Date:         Thu, 12 Nov 1998 00:30:04 -0600
Reply-To:     Budd Premack <bpremack@WAVETECH.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Budd Premack <bpremack@WAVETECH.NET>
Subject:      Re: Coolant  and int. lighting questions
Comments: To: Bill Urban <KC-Sadie-VW@WEBTV.NET>, vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Bill Urban wrote,

> My '91 is low on coolant. I've only owned it for a couple of months  so
> this is the first time I've added some. My question is about the type of
> antifreeze to use. i have some Prestone Low-tox antifreeze. The bottle
> is labeled as safe for all metals. Is this the phosphate-free I've been
> reading about?

It is not phosphate-free unless it says phosphate-free!

Prestone and Havoline (Texaco brand) both make a phosphate-free antifreeze
at comparable prices to regular ethylene-glycol antifreeze.  They should
each be available at most any FLAPS.  (VW dealers sell the Autobahn brand
at a typically ridiculous price.)

Caution, my Havoline brand warns against mixing the phosphate-free with any
other type.  Best bet is to drain, flush, and refill with fresh
phosphate-free coolant.

The Archives have many entries on flushing the cooling system, with
techniques that are simpler than that described in the Bentley manual.


Budd Premack
86 Syncro, 73 Super
Minneapolis, MN (Land of Sky-Blue Waters)