Date:         Fri, 22 Aug 2014 17:50:52 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Coolant colour It's Friday!
Comments: To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

My 1923 Haynes manual tells you to replace the water with Kerosene for winter operation. It also explains to make sure you don't heat it up enough to vaporize it. 

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Dave Mcneely
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2014 6:10 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Coolant colour

Sure I remember alcoholic antifreeze.  It was widely used in the fifties, but as you said, it did not last because it evaporated.  People typically just ran water only in summer.  In Texas where I grew up, it was not uncommon for some people to drain the radiator and block on cold nights, and refill in the morning and start the car up.  On the rare occasions when we had freezing weather for a several day period, I don't know what they did.  But I do recall draining radiator and block on more than one occasion to prevent freezing back in the day.  Maybe that was early in the season, and my father added antifreeze a little later.  mcneely

---- Larry Alofs <lalofs@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dave,
>   My understanding of what Zerex and Prestone mean by "mixes with" is 
> the same as your technically correct use of "is functionally compatible with".
>  Simplified language for the masses.
>
> Does anyone remember when you could buy either "permanent" or 
> "non-permanent" antifreeze.  I recall this being an issue back in the 
> 1950's when fall aproached and there were 30 or 40 cars on my family's 

> used car lot in Michigan.
>   Non-permanent was cheaper and I assume based on methanol or 
> denatured ethanol.  It did not last well thru hot weather.
>
> Larry A.
>
>
>
> On Sun, Aug 17, 2014 at 1:38 PM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
>
> > ---- Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >   so, only drink pure antifreeze?...
> >
> > I wouldn't drink antifreeze of any sort, though propylene glycol is 
> > claimed to be non-toxic.  The point was an analogy.  Just because 
> > two things will mix together does not mean that they are 
> > functionally equivalent by any means.
> >
> > mcneely
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Sun, Aug 17, 2014 at 9:58 AM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
> > >
> > > > ---- "SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott ) " 
> > > > <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
> > wrote:
> > > > > My understanding from my VW Dealer Parts Dept ..
> > > > > some 1 1/2 yr ago is that their Red 'mixes with all types of
> > coolant.'
> > > > >
> > > > > It might even say that on the bottle.
> > > > > and since there are now about  half a dozen different types of
> > coolant
> > > > > in use , it's not hard to find coolants that claim 'mixes with 

> > > > > all
> > types
> > > > > of coolant. "
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Mixes with" and "is functionally compatible with" are not 
> > > > necessarily
> > the
> > > > same thing.  That could be especially true when it comes to 
> > > > corrosion prevention or preventing clogging.  Ethanol and 
> > > > methanol are completely miscible in all proportions.  Their 
> > > > toxicities to mammals including
> > people
> > > > are quite different, and the resulting mix does not change that.
> > mcneely
> > > >
> > > > > I like Zerex Long Life coolant too.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > On 8/17/2014 2:48 AM, Dave Mcneely wrote:
> > > > > > VW has had both red and blue coolant for years.  At the 
> > > > > > dealership
> > > > where I last bought VW coolant, when I stated that I wanted 
> > > > coolant
> > for a
> > > > 1991 Volkswagen Vanagon GL Campmobile (though I had bought 
> > > > coolant and
> > a
> > > > few other things from them before), the first reply was that no 
> > > > parts
> > for
> > > > that vehicle were available, but maybe coolant was.  The clerk 
> > > > then consulted a computer, left for the stock room, and returned 

> > > > with two gallons of red coolant.  When I pointed out the error, 
> > > > he stated that
> > that
> > > > was the only coolant for VWs extant, that none other was 
> > > > manufactured,
> > and
> > > > that it was correct for Vanagons.  I demured, and asked if 
> > > > someone else might have better information.  Eventually, after 
> > > > an extended
> > discussion
> > > > that bordered on heated, he brought forth a manager, who 
> > > > listened,
> > said,
> > > > "just a moment," went to the stock room, and returned with two 
> > > > bottles
> > of
> > > > blue coolant.  He hadn't consulted a computer.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I no longer use the VW coolant.  I use Zerex Long-life 
> > > > > > coolant,
> > which
> > > > is yellow, and which is phosphate free.  I believe that a 
> > > > phosphate
> > free
> > > > coolant is available from Prestone as well.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > mcneely
> > > > > >
> > > > > > ---- Jeff Palmer <jpalmer@MYMTS.NET> wrote:
> > > > > >> Did I miss the memo? Is vw coolant now red instead of blue? 

> > > > > >> Can
> > they
> > > > be mixed?
> > > > > >>
> > > > > >> Thanks
> > > > > >> Jeff
> > > > > >>
> > > > > > --
> > > > > > David McNeely
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > David McNeely
> > > >
> >
> > --
> > David McNeely
> >

--
David McNeely