Which coolant to use

[Trav]

I have a little dilemma going on here,three vehicles..
99 Ford F150 5.4
95 Toyota
99 Pontiac GP 3800
The Pontiac has the latest aluminum LIM gaskets,was completely flushed and filled with Prestone AM/AM.We wanted to get away from Dexcool now i read that AM/AM is maybe just Dexcool without the dye.
Toyota has Prestone AM/AM

I picked up 12 gallons of Peak Green and flushed the F150,any thoughts on the other two?Is it worth flushing and changing them to green?Was the AM/AM ok in the F150?

After 35 years in this business i cant believe buying antifreeze has become such an issue.Even the companies that manufacture this stuff are secretive about what's in them.
This alone makes me sceptical of running any of these extended life coolants.

Is Prestone AM/AM really a gasket eater?

 

[ZGRider]

Use G-05 in all of them, forget the rest of the AFs

 

[Bill in Utah]

I've gone with Peak Global in all my vehicles which incl Subaru, Toyota, GMC, Chevy and Honda.

I can get it full strength for right around $11 a gallon.

Agree that this flavor of the month coolant is dumb.

Another way to make money.

Bill

 

[ThirdeYe]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
I've gone with Peak Global in all my vehicles which incl Subaru, Toyota, GMC, Chevy and Honda.

I can get it full strength for right around $11 a gallon.

Agree that this flavor of the month coolant is dumb.

Another way to make money.

Bill


+1, I had mine changed at the Acura dealership but I topped it off with Prestone All Makes/Models (pre-diluted) and my radiator hasn't exploded yet.

I did the same thing with my Altima I used to have.

 

[pbm]

If I could get PEAK Global full strength for $11 a gallon it would be the only antifreeze I'd use. It is hard to find it except in the 50/50 mix which makes flushing a problem.
We are not exactly sure what OAT (acid) that PEAK Global uses but it seems to be better on gaskets than the 2-EHA found in Dexclones.

 

[mechanicx]

I'm inclined to agree with the ZGRider that G-05 would be best choice to settle on one anti-freeze. Or if you don't mind changing anti-freeze every 2 years you could go Green in all too.

Originally Posted By: Trav
I have a little dilemma going on here,three vehicles..
99 Ford F150 5.4
95 Toyota
99 Pontiac GP 3800
The Pontiac has the latest aluminum LIM gaskets,was completely flushed and filled with Prestone AM/AM.We wanted to get away from Dexcool now i read that AM/AM is maybe just Dexcool without the dye.
Toyota has Prestone AM/AM

I picked up 12 gallons of Peak Green and flushed the F150,any thoughts on the other two?Is it worth flushing and changing them to green?Was the AM/AM ok in the F150?


With the 99 F150, Green was the FF and you were smart to get the AM out. G-05 was also back-speced to '99 by Ford. So the F-150 is fine for now but G-05 is the clear choice next time.

With the 95 Toyota Zerex recommends G-05. I personally dont like Prestone AM and would only use it on a very late model GM vehicle if even then. I think Peak Global would be better but G-05 would be a good choice to consolidate.

With the 99 GP 3800, since you have changed the LIMG gasket you could probably get away with Dexcool, but there still a sludging issue. Again, I think G-05, Peak Global or even Green would be better.



Quote:
After 35 years in this business i cant believe buying antifreeze has become such an issue.Even the companies that manufacture this stuff are secretive about what's in them.
This alone makes me sceptical of running any of these extended life coolants.

Is Prestone AM/AM really a gasket eater?


Well Prestone AM contains the OATs 2EHA and sodium neodeconoate. 2EHA is believed to degraded incompatible gaskets. It's also known to sludge in certain situations like the GP. Even if I were to run Dexcool Texaco/Chevron would be my first choice (hard to find. O'reilly's) then Zerex Dexcool (almost as hard to find. NAPA)

 

[pbm]

Originally Posted By: mechanicx




Is Prestone AM/AM really a gasket eater?


