What Coolant besides Porsche?
06-25-2001, 11:38 PM
#1
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What Coolant besides Porsche?
I have a 1995 968 and don't know if the cooling system has ever been flushed. I think I should go ahead and do it. My dealer says Porsche coolant is 30.00 per gal. Is there a very good coolant that is acceptable and yet less costly?
06-25-2001, 11:50 PM
#2
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My P-car wrench says they used to use the Mercedes coolant. It's clear, I believe, but supposed to be Phosphate Free. Prestone does make a Phosphate Free version, I think they call it 'extended service' or something. Their website has a bunch of FAQ's and product descriptions. I doubt Prestone sells anything for near $30 a gallon.
06-25-2001, 11:55 PM
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I use Texaco's, the pink stuff, phosphate and silica free, about $9.00 per gallon. No problems with it.
http://www.havoline.com/Products/ant...ntifreeze.html
http://www.havoline.com/Products/ant...ntifreeze.html
06-26-2001, 12:25 AM
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Prestone phosphate-free here. Says right on the bottle it's safe for all almuminum engines and radiators, and so far after 6K miles there's no scaling or residue in my overflow tank. Somewhere in the $5.75/gallon range locally.
Greg
Greg
06-26-2001, 10:43 AM
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Get autobahn from a VW dealer. Note that there are two types - "green" and "orange" and they don't mix. Most Porsches use the "orange." I would not use store brand just to save a few bucks. You can pay me now..or pay me later! 
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06-26-2001, 12:00 PM
#8
Nordschleife Master
There is so much ignorance floating around about antifreeze, especially this German car stuff as if their cooling systems are somehow totally different.
Antifreeze manufacturers ADD phosphates and silicates in some formulas to inhibit corrosion, foaming and buffer the solution.
Problem is that about 50% of the rest of the cooling solution is usually tap water. Phosphates are an effective and cheap package additive but Europe generally has very hard tap water. This causes the phosphates (and silicates) to precipitate and attach themselves to the cooling passages. That is bad for heat transfer and corrosion. North American water isn't so hard and as a result usually had the phosphates as it was a non-issue on the scale of importance for properly maintained and flushed engines.
The major brand phosphate and silicate (and probably borate) free antifreezes use a different additive package and are fine for most situations encountered in the world and overkill for many places.
Just use the major brand P&S free stuff and save some coin and worry more about flushing the engine before the additive package breaks down and what water you mix it with.
[ 06-26-2001: Message edited by: IceShark ]
Antifreeze manufacturers ADD phosphates and silicates in some formulas to inhibit corrosion, foaming and buffer the solution.
Problem is that about 50% of the rest of the cooling solution is usually tap water. Phosphates are an effective and cheap package additive but Europe generally has very hard tap water. This causes the phosphates (and silicates) to precipitate and attach themselves to the cooling passages. That is bad for heat transfer and corrosion. North American water isn't so hard and as a result usually had the phosphates as it was a non-issue on the scale of importance for properly maintained and flushed engines.
The major brand phosphate and silicate (and probably borate) free antifreezes use a different additive package and are fine for most situations encountered in the world and overkill for many places.
Just use the major brand P&S free stuff and save some coin and worry more about flushing the engine before the additive package breaks down and what water you mix it with.
[ 06-26-2001: Message edited by: IceShark ]
06-26-2001, 01:11 PM
#10
Nordschleife Master
I do also, but there is even controversy about that. The argument goes that manufacturers assume most everyone is going to use tap water and design the package accordingly to the market they are selling into.
Since water is the perfect solvent and distilled doesn't have all the tap impurities the mix & ph is now off design, will disolve existing impurities off the cooling passages, etc, etc.
The arguments are never ending because the coolants are a design trade-off targeting huge markets that really aren't homogenous with most end users who could care less about it and are luckey to ever flush the coolant for as long as they own the car.
Since water is the perfect solvent and distilled doesn't have all the tap impurities the mix & ph is now off design, will disolve existing impurities off the cooling passages, etc, etc.
The arguments are never ending because the coolants are a design trade-off targeting huge markets that really aren't homogenous with most end users who could care less about it and are luckey to ever flush the coolant for as long as they own the car.
