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Wed Jan 28, 2015 10:55 am

The VW stuff is blue, and I am hoping that the van I am soon to take delivery off will have blue coolant in it but I am guessing that there are other variations in color on phosphate free such as Zerex . . . That being said, if I see the typical lime green I suppose I should assume that this stuff is not phosphate free, true or false? Thanks! Nice to be back on this forum again!

Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:04 am

heard there are issues with Zerex on many cars, GM even had a recall because of factory supplied Zerex. many of the green anti-freezes these days are compatible with aluminum motors like the vanagon has. I heard the Blue stuff that the vanagon used is harder to find, and getting expensive. I have enough of the blue VW stuff for one mare coolant change. after that I likely will use prestone green long life 5 year antifreeze in the vanagon. I will change it every two years. I understand it is now phosphate free and ok to use, however I will recheck my info before doing so. that is my plan long term.

Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:11 am

i think you'll need to check with the manufacturer of the coolant, and if you're not sure, change it.

i use this now. no leaks yet. still not all that cheap to fill a vanagon, but not the $200+ that the blue vw blood cost.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/motomaster-long-...MklSXJGjUY

Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:12 am

btw, it is orange. but i don't think you can tell if something is phosphate free by color.

Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:14 am

Pretty much ALL coolant is clearly labeled one way or the other, green is often phosphate free so don't rely on color.
Coolant is only half of the equation, make sure and use distilled water, not tap water.

Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:16 am

warmblood58 wrote: if I see the typical lime green I suppose I should assume that this stuff is not phosphate free, true or false?

False. A good majority, if not all, coolant today is phosphate-free, including Prestone (aka the lime green stuff... which, by the way, makes it easy to find coolant leaks using a UV light).

If you wish to stick with G-11 (the blue stuff), go to NAPA and buy Pentofrost NF.

Original coolant discussions:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=501910
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=488648

Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:17 am

I've always used this with distilled water.

It is the green stuff. Advantage is that it is available everywhere. The blue stuff is not very compatible with other varieties and if you are not near a VW dealer may be hard to find when broken down on the side of the road.

I change it out every few years.

From the Prestone website...

Q: Does Prestone® Antifreeze/Coolant contain phosphates?

A: Some European automobile manufacturers request that a phosphate-free antifreeze be used in their vehicles. This issue is related to the extremely high mineral content of the water in Europe. If you were to mix an antifreeze that contained phosphates with the type of water they have in Europe, it may produce deposits that can settle in the cooling system and promote corrosion. However, in North America we do not have this type of water problem. Typical North American coolants have contained phosphates (which is part of the corrosion inhibitor package) for many years. Therefore, the question of phosphates is a non-issue here in North America. Prestone® Antifreeze/Coolant is completely safe for use in both foreign and domestic vehicles.

YMMV. Flame suit on.....

Wed Jan 28, 2015 12:04 pm

Thank you for the updates gentlemen! I always mix my own and yes, I always use distilled water for obvious reasons. I was recently re educated on the leaking water jacket issue around the heads which cited that it was the phosphate coolant formulas which were causing the problems. Any reason why I cannot do a citric acid flush, then flush with water then install correct coolant with distilled. I am a big fan of the citric acid flush having done this on all my Mercedes diesels.

Wed Jan 28, 2015 12:57 pm

Last mechanic I went to just used the pre-mixed stuff instead of hassling with buying distilled water. Available nationwide at all auto parts stores.
Quote: Specific benefits include:
Compatible for use in all automobiles and light-duty trucks
Yellow color will not change the current antifreeze color when used for topping-off
Provides 150,000 miles or 5 years of maximum protection when a complete cooling system flush and fill is performed
Features a phosphate-free and silicate-free formula
Meets ASTM D-3306 and ASTM D-4340

http://www.peakauto.com/products/antifreeze-coolants/automotive/long-life-50-50-/

Wed Jan 28, 2015 1:15 pm

As far as I know all extended life antifreezes are okay to use. Almost all of the OEM engines experienced corrosion in the head sealing area regardless of the type of antifreeze used or the frequency at which it was changed. I used cooling conditioner religiously in my '91 and did better than most, the engine made it until the rod bolts began to give problems at around 180K miles IIRC without having the heads having been removed or having a head stud failure.

Wed Jan 28, 2015 1:34 pm

I use Pentofrost NF - the color is light blue...

http://www.pentosin.net/f_antifreeze.asp

Wed Jan 28, 2015 2:06 pm

If you are in an area where you know you have mineral rich water (wells, mountain springs, or other data) then use distilled to mix your coolant.

