Slayer952

I have been using Castrol Antifreeze SF in my turbo with distilled water.
This product is Nitrite, Ammite, Phosphate, Silicate free and is also non-toxic and bio-degradeable. It was difficult to locate here, but worth the hasle. It is also aluminium friendly. It would seem to be about the best solution around.
Below is the sales blurb

CASTROL ANTIFREEZE SF
DESCRIPTION:
Castrol Antifreeze SF mixed with the appropriate amount of water is used as a heat transferring liquid in
combustion engines. The heat of the internal combustion is transferred to the radiator where the mixture is cooled
by means of airflow. Castrol Antifreeze SF provides maintenance free freezing and corrosion protection throughout
the life of the engine or vehicle. Using silicate free aliphatic acid technology, Castrol Antifreeze SF provides long life
corrosion protection for aluminium and ferrous alloys. The synergistic combination of mono- and di-carboxylic acids
has been proven to provide superior protection for up to 700 000km on-road or as long as 8 000 hours off-road.
APPLICATION:
• Castrol Antifreeze SF provides long-life frost and corrosion protection. To ensure good corrosion protection it is
recommended to use at lease 33 % vol. of Castrol Antifreeze SF in the coolant solution. This provides frost
protection to -20°C. Concentrations higher than 70 vol. % are not recommended, maximum frost protection
(about -69°C) is obtained at 68 vol. %.
• Castrol Antifreeze SF may be used with confidence in engines manufactured from cast iron, aluminium or
combinations of the two metals, and in cooling systems made of aluminium or copper alloys.
• Castrol Antifreeze SF is particularly recommended for advanced engines, where high temperature aluminium
protection is important.
BENEFITS:
• Castrol Antifreeze SF provides long life corrosion protection through the use of optimized organic corrosion
inhibitors against all forms of corrosion. Excellent and lasting high temperature corrosion protection is provided
for the aluminium heat transfer surfaces found in modern engines. Castrol Antifreeze SF offers excellent
cavitation protection without nitrite.
• The carboxylic acids found in Castrol Antifreeze SF form a single layer of protective molecules and compared
with the traditional silicate layers this provides a much more efficient heat transfer.
• The inhibitors contained in Castrol Antifreeze SF have very low depletion rates unlike the traditional nitrite and
silicate technologies. Castrol Antifreeze SF provides protection against localised corrosion and cylinder liner
cavitation without the use of supplement coolant additives. Extended coolant life, often for the life of the engine
or vehicle is obtained through the use of virtually non-depleting corrosion inhibitor.
• The outstanding corrosion protection and the low depletion of the inhibitors result in less refilling and lower
maintenance costs. Fleet tests have demonstrated that the average pump life increased by 50%.
• Traditionally, coolant formulations have included silicates for high temperature corrosion protection of
aluminium heat transfer surfaces. However, silicates can cause stability problems and are subject to rapid
depletion in service and are therefore not readily acceptable for inclusion in fill-for-life cooling systems.
Because of the nature of the inhibitors, Castrol Antifreeze SF demonstrates outstanding stability, even in the
most demanding circumstances.
• Castrol Antifreeze SF is a modern engine coolant concentrate based on ethylene glycol. A 50% solution of
Castrol Antifreeze SF will give frost protection to -40°C.
Page 2 of Data sheet
• Castrol Antifreeze SF minimises coolant boiling by increasing the boiling point and providing extra protection
during hot summer periods or during severe vehicle operation, such as mountain driving or caravan towing.
• Castrol Antifreeze SF is compatible with other coolants based on ethylene glycol. Exclusive use of the product
is recommended for optimum corrosion protection and sludge control.
• Castrol Antifreeze SF provides excellent seal compatibility. The coolant has no adverse effects on rubber hoses
and gasket materials.
• Free of silicates, Castrol Antifreeze SF satisfies all major standards and requirements of the major European
car and truck manufacturers.
Castrol Antifreeze SF is based on non-toxic inhibitors and is fully biodegradable. The extended life of the product
contributes to the protection of the environment.
STANDARDS AND APPROVALS:
Castrol Antifreeze SF satisfies or exceeds all major standards. Approvals of the major European car and truck
manufacturers are available or pending.
Approvals include: ASTM D3306, D4656 and D 4985, Jaso M325 (Japan) LLC*, SAE J1034*, Isuzu Longlife Spec,
Mack, British Leyland LTS 22 AF 10, MTU (under evaluation), Ford ESE-M978B4H-A/WSS-M97B44-C,
General Motors GM 1825M*, GM1899M*, International Harvester*, MAN 324, Mercedes Benz DBL 7700*, Opel-GM
QL 130100*, Volvo (Reg No 260), VW TL 774B* & TL 774D, Cummings 85T8-2*, CatEC-1.
* except for Reserve Alkalinity
PACKAGING:
Castrol Antifreeze SF is available in 12x1lt bottles, 210lt drum and bulk.
TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
TECHNICAL
CHARACTERISTICS
Castrol Antifreeze SF ASTM D 3306
REQUIREMENTS
METHOD
Ethylene glycol 93.0 % w/w glycol base
Other glycols 0.5 % max 5% w/w max
Inhibitor content 5% w/w
Water content 4% w/w max 5% w/w max ASTM D1123
Ash content 1.1% w/w typ 5% w/w max ASTM D1119
Nitrite, amine,
phosphate, borate,
silicate
nil
Colour strawberry red
Specific gravity, 15°C 1.116 typ 1.110 to 1.145 ASTM D1122
Specific gravity, 20°C 1.113 typ ASTM D1122
Equilibrium boiling
point
172°C typ > 163°C ASTM D 1120
Reserve alkalinity
(pH 5.5)
5 typ report ASTM D1121
Reserve alkalinity
(pH 5.0)
12.0 typ ASTM D1121
Reserve alkalinity
(pH 4.5)
20.4 typ ASTM D1121
Storage stability >2 years one year

