I disagree strongly with all those who are saying Prestone is safe, etc.
Folks, VW still today only uses phosphate-free coolant in their engines, and
I think they're in a better position to know about the metallurgy of their
heads than we are.  Changing head gaskets every few years is unnecessary.
The phosphate-free stuff from the dealer is under $15 per gallon.  If you
ask me, saving a dollar or two for Prestone is false economy.  Buy the blue,
use the blue, love the blue.  122K miles on a head is NOT a good service
life.  Read BenT's post about heads with 256K on them (with blue), and then
let's talk again.
bmc  :)
"Faith will move mountains, but you'd better bring a shovel...."

> From: Greg Stelz <gstelz1@YAHOO.COM>
> Reply-To: Greg Stelz <gstelz1@YAHOO.COM>
> Date: Fri, 31 May 2002 13:29:24 -0700
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: 87 Westy NOW: Green Coolant?
>
> Eric,
>
> Lots of us run with green coolant.  If you use the
> orange coolant at $20/gallon (I think), you might get
> lucky and the head gaskets will last a couple of years
> longer than with the green stuff.  Maybe the heads
> won't be pitted as badly with the orange coolant.  My
> theory is the head gaskets will fail anyway, so go
> ahead and get some tools and plan on doing the head
> gaskets every few years.  BTW, the previous owners of
> my van used green as well, and I'm still using one of
> the original heads at 122K miles.
>
> My $.02,
> Greg Stelz
> 86 "westfakia"
> Columbus, Ohio
> -------------------
> OK, this whole proper coolant for Vanagon issue seems
> somewhat
> baffling to
> me.  Someone in a recent posting offering advice on
> whether to buy a
> Westy
> said they were concerned about the green coolant.  My
> coolant is green
> straight out of the container.  It is Prestone brand.
> It says safe
> for all
> aluminum parts on the label, but it doesn't say
> phosphate free.  So is
> Prestone safe?  If not, what brands are safe?  What
> do phosphates
> damage in
> the engine?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Eric in NC
> 1988 Westy
>
>
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