Zerex Green Original Formula

[SuperBusa]

Wondering if using the Zerex "Original Formula" (green stuff) in a 2004 Nissan Altima would be OK.

All these coolant companies try to market all their "special blends" to be specific for vehicle make ... I don't tend to believe a lot of the hype.

Not sure if I'd really gain much by using Nissan OEM coolant. Also, car still has factory fill, but only 22K miles - time for a change for sure due to time. Factory fill is green, and of course Nissan uses ethylene glycol coolant, so want to stick with that. Not planning on a full blown flush, so don't want to use a different color than green ... even though I know you can sometimes mix colors.

http://www.valvoline.com/products/consumer-products/antifreeze-radiator-products/antifreeze/40

http://www.valvoline.com/pdf/zerexoriginal.pdf

Note the green original formula is good for 5 yr/100K miles, even though it's not advertised anywhere on the actual bottle. Humm ...

 

[JHZR2]

I wouldnt want to take the chance mixing chemistries.

 

[SuperBusa]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
I wouldnt want to take the chance mixing chemistries.


What chemistry do you think the Nissan OEM green fill was back in 2004 model year?

The Service Manual just says:

"Use Genuine NISSAN Long Life Anti-freeze coolant or equivalent.

The engine cooling system is filled at the factory with a high-quality, long life, year-round, anti-freeze coolant solution. The anti-freeze solution contains rust and corrosion inhibitors. Therefore, additional cooling system additives are not necessary.

When adding or replacing coolant, be sure to use only Genuine NISSAN Long Life Anti-freeze coolant or equivalent with the proper mixture ratio of 50% anti-freeze and 50% demineralized water or distilled water."

And of course the CYA statement:
"Other types of coolant solutions may damage your cooling system."

 

[SuperBusa]

According to this tech article on Valoline's website (maker of Zerex), the OAT formulation (ie, DEX-COOL formula) is not compatible with the IAT or HOAT formulas.

http://www.valvoline.com/car-care/automo...r/vcc20051101ac

Quote from link above:

"Serving to protect and cool our modern engines are three basic chemistries.

IAT, or Inorganic Additive Technology, is the traditional green coolant found in most older vehicles. This solution offers fast-acting corrosion protection, although the additives are quickly consumed, exposing the cooling system to possible corrosion problems if not changed regularly.

OAT, or Organic Acid Technology, is the formula found in DEX-COOL®, and is usually the antifreeze/coolant of choice for VW and many Japanese/Asian vehicles. This updated formula is engineered to offer long-life corrosion protection. The downside of OAT is it is not compatible with other types of coolant (IAT and HOAT). In fact, Ford, DaimlerChrysler and others say not to use this type of coolant in their newer models.

HOAT, or Hybrid Organic Acid Technology, is found in newer Ford, Chrysler and Mercedes vehicles. Using the very best aspects of both IAT and OAT, HOAT is a very protective, long-life coolant."

 

[CharBaby]

I know that this discussion is about ZEREX but, I too have an 04 Altima and I drained/filled the radiator but with PEAK LongLife(not GLOBAL). So far, so good. Did this in summer of 08 and made my own 50/50 with distilled H2o. The only reasons that I have questioned the PEAK is from what I have read here at BITOG. Otherwise, I have been mixing coolants in asian vehicles for over 20 years and never an issue.

 

[doitmyself]

Superbusa,

John Deere coolant is green and it is a G05. It might be wise to do some detective work on the Nissan fluid. Gone are the simple coolant days.

 

[gizzsdad]

FWIW, I put some Prestone green in my '00 Maxima and got along fine for several years, then sold it to a friend in '04. In the summer of '05 he was on vacation and had overheating problems in West Butwhump Nebraska(on a weekend of course). When he finally found someone to look at it - it was almost completely plugged, and they had to wait for a replacement radiator.

Based on that experience, and my reading here, my choices would be - qualified by cost:

1) Genuine Nissan
2) Zerex Asian Vehicle
3) Peak Global Lifetime

 

[Donald]

All the Asian vehicles (and others) want a NO SILICATE formula not a low silicate formula like the old green stuff. This could possibly effect water pump life. I would avoid the old green stuff in your vehicle. Go with Peak Global or the Nissan stuff from the dealer.

