Date:         Tue, 16 Nov 1999 18:35:16 -0800
Reply-To:     "T.P. Stephens" <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "T.P. Stephens" <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
Subject:      DM: Re: VW coolant
In-Reply-To:  <0.614df46f.25634654@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 06:44 PM 11/16/1999 EST, you wrote:
>In a message dated 11/16/99 11:14:20 AM Eastern Standard Time,
>WoodyHalsey@COMPUSERVE.COM writes:
>
><< 1) What color is VW phosphate-free coolant?
>
> 2) Is it possible and smart to try to save the precious stuff, if you need
> to drain your system to replace a pipe?
>  >>
>
>you can buy phosphate free coolant nearly anywhere these days. Kmart sells
>that Sierra stuff that is pretty good. its orange.  stock VW $tuff is blue.
>chris
>

The spec is non-phosphate ethylene glycol. Look on the back of the
container for contents.
If it says propolene glycol, that's not it. If it says any type of
phosphate, that's not it either.

The higher spec. anti-freeses recently available meet the new GM specs.
These are the orange dyed fluids. They are non-phos e-glycol with a bit
different addative package, silicates and such. It took US manufacturers
some 40 years to begin using the same higher spec. the Germans were
requiring since they first put an aluminum head on a cast iron block in the
50's. One way to tell is the spec. fluid is always two to three times the
cost of the loss leader green stuff. Basf Corp. Germany makes the same
fluid in either yellow or blue for Mercedes, VW/Audi/Porsche (Autobahn),
Jaguar, Saab, Volvo, ect.

It is only available at the various dealers. The factory European manuals
state either fluid from the dealer or "non-phosphate ethylene glycol". The
new US specs. meet this latter criteria.

Keep in mind, if it is green, it's wrong. If it is yellow or blue, it
genuine dealer. If it is orange, it is the new GM spec.

Phosphate carries ions. That's why it's verboten in a mixed metals DM
maschine.



Doktor Tim
Maintenance Repair and Restoration of European Vehicles
San Juan Island, WA