Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2013 19:37:27 -0500
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Coolant expire date
In-Reply-To: <cnF71m00k37hsSh01nF8Ta>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Well, one dealer could have it and another not. I have read that the blue stuff (called G-11) is being discontinued.
One can get phosphate free coolants in other brands. Zerex for one has one, as does Prestone. Most of the long life coolants are. I wonder about the claim that is made that we don't need to avoid phosphate containing anti-freezes in the U.S., only in Europe, with harder water. Water in the plains states is pretty hard. Anyway, distilled water is the antithesis of hard. It is cheap. But I go with the phosphate free stuff. mcneely
---- Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
> thanks for the correction Dave.
> I swear my vw dealer only had the pink a while back, or that's what they
> said anyway.
>
>
> On 10/13/2013 1:48 PM, Dave Mcneely wrote:
> > Scott, VW does have the blue coolant still. VW also has a pink coolant. I have bought the blue from my local VW dealer within the past year. mcneely
> >
> > ---- Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
> >> Thanks for posting that link.
> >> on their FAQ's the address shelf life at the top of the list.
> >>
> >> noteworthy ..in the next FAQ the talk about the need for phosphate free
> >> a-frz.And ..they say with Eruopean water ..yes..
> >> withour less hard water ...phosphate-free is not that important or even
> >> needed.
> >> People that are concerned about that can use distilled water .
> >> Personally, I never have ..
> >> I've used mainly good a-frzin a 50-50 mix with tap water. And probably
> >> in as many at 5,000, or more, cars over the years, and vanagons.
> >>
> >> Lately ....noticiing what it says on a bottle of Water Wetter ...
> >> I see that a weaker coolant mixture than 50-50 removes heat better
> >> ...and since 50-50 protects agaisnt freezing to 32 below zero F ...most
> >> of us don't need that much protection against freezing.
> >>
> >> I probably us 40 % coolant, the rest good clean tap water (West coast )
> >> with water wetter added.
> >>
> >> and make sure the thing runs up to temp !
> >> If the temp gauge does not get up to the middle ....get a good new
> >> german thermostat in there.
> >>
> >> generally I regard Prestone Extended Life a-frz as one of the better ones.
> >>
> >> I have never found a reason to use the VW Blue, and very expensive, stuff..
> >> and it's not even blue anymore if you ask for some at a VW dealer. They
> >> sell a reddish 'mixes with anything ' coolant now I believe ..
> >> and they charge a lot for it too.
> >>
> >> As always ..I think Regular Care and Attention ..
> >> and keeping things working right is far, far more important than the
> >> actual brand or type of products used.
> >> It's not weakness of product used, oil , coolant or whateverthat is
> >> the real issue ..it's plain old abuse and neglect and poor workmanship
> >> that's the real issue in almost all cases.
> >>
> >> And in 25+ year old vanagons ..you never get all the old coolant out
> >> anyway ..
> >> so even once a year is not too often to change the coolant. It does
> >> deteriorte ...like most things do.
> >>
> >> scott
> >>
> >>
> >> On 10/13/2013 12:35 PM, Dave Mcneely wrote:
> >>> ---- Alain Thibault <alainthibault@TELUS.NET> wrote:
> >>>> Crazy question...i have a brand new gallon (4liters) of never used coolant but it is about 12 years old. Is it still good to use?
> >>>>
> >>>> Sent from my iPad 2
> >>> Here is one manufacturer's answer:
> >>>
> >>> http://prestone.com/learn_more/frequently_asked_questions#faq-row-465
> >>>
> >>> I don't know if I would take all I see here for the gospel, but at least for Prestone coolant, I think you are safe. Others may have different chemical additives, so you might want to check with them.
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> David McNeely
> >>>
> > --
> > David McNeely
> >
>
--
David McNeely
| 