Otherwise, and in most municipal supplies, the mineral content will be <20 ppm and its a wasted effort. Reagent grade ACS water is 0.1 ppm in most ionic solids, and the stuff you get in a drugstore is considerably worse than ACS grade. You will probably sluice off 20 ppm Na just with the bottle you use to mix it, after all.

There is ton of absolute rubbish on the health benefits of drinking distilled water, if anyone is compelled to make sure the internet is correct at all times.

Wed Jan 28, 2015 2:17 pm

I use Zerex G-05, which looks like golden celebrity piss, or at least like what I imagine Jennifer Lawrence sees daily. It's good stuff

Wed Jan 28, 2015 2:32 pm

Ha! Hope Jennifer Lawrence finds ^ this post ^ someday when she's doing a bored vanity Google ....

While many green coolants are indeed phosphate-free, many are not. In fact, Peak coolants are the exact opposite: their amber, orange, and yellow formulas are indeed phosphate-free while their Conventional Green Full-Strength is not:
http://www.peakauto.com/products/antifreeze-coolants/automotive/conventional-green-full-strength/

Guess the best advice is to read the fine print on whatever you use ...

Wed Jan 28, 2015 3:22 pm

dart330 wrote: Last mechanic I went to just used the pre-mixed stuff instead of hassling with buying distilled water. Available nationwide at all auto parts stores.

http://www.peakauto.com/products/antifreeze-coolants/automotive/long-life-50-50-/

Yeah me too. I seriously doubt they us distilled water to make the 50/50 which is fine as I have doubts that distilled water is a good choice.

BTW - If you live where there are Pep Boys, every Black Friday for the past few years they've sold this stuff for a buck a gallon. My wife and I always max out on the deal to have a supply on hand for the semi-annual swap.

Wed Jan 28, 2015 4:26 pm

Pentofrost NF is the exact same formula that VW dealers previously sold as a VW part number. I can't recall if the designation was G11 or what.

My comment here is that in a stable of Audi S-cars, Toyota 4runners and several Vanagons (all featuring iron cylinders and aluminium heads), this product, used with distilled water and changed every 2 years, has provided complete corrosion protection in all these engines. Remember the 4Runner V6 engines with the "bio-degradable" head gaskets? We got 250,000 miles out of the Toyota with original head gaskets and radiator.

I realize we did not do a controlled double-blind study, but in my books, Pentofrost NF is good shit.

Wed Jan 28, 2015 4:30 pm

Why wouldn't he? Specially since you had to pay him twice as much for
the stuff. Purchasing water at the cost of anti-freeze is one hell of a gimmick!

dart330 wrote: Last mechanic I went to just used the pre-mixed stuff instead of hassling with buying distilled water. Available nationwide at all auto parts stores.
Quote: Specific benefits include:
Compatible for use in all automobiles and light-duty trucks
Yellow color will not change the current antifreeze color when used for topping-off
Provides 150,000 miles or 5 years of maximum protection when a complete cooling system flush and fill is performed
Features a phosphate-free and silicate-free formula
Meets ASTM D-3306 and ASTM D-4340

http://www.peakauto.com/products/antifreeze-coolants/automotive/long-life-50-50-/

Wed Jan 28, 2015 4:50 pm

dart330 wrote: Last mechanic I went to just used the pre-mixed stuff instead of hassling with buying distilled water. Available nationwide at all auto parts stores.
Quote: Specific benefits include:
Compatible for use in all automobiles and light-duty trucks
Yellow color will not change the current antifreeze color when used for topping-off
Provides 150,000 miles or 5 years of maximum protection when a complete cooling system flush and fill is performed
Features a phosphate-free and silicate-free formula
Meets ASTM D-3306 and ASTM D-4340

http://www.peakauto.com/products/antifreeze-coolants/automotive/long-life-50-50-/

The premix stuff is not as economical as the pure stuff. Distilled water is usually about a buck a gallon, I have done the math, and determined pre-mix is for not wise use of my money. convenience factor is not that high either.

Wed Jan 28, 2015 4:58 pm

I've been on many single make forums over the years where it becomes "common knowledge" that the super duper special vehicle we are all talking about needs a certain type of anti freeze. Don't get sucked into the expensive hype. These days, you could safely walk blindfolded into any auto parts coolant display and pick one. It would be much harder to find an anti freeze that will NOT work with the Vanagon's coolant materials. Every system now has aluminum, steel, and plastic in it. Best advice is to use the cheapest coolant you can find, mix with distilled water, and change it every other year.

DougM

Wed Jan 28, 2015 7:58 pm

IdahoDoug wrote: and change it every other year.

DougM

BINGO! :D