Minimum: at least two. If you want to keep the inventory to a minimum and still be able to handle anything that comes in the door, here is what you need to stock:
1. DEX-COOL® to service 1995 and newer GM cars and trucks.
2. A fully-formulated coolant, such as Ford or Daimler-Chrysler’s new G-05® hybrid, Prestone® Heavy Duty,
FleetCharge®, or Fleetguard Compleat® can be used in all other engines. This product will cover both your traditional green and other Long Life needs. Make sure it says that it meets ASTM D6210 specifications on the label!
The first one is obviously for late model GM cars and light duty trucks. The second covers the rest of the field, including cars and diesel powered vehicles. Note that the
latter will cost about a buck a gallon more than the traditional green product.
Background and reasons for our recommendation. Until 1995 most automotive coolants sold in North America were compatible with one another. Heavy truck owners were beginning to use some more sophisticated technologies, but a lot of those customers were using the same coolant that they had for 20 years! In general, buying quality antifreeze and mixing it 50-50 with water was the only requirement. Big truck operators needed supplemental coolant additives (SCAs) to protect diesel engines.
Oh how the situation has changed! GM cars now use DEX-COOL. Though still an ethylene glycol based coolant, the anti corrosion chemistries are dramatically different.
As a laboratory compatibility test, we intentionally mixed DEX-COOL with a conventional coolant and subjected the mixture to a sample of fresh aluminum. The resulting data suggests that aluminum corrodes at an accelerated rate when subjected to this mix compared to pure DEX-COOL or pure conventional coolant. As a result, Amalgatech recommends that the coolants not be mixed.
Further, it is our experience that it is best to maintain GM vehicles with genuine DEX-COOL through the warranty period of 5 years, 150,000 miles. After the extended cooling system warranty has expired, the end user is on his own anyway, so any quality extended service coolant is a good choice. PEAK® and Prestone® both have products that are available. It’s best to stay with extended life coolants in the 1995 and newer GM cars.
Note 1. DEX-COOL was initially dyed orange. In 2000 model year cars, most of the GM coolants that we’ve seen are pink in color. All of the aftermarket supply that we’ve seen so far however, remains orange.
Note 2. Ford presented a technical paper years ago that concluded that the conventional ‘green’ factory fill coolant that they used was just as durable as carboxylate-inhibited coolants, like DEX-COOL. Nevertheless, Ford and Daimler-Chrysler both appear to be changing to an advanced hybrid technology in the 2001 or 2002 model year cars. This coolant is easy to identify because it is golden yellow. It offers the same extended life benefits as DEX-COOL, but without the compatibility questions. Further, it meets the new ASTM D6210 specification so it can be used in diesel trucks.
Note 3. The diesel engine community has now embraced fully-formulated coolant as defined by ASTM D6210. These coolants do not require any initial additives, but for diesels they must be supplemented. Most can be operated for the life of the engine, using advanced maintenance strategies such as the Penray Need-Release® or Fleetguard ‘ES’® filter systems.
$$$
Editor: Ed Eaton is Chief Engineer of
Amalgamated
Laboratories.
E-mail at: ereaton@amalgatech.com.
NEW LABORATORY ADDRESS AND PHONE!
2965 West Osborn Road, Phoenix, AZ 85017-4927
Phone: 602-252-0280; Fax: 602-252-0282
CUSTOMER brought in for its annual service I FLUSHED his system, he had installed dexcool , second radiatior in his car.
I noticed that I was seeing salt like reseadue on the inside area of the cross flow tubes .
With past experiance, my concern over the organic acid package-oats causing build up in his radiator ,note:brass&copper radiator 10 months old.
I called prestone technicial bob he confirmed . noticing the organic acid package.
I asked for a msds on prestone DEX-COOL so I could read up on the product.His associate Anne emailed me back.
I compaired their msds to the packaging label .
The msds says sodiumneodecnote
[31524-27-3]
I noticed the label on the back of the 2 gallon container, were it says sodiumneodecnote[{31548-27-3]
I called prestone and spoke to ANNE she said she would as the technicians . I asked if their was a labeling error .
answer if it was a labeling error to only leave a voice mail.
Still dont know .
Reply to MIKE PASTORE
CPMJohn – Petaluma, CA
January 16, 2008 - 17:07
Subject: Same stuff
I think you'll find, Mike, that the two products are essentially the same.
Look closely at all the vehicles other than the specific early V6s that had their fouling problems and you'll find that the DEX formula does fine. I'll be covering that in the next issue of Cool Profit$ Magazine.
MICHAEL PASTORE – west palm sevice,florida
January 04, 2008 - 21:33
Subject: dex-cool IN motorcycles
Hi,I have a customer that installed prestone dex-cool in HONDA CBR 600 sportbike.
The customer told me the System was drained and flushed prior to install of prestone dex-cool install.
He ran it this way for for a period of 1.5 years.
He brought the to me to tune up and for coolant system to be serviced
I HAVE read of problems with dex-cool and mix with systems with older type.
Heres what I did ,DRAINED SYSTEM, THEM REPEATEDLY FLUSHED WITH DI WATER AND reinstalled factory coolant.
I CALLED PRESTONE FOR THEIR MSDS.
I RECIEVED THE MSDS BY EMAIL.
I TALKED TO THEIR TECH SUPPORT WHICH SAID THEIR CHEMICAL
ADDITIVE PACKAGE SHOULD BE COMPATABLE WITH THE PRIOR MOTORCYCLE COOLANT.
Not satisfied ,I am now contacting you for your help.
Will this customer be ok with most of his cooling system being aluminum alloy.
Will he have any problems!
MIKE PASTORE
Reply to MICHAEL PASTORE
CPMJohn – Petaluma, CA
January 05, 2008 - 11:19
Subject: Coolant compatibility
Several of the major aftermarket coolant makers are promoting their OAT (like DEX) propduct to be used as a universal topoff coolant. After a lot of testing, they've found that it works fine when mixed with all other coolants. I think he'll be fine. Just make sure that he changes it within the "shorter" use cycle, not for long life.
I believe that GM's early DEX changeover problems were driven largely by conditions other than DEX. It's strongly suspected that their 3.1/3.4L intake manifold gaskets were of a questionable design and made from material not compatible with DEX. To prove it to yourself, think of all the millions of vehicles that are now running on DEX and have had no cooling system problems at all. If the coolant was bad, how could that be?
The coolant is fine. If your customer keeps the system clean and full he'll be fine.
Look for a major article on coolant mixing in the next issue of Cool Profit$
Magazine.
CPMJohn
– Petaluma, CA