Phosphate free coolant - Prestone

Mike Morriss

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 25, 2001
Location
Ponca City, Oklahoma
TDI
99 New Beetle, 91 Vanagon TDI conversion, 05 New Beetle, 2014 Jetta Sportwagen
VW says to use phosphate free coolant. I am putting coolant into a Vanagon that I have transplanted a 1995 1Z TDI engine into. Since I don't know what kind of coolant was in the engine before but I DO know the rest of the cooling system had ethylene glycol (the green stuff) in it, and since I have been told if a coolant system has had green, going orange (the new stuff) requires complicated conditioning, I am prone to go back with Prestone ethylene glycol coolant.

I was trying to find out if Prestone ethylene glycol coolant is phosphate free and found this at http://www.prestone.com/tips/page7.htm

Comments please!

From http://www.prestone.com/tips/page7.htm:

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. For those consumers who would feel more comfortable using a phosphate-free antifreeze, our Prestone® Extended Life 5/150 Antifreeze/Coolant is phosphate, silicate, and borate free. This coolant uses a special chemistry and technology that extends the life of the corrosion inhibitor package so that it lasts for five years or 150,000 miles (whichever comes first), and is safe for all cars and light trucks (old or new). Prestone® Extended Life 5/150 Antifreeze/Coolant has been approved by General Motors under their DEX-COOL® specifications and is compatible with other DEX-COOL® approved coolants.

* DEX-COOL® is a registered trademark of General Motors Corporation.
 

FowVay

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2000
Location
Georgia
TDI
2009 Jetta returned to der Führer
Nearly all coolant is ethylene glycol. The color of the coolant doesn't change that.

If you want the best coolant made then use the patented Glysantin formula sold at the European car dealerships. You can use the blue Glysantin G-48 that is sold at BMW or formerly sold at VW/Audi as G-11. It works well.

You can use the new Glysantin G-30 that is sold through VW/Audi now as G-12 (this has been changed to a purple formula making it compatible with the old blue G-11).

Or you can use the older style Glysantin G-05 which is sold through Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, and Ford dealers and also at some autoparts stores as Zerex G-05.

If you can read German then visit www.glysantin.de and get the full scoop. If you don't read German then I'll type a bit of pertinent info:

Glysantin G-48 is blue in color. It is factory fill for BMW (p/n 82 14 1 467 704) cars, motorcycles, and mini cars. It is formerly factory fill in VW/Audi (p/n ZVW 237 105) cars through MY 1996. It meets industry norm N600 69.0 and VW's TL 744C. It is ethylene glycol based, low silicate, low pH, phosphate free , <250 ppm silicon and has very high levels of corrosion inhibitors. Service life is 4 years.


Glysantin G-30 is red in color. It is factory fill in VW/Audi products. It meets VW's TL 744D. It is a ethylene glycol based, silicate free, borate free, nitrate free, amine free, nitrite free, phosphate free , <10 ppm of silicon, very high levels of corrosion inhibitors, carboxylate formulation, OAT (organic acid technology). Service life is 5 years.

And finally there is G-05. It meets a whole boat load of standards. It was formerly used in Europe in heavy duty diesel trucks. It is long life, ethylene glycol based, lower silicate, low pH, phosphate free , <310 ppm silicon.

I've read the actual laboratory tests for these anti-freezes and to be quite honest the blue G-11/G-48 seems to perform best at keeping things clean. It does require a more frequent replacement. My TDI says that the coolant is lifetime but you have to change it when you change a water pump so the coolant life is only as long as the components that it is working with. My lifetime coolant was replaced at 4 years when my water pump seized.

So, if you have a older vehicle that hasn't had the most meticulous maintenance and you want to save a buck then buy G-05 from the autoparts store for $9 a gallon. Use distilled water.

If you want the next in line then buy blue G-48 from BMW for $12. Use distilled water.

If cost is not object then buy the newest purple G-30/G-12 from VW/Audi for $17 a gallon. Use distilled water.

Ohh, did i mention that it's best to use distilled water? /images/graemlins/smile.gif

Caveat: all Glysantin patented products sold through new car dealerships in North America are manufactured by Ashland chemical(ZEREX) under license and authority from BASF/Austria.

One last thing.. Valvolines Max-Life coolant in the red container is a impressive coolant. It has very similar formulations to the Glysantin products and would be my recommendation in your transplant project.
 

Rickstah

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2002
Location
Yukon, Oklahoma
TDI
NB, 2002, green, Eurotek STG1
Has anyone tried Evans Waterless Coolant in their TDI yet? I'm tempted just because it would take away the risk of a blown hose somewhere, even though TDIs aren't known for running hot. I think Greg at lubespecialist.com runs it in his big truck, too.

http://www.evanscooling.com/index2.html
 

dieseldorf

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 11, 2000
Location
MA
TDI
ex- 1996 wagon, ex-2000 Jetta
[ QUOTE ]
Has anyone tried Evans Waterless Coolant in their TDI yet?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ugh.

Ric, have a look here >> web page
 
Top