Well Prestone AM contains the OATs 2EHA and sodium neodeconoate. 2EHA is believed to degraded incompatible gaskets. It's also known to sludge in certain situations like the GP. Even if I were to run Dexcool Texaco/Chevron would be my first choice (hard to find. O'reilly's) then Zerex Dexcool (almost as hard to find. NAPA) [/quote]



Mechanix:
I'm puzzled a bit as to why you think Texaco Dexcool is better than Prestone AM/AM since (I'm almost sure) it was the original Texaco Dexcool that GM used starting in 1996 or 1997 that was so problematic.
I would think that 2-EHA is 2-EHA regardless of who makes the coolant.

 

[DieselTech]

Your application calls for Green low silicate coolant. If you have alum heads G-05 will be great if they are cast then I'd stick with the low silicate green such as Zerex original

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: pbm
Originally Posted By: mechanicx




Quote:
Is Prestone AM/AM really a gasket eater?


Well Prestone AM contains the OATs 2EHA and sodium neodeconoate. 2EHA is believed to degraded incompatible gaskets. It's also known to sludge in certain situations like the GP. Even if I were to run Dexcool Texaco/Chevron would be my first choice (hard to find. O'reilly's) then Zerex Dexcool (almost as hard to find. NAPA)




Mechanix:
I'm puzzled a bit as to why you think Texaco Dexcool is better than Prestone AM/AM since (I'm almost sure) it was the original Texaco Dexcool that GM used starting in 1996 or 1997 that was so problematic.
I would think that 2-EHA is 2-EHA regardless of who makes the coolant.


Well it's true that Texaco was the original Dexcool that GM uses and it did cause problems in some models in the late 90's. But keep in mind 100's of thousands maybe millions of those same vehicles were not completely filled with Prestone AM to say they would've faired better.

The reason I say the Chevron/Texaco is better is because it is the most tested and originally came with 2EHA and sebacate. Sebacate is what the Asians are using. I can't say for sure the formula is the same 2EHA with sebecate but Chevron/Texaco poineered Dexcool and it's the most tested and researched of the Dexcools. Also I've replaced GM FF with Prestone AM in a vehicle that I know the history very well and AM quickly started sludging whereas the Texaco did not over several years.

I tend to think the Texaco/Chevron formula is no more or less agressive and less likely to sludge. I don't think it's a huge difference though. Prestone probably works all right on some later model GM cars or others that don't get air in the system and happen to have compatible gaskets. But given the choice I'd go with Chevron Dexcool.

 

[Trav]

Thanks Guys!
I still have about 8 gal of green left so i will just hang on to that for the old ford 5.4 here.
G-05 for the the other two,any brand recommendations?
I will flush the Toyota with G-05 later this week.

The GP has only 500mi since doing the LIM gaskets that were replaced along with the upper manifold as a precaution,thank goodness as they looked in rough shape around the ports and the upper was almost burned through around the EGR,i used an aftermarket manifold with a heat shield and more distance.

With 50k one owner miles and never seen snow its mint and garaged till april,would you bring it out and flush it or wait till spring?

 

[Petersubaru]

Havolines short version of its testing info..the numbers go beyond just keeping within minimum standards.. http://www.arteco-coolants.com/images/files/Havoline%20XLC%20(English).pdf ..unlike prestones "lab testing" only

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: Trav
The GP has only 500mi since doing the LIM gaskets that were replaced along with the upper manifold as a precaution,thank goodness as they looked in rough shape around the ports and the upper was almost burned through around the EGR,i used an aftermarket manifold with a heat shield and more distance.


sounds like you fixed the GP good.

Originally Posted By: Trav
With 50k one owner miles and never seen snow its mint and garaged till april,would you bring it out and flush it or wait till spring?


With the more OAT resistant intake gaskets and just being garaged, I'd say there is no hurry to change it. You could easily wait till spring.

Originally Posted By: Petersubaru
Havolines short version of its testing info..the numbers go beyond just keeping within minimum standards.. Havoline ..unlike prestones "lab testing" only


Thanks I'll check that out. I don't really completely agree with them when they say no compatibility with gaskets though.