Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 08:29:09 -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: Re: Walmart coolant or VW coolant
In-Reply-To: <01BF31A6.14F07BA0@ip205.raleigh10.nc.pub-ip.psi.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
At 09:19 AM 11/18/1999 -0500, you wrote:
>
>I think those that buy the dealer stuff, then leave it in there for two or
>three years are asking for trouble. I think you would be better off using
>the cheap stuff, and swapping it out every 12 months, or so.
Some good feedback by several this morning which I'll try to wrap in my
response to the Bulley amongst us. I agree whole heartily with the above
statment in general. I've just seen very few who feel that if the dealer
maintenance says every three years, it is wasted money to change every
year. I have always hoped one day I would see a Wasserboxer that was
DOCUMENTED as having yearly coolant changes with the green/cheap stuff. Not
pinch the hoses and change half the coolant, but a full
drain/flush/replacement.
Most of the Wasserboxers I have seen who use dealer service, just coming
off warrenty, have had the half a**ed treatment and made it through
warrenty, all the dealer recomendations are designed to provide. I
compromise DM when I use the non-phos e-glycol in the form of the Prestone
orange because shipping restrictions would require me to take a day to go
to the mainland to get it. But it is a relatively small compromise.
The only reason this higher spec fluid is now available at the FLAPS is
because it is now needed for the new GM spec. When Basf Corp. Germany (the
only manufacturer of the dealer lables) licensed Zerex to produce in the US
some five years ago, it was available for only a year or so. Just didn't
sell enough without the incentive of the larger US dealer spec. It was
yellow, the same as the MB lable.
I also can read, and the many forms of fluid ALL SAY safe for aluminum.
What ever part a FLAPS counter man provides you he will also ALWAYA SAY
meets OEM spec. If you believe they couldn't say it if it wasn't true, act
accordingly.
I will also add, again, that the aluminum being poured in Germany is not
the same alloy at that being poured in the US or that being poured in
Japan. Just like the cast iron in a Chrysler block is not the same as a
Ford. You can cut Japanese aluminum with a butter knife. The German stuff
requires a chisle and persuader of substantial proportion. They react
differently to the stimulous of old anti-freeze.
The whole issue is brought to a head by the unique design of the
Wasserboxer. Twice the capacity of most vehicles, rear engine/front
radiator, massive rubber seal for the water jackets, head studs bathed in
fluid to name the most evident differences. It makes this design much more
sensative to weaknesses, and the down side of failure is $1500 to $2500,
each time.
If the current maintenance and intervals fails to get the desired results,
enhance the procedures to get better results until the results desired are
obtained. That's DM.
Do you know that the Eurovan has no call for replacement of the ATF tranny
fluid, unless in servere operation conditions, in which case a 30,000 mile
interval is advised? It was not the Engineers who allowed that. It was the
bean counters in marketing trying to show good in the auto mag comparison
charts of maintenance costs for several test vehicles. Get something on
paper that looks good, regardless the truth, 'cause that will sell mo
betta. If it breaks after warrenty, no problem. Then we can sell them the
parts to fix it. The BMW service interval lights are another aspect of
this. They guarantee a new motor every 200,000 miles when a true DM
inspection processes could easily push that to 300,000 miles.
>USELESS TRIVIA: I don't know if it is still the case, but a few years ago
>all the green stuff sold in NA was made in only two factories...remember
>when the price of coolant went sky-high? There had been a fire in one of
>the factories.
>
>Cheers,
>
>G. Matthew Bulley
>Director
>Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
>www.bulley-hewlett.com
>Cary, NC USA
>888.468.4880 tollfree
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: KENWILFY@AOL.COM [SMTP:KENWILFY@AOL.COM]
>Sent: Thursday, November 18, 1999 8:54 AM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: DM: Re: VW coolant
>
>I like to use Wal-Mart Tech 2000 coolant (horrified gasps) in my engines
>and
>the customers who don't absolutely insist on Autobahn stuff (I also have
>never seen a connection between using dealer only coolant and longer head
>gasket life).
>
>There are three reasons I like to use the Wal-Mart stuff:
>1. Phosphate Free
>2. Cheap
>3. Readily available in any city around the country (so if you have a
>coolant
>leak you don't have to worry about mingling your dealer coolant with some
>other coolant).
>
>I know accept the fact that I will be executed as a traitor to the DM. My
>philosophy is that most of the time the DM is definately worth doing, but
>there are also times it ain't. Experience shows when to hold 'em and when
>to
>fold 'em.
>
>My only regret is that I have but one life to give for my coolant :)
>
>Thanks,
>Ken Wilford
>http://www.vanagain.com
>John 3:16
>Office (856)-765-1583
>Shop (856)-327-0027
>Fax (856)-327-2242
>
>
Doktor Tim
Maintenance Repair and Restoration of European Vehicles
San Juan Island, WA
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