Date:         Tue, 1 Jul 2003 16:12:10 -0700
Reply-To:     Doktor Tim <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Doktor Tim <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
Subject:      Non-phos E-Glycol(Dex Cool)
Comments: To: TJ Hannink <tjhannink@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <20030629193020.80184.qmail@web80502.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Yes, it only took Detroit 40+ years to update to the Euro spec that was in
place post WWII when they went to aluminum heads on cast iron blocks in
Germany for production engines.  The spec then as today has been
non-phosphate ethylene glycol. The belated GM DexCool (all orange) spec ist
gut in any good name label.

Since the mid 50's Basf Corp has made the Euro Spec fluid for Mercedes, VW,
Audi, Porsche, BMW, Volvo, Saab and Jaguar under their own labels or
Autobahn label. All are blue dye except Benz, which is yellow and otherwise
the same. 5 or 7 years ago, before the GM specs, Zerex licensed and
manufactured the Basf spec in orange for a coupla years, then stopped.
Otherwise, for many years the only spec fluid source for Euro's was dealer.
This is the biggest reason Wasserboxers suffered. The cooling system
maintenance is 3 times the effort for a V-8 Ford, and twice the volume of
three times the cost per gallon fluid.

For a time in the 60's, Shell UK made this spec for the English marks.

Most of the extended life fluids meet the DexCool spec and therefore, Euro
specs. Find on the back of the bottle the ingredients. Very small print
hard to find sometimes. If it's not e-glycol, ist nicht. If any phosphate
shows, ist nicht. "Safe for aluminum" means NOTHING if it is not phosphate
free. Otherwise, ist gut vor Wasserboxer, and other water cooled VW's up
until more recent models having one of 3 different spec anti-freezes, and
other dealer only source fluids for the tranny and power steering and on
and on. There is a bunch of stuff necessary that you can't get at any FLAPS
no matter what they sell you, and you can risk system failure if the fluids
and procedures are not spec. Your owner's manuals will give the specs for
fluids. Ignore them at your peril.

Dex Cool ist Kool vor Wasserboxers. Only costs twice as much as the wrong
stuff and honors the specs.