KuHL 951

Sounds almost identical to Dex-Cool. If it's less money sounds good but hard to find. I use Dex-Cool in most my out of warranty vehicles except the diesel truck and Toyota and it's available everywhere.

Dex-Cool

Slayer952

Not a product we get here (Dex-Cool).
although SF isn't officially Porsche approved, it exceeds the specs for those products which are, and it adds compliance for Japanese standards - not that it's relevant.
My search for a coolant didn't take price into account, only specs and features. At the end of the day I don't mind paying a bit more for a good product - and I have a knack for locating hard to source items.

xsboost90

i would be concerned about getting a proper PH level w/ distilled water. Get a test strip from your parts house and test it's acidity. I use only 50/50 premix.

adamr

sorry bringing up an old thread here ...

this is a 50/50 premix solution ... when this was launched by castrol to the trade, they punted it as the best coolant there is out there right now ... apparently castrol developed special coolant for the bugatti veyron and because of legal issues and moratoriums blah blah blah this product was not commercialised ... up until recently ... so basically this is the coolant they use in the veyron ... now how true this is i dont know, could just be marketing BS ... but looking at that spec sheet it is an impressive life coolant ... which i would not mind using in any of my cars

Lizard944

50/50 Premix is the biggest scam in automotive history. You're getting half of the product at ALL of the price. All in the name of "convenience." It costs them nothing to add 1/2 gallon of distilled water. I can see the day coming where lobbiests will somehow convince government that 50/50 is "safer" for the environment and the consumer will once again be the loser; ie., R-12 freon. Zerex G-05, still full strength. Rant over.

marky522

My cars get the pink Porsche coolant, but thats just matter of convience. I stay as far away from dex cool as I can. I have had bad luck with it, I need to flush it out of my new truck.

Mark

rgs944

I agree with the 50/50 scam. It ranks right up there with he bottled water scam.

Slayer952

I bought the undiluted stuff, not the premix.

Slayer952

Quoted from spec sheet
"Castrol Antifreeze SF-0 is a concentrate and must be diluted in water, distilled or demineralised"
PH is stated at 8.5 under these conditions.

jdgunn

now that someone resurrected an antifreeze thread from forever ago, I have a question.

Say you're running pure distilled water. Winter comes around so you drain your radiator and dump in pure antifreeze. I guessed the block + heater core was about 50% total volume. I drove it and squeezed hoses hoping to mix everything. But, the tester says my coolant is only good to +20 F when I test it at the vent bolt. It is still pretty much pure antifreeze in the reservoir.

Is there a trick I don't know, or should I have pulled the thermostat and drained the block?

Voith

I use this (castrol NF) in my cars:



This is probably same stuff with diferent branding for europe.

JohnKoaWood

FWIW, I just did as you say, only draining the radiator... drained just short of 2 gallons, added just short of 2 gallons... Antifreeze + Distilled water

total system capacity? Just short of 2 gallons... I'm betting I got 90%+/- out and new in...

YMMV

And in the interest of the thread, I also only use the Pink Porsche Antifreeze in my P cars, I only use the Audi GL12(I believe) in my Audi, and the Dodge gets whatever is on sale..

Never have ANY temperature related issues.. but now that I have said it, I am sure they will all fail on me now...

Mark944na86

Don't do that. You need to run a minimum of about 33% AF to 67% water (usual recommended is 50/50) in order to get the lubrication and anti-corrosion benefits. AF is not just for cooling.

Tedro951

Not to start a prestone war, but I found the 50/50 it at my Lowes for $4 a gallon last week. Bought 4 cases of 6.