[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
interesting coolant stuff
--0-319534063-1048530011=:833
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Water Wetter is great stuff if you're going to go without anti-freeze. If you do go with anti-freeze, most Saab experts/mechanics swear by the Mercedes brand anti-freeze. Doesn't pit engines at all, doesn't eat seals or do any bad stuff. There's a comparision that one master mechanic does but I can't seem to find the page. It was enough to convince me to go with the mercedes stuff if I was concerned about that kind of thing.
Dan
"rfkellner@snet.net" <rfkellner@snet.net> wrote:It seems like we have run the full gamut of coolant opinions. From
straight H2O to never use the green to never use the pink/orange. Can
anyone point to some industry papers or independent studies?
Also, for someone that wants to run straight H2O aren’t there plain
additives to inhibit corrosion? If so, what is in these products?
Thanks, Rick K. Soon to change water pump and coolant.....
Original Message:
-----------------
From: ian Butler ian@bluemoon.hplx.net
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 10:03:55 -0500 (EST)
To: tberk@mindspring.com, scirocco-l@scirocco.org
Subject: Re: interesting coolant stuff
On Mon, 24 Mar 2003, T Berk wrote:
> It's SILICA that is abrasive in old style coolant, it rubs seal to
> death and is prob. the main cause (right up there with stiff belts
> drawn too tight) of weepy waterpumps.
> Check the label of the orange stuff next time; silica free. Prob.
> partly the reason the orange stuff seems to creep out around hoses and
> cause that scabby crust as well.
I believe Dex and other long-life coolants have special detergents that,
more or less like synthetic, have a tendency to "clean things up", which can
involve removing gunk that's keeping the system from leaking.
More importantly, though, green antifreeze contains phosphates, and
phosphates eat aluminum. It's not a big deal in inline cars like
Sciroccos, but it's a *huge* deal in Vanagons, where coolant sits in the
heads, seeps under the gaskets, and pits/rusts its way right through to the
ground. Such a serious and expensive problem on those that a lot of
prospective Vanagon buyers won't touch a bus with green coolant in it.
It hasn't concerned me enough to immediately replace the green coolant in my
'roc (not that I've had the stupid thing since November anyway.. grumble)
but it's about due for a flush, and it'll get Dex when I fill it again.
> btw- Yep, water conducts better than coolant, 70/30 water to coolant
> seems like a good nominal minimum.
I believe 70/30 is minimum and 30/70 is maximum. Supposedly if you go above
30/70, the hot light says "Hello, too much antifreeze!" but I haven't
checked...
ian Butler / ian@bluemoon.hplx.net
'88 Scirocco 16v, '87 Vanagon Syncro GL
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop!
--0-319534063-1048530011=:833
Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii
<P>Water Wetter is great stuff if you're going to go without anti-freeze. If you do go with anti-freeze, most Saab experts/mechanics swear by the Mercedes brand anti-freeze. Doesn't pit engines at all, doesn't eat seals or do any bad stuff. There's a comparision that one master mechanic does but I can't seem to find the page. It was enough to convince me to go with the mercedes stuff if I was concerned about that kind of thing.
<P>Dan
<P> <B><I>"rfkellner@snet.net" <rfkellner@snet.net></I></B> wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">It seems like we have run the full gamut of coolant opinions. From<BR>straight H2O to never use the green to never use the pink/orange. Can<BR>anyone point to some industry papers or independent studies?<BR><BR>Also, for someone that wants to run straight H2O aren’t there plain<BR>additives to inhibit corrosion? If so, what is in these products? <BR><BR>Thanks, Rick K. Soon to change water pump and coolant.....<BR><BR>Original Message:<BR>-----------------<BR>From: ian Butler ian@bluemoon.hplx.net<BR>Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 10:03:55 -0500 (EST)<BR>To: tberk@mindspring.com, scirocco-l@scirocco.org<BR>Subject: Re: interesting coolant stuff<BR><BR><BR>On Mon, 24 Mar 2003, T Berk wrote:<BR><BR>> It's SILICA that is abrasive in old style coolant, it rubs seal to<BR>> death and is prob. the main cause (right up there with stiff belts<BR>> drawn too tight) of weepy waterpumps.<BR><BR>> Check the label of the orange stuff next time; silica free. Prob.<BR>> partly the reason the orange stuff seems to creep out around hoses and<BR>> cause that scabby crust as well.<BR><BR>I believe Dex and other long-life coolants have special detergents that,<BR>more or less like synthetic, have a tendency to "clean things up", which can<BR>involve removing gunk that's keeping the system from leaking.<BR><BR>More importantly, though, green antifreeze contains phosphates, and<BR>phosphates eat aluminum. It's not a big deal in inline cars like<BR>Sciroccos, but it's a *huge* deal in Vanagons, where coolant sits in the<BR>heads, seeps under the gaskets, and pits/rusts its way right through to the<BR>ground. Such a serious and expensive problem on those that a lot of<BR>prospective Vanagon buyers won't touch a bus with green coolant in it.<BR><BR>It hasn't concerned me enough to immediately replace the green coolant in my<BR>'roc (not that I've had the stupid thing since November anyway.. grumble)<BR>but it's about due for a flush, and it'll get Dex when I fill it again.<BR><BR>> btw- Yep, water conducts better than coolant, 70/30 water to coolant<BR>> seems like a good nominal minimum.<BR><BR>I believe 70/30 is minimum and 30/70 is maximum. Supposedly if you go above<BR>30/70, the hot light says "Hello, too much antifreeze!" but I haven't<BR>checked...<BR><BR>ian Butler / ian@bluemoon.hplx.net<BR>'88 Scirocco 16v, '87 Vanagon Syncro GL<BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE><p><br><hr size=1>Do you Yahoo!?<br>
<a href="http://rd.yahoo.com/platinum/evt=8162/*http://platinum.yahoo.com/splash.html";>Yahoo! Platinum</a> - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, <a href="http://rd.yahoo.com/platinum/evt=8162/*http://platinum.yahoo.com/splash.html";>live on your desktop</a>!
--0-319534063-1048530011=:833--