Date:         Sun, 6 Nov 2011 08:27:53 -0500
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Availability of VW Blue Coolant (one for Vanagons)
Comments: To: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <003301cc9b72$21bf3d60$653db820$@net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Any ethylene glycol based antifreeze becomes corrosive when heated and mixed
with oxygen. The additives can only do so much. Systems that have small
leaks and require regular make up become a real mess over time as each time
fluid is added so is more oxygen. Also, system that leak will cease the
additives and unwanted minerals to increase in concentration making
precipitation and accumulation of bad stuff much more of a problem.

In the Diesel and industrial engine world much more attention is paid to
coolants, their condition, testing and treatment than most Vanagon folks can
imagine. And my gosh are there choices.

Dex Cool is best used in systems designed for it. I remember my 1999 motor
home with the Ford V-10 having stickers in multiple places not to use it.
The Zerex GO-5 is a very good coolant and also used in many Diesels. Watter
Wetter not needed as the Diesel formulas have reduced surface tension
additives to prevent cylinder cavitation erosion caused by "bubbles" popping
from the cylinder explosions.

My current choice for antifreeze is the "Final Charge" used in most late
model Diesel trucks. Six year-600,000 mile service life in a truck with a
additive addition at the half life mark. AS this is a very low surface
tension, high cylinder contact coolant, any leakage will be apparent. For
tight systems with good head gaskets only. It definitely has some heat
transfer advantages.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Tom Hargrave
Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2011 12:20 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Availability of VW Blue Coolant (one for Vanagons)

I was burned on Dex-cool years ago and I won't use it in anything.

The stuff works great until you get air in a system. Then the oxygen in the
air combine with the two acids in the stuff to eat away at the inside of
your engine. The result is a brown sludge that fills up your radiator.

GM was sued over their brown sludge problem and their defense was the
coolant had no issues in a properly maintained system. They argued that in a
properly maintained system air could not get in and start the corrosion
process and technically they are correct. But we all know that our cooling
systems suffer "breakdowns" that we can't get to immediately.

Here is a Google search on +"Dex-cool" +"brown sludge".
http://tinyurl.com/3zmbxy8



Thanks, Tom Hargrave
www.stir-plate.com
www.towercooler.com
www.kegkits.com

-----Original Message-----
From: John Rodgers [mailto:inua@charter.net]
Sent: Friday, November 04, 2011 10:55 PM
To: Tom Hargrave
Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Availability of VW Blue Coolant (one for Vanagons)

I've been using the orange GM Dex-cool for years and never any trouble with
it. I buy the straight stuff and mix my own with distilled water.
Also use Redline Water-Wetter with it as well.

John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com


On 11/4/2011 7:06 PM, Tom Hargrave wrote:
> Zerex G-05 is what Mercedes and Chrysler uses - verified by my Wife
> who still works for MOPAR, a division of Chrysler.
>
> Thanks, Tom Hargrave
> www.stir-plate.com
> www.towercooler.com
> www.kegkits.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On
> Behalf Of Zeitgeist
> Sent: Friday, November 04, 2011 5:00 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Availability of VW Blue Coolant (one for Vanagons)
>
> Zerex
> G-05<http://www.valvoline.com/products/brands/zerex/antifreeze/42>is
> strongly rumored to be what Mercedes uses in their branded high dollar
> coolant bottles sold via the dealer network.  It now goes in my entire
> fleet.  Any coolant that looks like urine is good enough for me.
>
> --
> Casey
> -----
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> 11/04/11
>
>

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