 

[SuperBusa]

Thanks guys ... good recommendations. I think I'm going to go with the Nissan OEM Long Life. I talked the local dealer into a price break, so a gallon that's a little more is OK with me knowing I don't have to be concerned about it down the road.

I will however look into the Peak Global or the John Deere as suggested above.

Is the Peak Global green in color? I'd like to stay with green in the right formula if possible - another plus by staying with Nissan Long Life.

 

[SuperBusa]

Originally Posted By: gizzsdad

Based on that experience, and my reading here, my choices would be - qualified by cost:

1) Genuine Nissan
2) Zerex Asian Vehicle
3) Peak Global Lifetime


I went to Peak's website to checkout their Global Lifetime coolant. Says it's an "advanced organic acid technology", which means it could be incompatible with some other coolant formulas [ie, as stated by Zerex in the one of my posts above that says: "The downside of OAT is it is not compatible with other types of coolant (IAT and HOAT)."]

This is why they say about the Global Life coolant:

* A complete cooling system flush and fill is required. Follow vehicle's owner's manual for specified maintenance.

http://www.peakantifreeze.com/peak_global_lifetime.html

 

[doitmyself]

SuperBusa,

Unless doing a complete exchange, I was not recommending John Deere G05. I was simply making the point that you cannot go by the color, which seems to be one of your (misguided) priorities.

You seem to have come up with support on your own to stay with the Nissan fluid. You don't want to do a complete flush. You want stay green. You are uncomfortable mixing a different chemistry with your existing one.

I think you answered your own concerns. Peace of mind is a good reason to stay OEM, considering the cost of a damaged cooling system.

 

[Sayjac]

My 03 Altima Owners Man. actually uses the word "green" to describe the replacement coolant. That could mean conventional green.

That said I've done 2 total distilled water flush series using AM Long Life Coolants. First time Prestone, this time Peak Long Life because I had a $5 rebate. Looking at my radiator it was/is clean and Nissan maintenance calls for 30K/2yr time frame anyway.

I'm not paying Nissan prices, nor $15.50 for Peak Global if I could find it in concentrate. I also don't believe in 50/50 coolant of any kind, think it's a waste of money to pay for half water instead of concentrate.

 

[ponderosaTX]

The standard Japanese P-OAT automotive coolants are green but the shade is different than conventional North American coolant. Japanese green coolants have a forest green hue rather than the yellowish green hue of traditional coolant.

Honda and Toyota insist on using different dyes (blue, red, pink) in their P-OAT coolants but the first generation P-OAT "Long Life Coolant" in my 2003 Mazda is forest green. So is the newer P-OAT Mazda Extended Life (FL22) Coolant, which is also rebadged as Motorcraft Specialty Green Coolant.

Don't be confused by the fact that many Japanese P-OAT coolants happen to be green. Their P-OAT chemistry is RADICALLY different than conventional (silicated, borated, high pH) North American green coolant.

As far as I know, all of the Prestone mass-market automotive coolants contain 2-EHA, which is not recommended by Japanese automotive engineers. Peak Long Life may or may not contain 2-EHA; Peak refuses to publish any information on the subject. Peak Global Lifetime does not contain 2-EHA but it is a variation on Dex-Cool (using a different organic acid in place of 2-EHA); it contains no phosphates so it does not embody Japanese P-OAT coolant chemistry.

 

[SuperBusa]

Originally Posted By: doitmyself
SuperBusa,

Unless doing a complete exchange, I was not recommending John Deere G05. I was simply making the point that you cannot go by the color, which seems to be one of your (misguided) priorities.


No, I'm not misguided on the color aspect. I know you can't always go by the color ... it's just a dye, as the ethylene glycol base is clear by nature.

This is what has made the coolant world so confusing ... you can have basically the same coolant formulation but in many different colors depending on the brand.

If I was going to do a complete distilled water fill/drain 6 or 7 times to obtain a "complete flush", then I'd go with whatever is recommended for Japanese engines, regardless of the color - many different brands to choose from.

But since I just want to do a quick drain and refill (which is only about 1/2 the coolant in the system), I broke down and got the Nissan OEM green Long Life coolant. I'll change it again a year or two down the road, and after that I'll probably do a complete system replacement.

The car is a 2004 Altima V6, but only has 22K miles at this point. Age wise, it's past due ... but the coolant system looks good inside. The lower miles probably helped keep the coolant in better shape for it's age.