I have had the same question.  My 90 GL has 250,000 miles and I have been
through 2 engines (working on my third) and at one point I was chasing water
leaks like a plumber.  After some research I found that Preston makes
Extended Life antifreeze, which is phosphate free, which I used for about 3
years.

During my research I could not get an answer from VW on its use (Preston
Extended Life [orange])....they held to the party line...Bon, Bon, Bon buy
the Autobahn, which I had to have shipped into Wyoming, and VW couldn't tell
me the difference between Autobahn and Prestone even after we compared
labels.  In my conversations with Preston they have said that it should work
the same.  When everything was said and done I did not have any better
understanding than when I started and I couldn't rule out Prestone Extended
Life and a logical suitable substitute however the "not invented here"
argument from VW was the only argument that didn't use words like: would,
should, could, maybe, I don't see why not, etc.....

Can anyone add more of an understanding to E-glycol phosphate free coolant
discussion

Thanks
Jere "das wasser-plumber"
90 GL
88 GL

----- Original Message -----
From: "t" <vbob@PRIMENET.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2000 10:39 PM
Subject: Re: Da Pink Stuff

> Amazing... something that cost you 30 bucks avery couple of years. Just
> go down and get some prestone. It will work. And not cost much. now.
>
> Or go get the Autobahn stuff they sell at the VW place and know it was
> designed for your engine. I put the blue stuff in the 84 Vanagon, I put
> the Toyota red stuff in my 92 Pickup. In my 83 and 81 vanagons.... I put
> blood, sweat and tears.
>
> tim o'brien
>
>
>
> > Dave Baker wrote:
> >
> > Anyone know of a less costly source for VW antifreeze?  You know, the
> > phosphate-free pink stuff.
> >
> > Dave in KC
> > 85 Westy
> >
> > http://members.fortunecity.com/davebaker1/westy/westy.htm
> >
>