Date:         Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:13:58 -0500
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: another coolant question
Comments: To: John Goubeaux <john@UCSB.EDU>
In-Reply-To:  <4DA3CF4B.2010309@ucsb.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

---- John Goubeaux <john@UCSB.EDU> wrote:
> Sorry guys, I know this topic has been beaten to death, but...
>
> So I am about ready to fill my newly installed ( gowesty ) engine with
> coolant, I have six gallons of the Blue VW/Audi  stuff, already cut with
> distilled water that I have had for a while. I had intended to use this
> whenever I did a full flush of the system. A local VW mechanic tells me
> I should not use it b/c it is no longer available -replaced by the pink
> stuff. That I will not have any extra for "down the road" and can't mix
> the two.
>
> So I am thinking -  "crap" now i have to  give VW another $100 for pink
> fluid ?  Any comment on this? Am I missing something?

Last time I bought any of the blue coolant from VW, the first clerk told me they did not have it, that it wasn't made any longer.  I pointed out that I had bought it just a couple of months before.  Another clerk spoke up and said, sure, we have it, and went to the back and got it.

FWIW, several coolants available from FLAPS now state clearly on the bottle label that they are phosphate free.  Among those are Zerex and at least one version of Prestone.  Sierra coolant, propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol, is also phosphate free.  The last named is what GoWesty sells and installs in waterboxer engines at their shop.

mcneely