a no 2eha aftermarket formula, same as still vast majority Asian OEM/aftermarket AFs.
 
Coolant Kid said:
2EHA is the holy grail of cooling system corrosion inhibitors, I would use the new Super Coolant and sleep easy. By the way, I personally drove a Subaru from 2007 to 2023 and still have family members that own them and I use cheap universal coolant with 2EHA in it and never once had an issue.
Click to expand...
2-EHA is not any sort of grail. It is a decent anti corrosion additive. Benefit being it lasts a long time. This is how you get your supposed 150K Prestone for cheap.

It however takes a long time to work because it actually forms a protective layer over metal. That layer takes a long time to form. If it does wear off it has to re-form. It doesn't take long for corrosion to start - so if it came that way from the factory would be one thing. Switching later in life might be a worse idea.

It also softens plastics and gaskets. Most have formulations that prevent that these days, but your assuming the OEM that never intended to run 2-EHA did in fact.

Dex-cool was the origination of 2-EHA in automotive coolant. If that doesn't scare you off, its also quite hazardous.
 
SC Maintenance said:
2-EHA is not any sort of grail. It is a decent anti corrosion additive. Benefit being it lasts a long time. This is how you get your supposed 150K Prestone for cheap.

It however takes a long time to work because it actually forms a protective layer over metal. That layer takes a long time to form. If it does wear off it has to re-form. It doesn't take long for corrosion to start - so if it came that way from the factory would be one thing. Switching later in life might be a worse idea.

It also softens plastics and gaskets. Most have formulations that prevent that these days, but your assuming the OEM that never intended to run 2-EHA did in fact.

Dex-cool was the origination of 2-EHA in automotive coolant. If that doesn't scare you off, its also quite hazardous.
Click to expand...
Wow, this is all great information, thanks.
 
This is all great stuff folks, appreciate it. I officially topped off about 1 quart. I went with the Zerex Asian Blue, but would also have used Peak Asian blue. The auto parts store ten minutes away in my town carries Zerex as it is a NAPA. I feel confident.

The fact that the dealership is an hour away and they were sold out was enough to make me not want to have that be the norm for this vehicle. Zerex Asian Blue it is!
 
redwolf4k said:
........It seems the consensus is that it doesn’t matter and the white bottle and black bottle can be mixed without thought.
Click to expand...
Seems reasonable. Back in 2008, when the Super Coolant was introduced, Subaru made this statement in their magazine The End Wrench:

....During the 2008 production run, all other Impreza, Forester, Legacy, Outback and Tribeca models will be transitioned from the older green Subaru Long Life Coolant to the new blue Subaru Long Life Super Coolant.

Some of these 2008 models may be filled with the new blue coolant, some may be filled with the older green coolant and some may be filled with a mixture of the two.....
Click to expand...
 
SC Maintenance said:
2-EHA is not any sort of grail. It is a decent anti corrosion additive. Benefit being it lasts a long time. This is how you get your supposed 150K Prestone for cheap.

It however takes a long time to work because it actually forms a protective layer over metal. That layer takes a long time to form. If it does wear off it has to re-form. It doesn't take long for corrosion to start - so if it came that way from the factory would be one thing. Switching later in life might be a worse idea.

It also softens plastics and gaskets. Most have formulations that prevent that these days, but your assuming the OEM that never intended to run 2-EHA did in fact.

Dex-cool was the origination of 2-EHA in automotive coolant. If that doesn't scare you off, its also quite hazardous.
Click to expand...
That’s why Japanese coolant and Prestone’s current Cor-Guard(aka Motorcraft Yellow) has phosphate alongside the OAT inhibitor. Phosphates provide instant protection against cavitation and has the added effect of sequestering alkali ions(Na/K/Ca) in hard water - which is why Prestone harps use distilled water - “good quality water” for their concentrates and the Europeans don’t use it. 2-EHA, sodium benzoate or other organic acids take a while for them to passivate aluminum or ferrous metals. Phosphates also protect the solder in CAB-processed heat exchangers from clogging up a cooling system - as Ford found out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

StarCaller
Still Not Convinced by Lubegard’s Kool-It Compatibility Reply
Replies
8
Views
687
Revving2Redline
D
1987 Toyota MR2 Coolant Suggestions
Replies
7
Views
1K
nthach
I
Questions about Motul's MoCool
Replies
8
Views
4K
inquirer
B
2015 Kia Sedona Coolant Type
Replies
5
Views
4K
Vitamin Yoda
O
The coolant I used to use is no longer available and my stash has ran dry.
Replies
9
Views
4K
garageman402
Back
Top Bottom