Weston 936 coolant question

[Tourist]

My car fitted with Renault D4F 1.2 liter engine calls for Weston 936 coolant in the owner manual. Couldn't find any information on the 936. Can someone please shed some light on this? Thanks.

 

[Tourist]

So does anybody know whether this is OAT or Hybrid OAT coolant? Or could I use an universal coolant like Texaco's ELC? Thanks.

 

[Tourist]

Hi. Thanks for the reply. I too searched the Net but drew a blank.

I am driving a Proton Savvy that has a Renault D4F-MPI 1149-c.c 16V SOHC engine and the manual simply states to use "Weston 936 mixed with de-ionized water". I have never seen a Weston 936 so have absolutely no further info, hence my request from you people here. Any idea?

Thanks.

 

[Ray H]

Tourist, can you post the owner's manual specified coolant changeout interval (time/distance)? If I get some idea of that, I might be able to offer some general suggestions regarding types other than the mysterious "Weston" that would be more generally available. Oh, and what color is the coolant solution in the radiator or overflow burp bottle?

 

[Ray H]

I tried to do a search, but, no hits. Is "Weston" a regional brand? If you could supply any information from the back of a jug about its "recipe", I might be able to offer afew comments.

 

[Tourist]

In the manual, it didn't state anything..but in the service booklet it says you must drain and replace the coolant at 36 months or 60k km interval.

So I now know it's either OAT or Hybrid OAT but which one exactly?

 

[Ray H]

I agree. You could use either, but if you have a choice locally, I'd suggest a G-05 (Zerex G-05 if available) or Honda, Toyota, or Nissan long life antifreeze/coolant. These four brews qualify as hybrid type - and they're all good in virtually any cooling system. They may differ in marker dye color form what's currently installed, but the specific color is irrelevant - the dye is only added to help trace exterior coolant leaks. (There are green conventionals, green "dexclones", orange DEX-COOL, orange G-05s, yellow G-05s, and the Japanese hybrids - essentially the same - are blue form Honda, red from Toyota, and green from Nissan. Crazy, yes?) Just be sure to do several distilled water flushes until what drains comes out water-white clear, and use distilled water to dilute. Hope this helps alleviate your concerns.

 

[Tourist]

Hi. My concern about Japanese hybrids for use in Euro engine is that they tend have phosphate to protect their aluminium. I understand Euro manufacturer do not want Phosphate due mainly to hard water issue. But I was wondering whether there is any other possible reason, beside hard water issue, for not wanting Phosphate by Euro manufacturer?

Thanks again.

 

[Ray H]

Europe's abysmally hard water is the only reason I've ever read to avoid antifreeze that contains phosphates. The European automakers apparently worry that adding the phosphate salts (minerals) common to Japanese-style antifreeze to already mineral-laden water is an invitation to hard precipitates falling out of solution and causing cooling system damage. The key, I believe, is to always use distilled/de-ionized water* for your flush as well as to dilute the fresh antifreeze concentrate. I stopped using tap water out of my garden hose to flush and dilute in my cars' cooling systems 25 years ago. I stopped having any further cooling system corrosion and scale problems 25 years ago, too, regardless of antifreeze type.

* Essentially the same level of de-mineralized purity - just different means of "getting there".

 

[Big Jim]

I still use southern California tap water and I also have not had any cooling system corrosion problems. I can say for certain for at least the last 15 years, and perhaps longer.

 

[Tourist]

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.