Audi Blue, Toyota Red, Mercedes, Prestone Orange Ahhhhh!
10-18-2003, 11:56 PM
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Audi Blue, Toyota Red, Mercedes, Prestone Orange Ahhhhh!
Im ready to flush and refill the coolant sytem and just picked up some Prestone extended life (silver bottle, orange liquid) from the store (along with some Prestone flush and kit). Then, just to get some good tips, I come to RL and have a look at some coolant posts. WOW! Nobody likes anything!! The least bashed coolant was the Audi Blue I think... Will I have any problems with using Prestone Extended Life? Respected company, used in millions of new cars. I heard that DEX-Cool gels up sometimes - is this true with this type of Prestone? I also heard that DEX-Cool coats everything, making our coolant passages samller, but isn't that what it is ment to protect against?
Just to finish up a little description from Prestione:
Prestone® Extended Life 5/150 Antifreeze/Coolant is recommended and formulated for use in all GM vehicles that require a GM DEX-COOL® approved formula coolant, as well as all other cars and light-duty trucks with aluminum radiators. This patented formula has a concentrated blend of premium, long-lasting inhibitors for extended performance, protecting against temperature extremes and the ravages of rust and corrosion for 5 years or 150,000 miles.
Just to finish up a little description from Prestione:
Prestone® Extended Life 5/150 Antifreeze/Coolant is recommended and formulated for use in all GM vehicles that require a GM DEX-COOL® approved formula coolant, as well as all other cars and light-duty trucks with aluminum radiators. This patented formula has a concentrated blend of premium, long-lasting inhibitors for extended performance, protecting against temperature extremes and the ravages of rust and corrosion for 5 years or 150,000 miles.
10-19-2003, 06:22 AM
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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.
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.
10-19-2003, 08:39 AM
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The dexcool apparently does not like to mix with other types of coolant. I switched two years ago to dexcool when I was having a new radiator, expansion tank, and water pump put in at the time (unrelated). This really evacuated all the old green coolant. I just drained the coolant for the first time yesterday in fact, and noticed no problems at all. I removed the upper radiator hose and looked around for gel and abnormalities - nothing. If I were to do it over again, I'd only switch to dexcool if I could guarantee cleaning out all the old green stuff first.
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10-19-2003, 09:58 AM
#9
I've used the stuff for the last three years with no problems. It seems to cool fine and doesn't leave any deposits.
I used to use the VW/AUDI blue stuff, but I can't tell any difference between it and the Prestone... other than cost. As many times as I've drained my coolant for maintenance on the alternator and other items, I'll run the less expensive alternative.
I used to use the VW/AUDI blue stuff, but I can't tell any difference between it and the Prestone... other than cost. As many times as I've drained my coolant for maintenance on the alternator and other items, I'll run the less expensive alternative.
10-26-2003, 11:54 PM
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Everything seems good! I flushed it about 10 times! 
The pic is of the coolant that was in my car. It had been setting for about a week without a cap on. The light green stuff is jelly-like... Not good!
Someone was talking about their coolant gelling up like that - not sure what causes it... I also had a new container of the green stuff mixed with water sitting open for the same ammount of time as the stuff pictured and it was normal.
The pic is of the coolant that was in my car. It had been setting for about a week without a cap on. The light green stuff is jelly-like... Not good!
Someone was talking about their coolant gelling up like that - not sure what causes it... I also had a new container of the green stuff mixed with water sitting open for the same ammount of time as the stuff pictured and it was normal.
