

| Subject: | Non-phos E-Glycol(Dex Cool) |
| From: | Doktor Tim |
| Date: | Tue, 1 Jul 2003 16:12:10 -0700 |
Yes, it only took Detroit 40+ years to update to the Euro spec that was in place post WWII when they went to aluminum heads on cast iron blocks in Germany for production engines. The spec then as today has been non-phosphate ethylene glycol. The belated GM DexCool (all orange) spec ist gut in any good name label. Since the mid 50's Basf Corp has made the Euro Spec fluid for Mercedes, VW, Audi, Porsche, BMW, Volvo, Saab and Jaguar under their own labels or Autobahn label. All are blue dye except Benz, which is yellow and otherwise the same. 5 or 7 years ago, before the GM specs, Zerex licensed and manufactured the Basf spec in orange for a coupla years, then stopped. Otherwise, for many years the only spec fluid source for Euro's was dealer. This is the biggest reason Wasserboxers suffered. The cooling system maintenance is 3 times the effort for a V-8 Ford, and twice the volume of three times the cost per gallon fluid. For a time in the 60's, Shell UK made this spec for the English marks. Most of the extended life fluids meet the DexCool spec and therefore, Euro specs. Find on the back of the bottle the ingredients. Very small print hard to find sometimes. If it's not e-glycol, ist nicht. If any phosphate shows, ist nicht. "Safe for aluminum" means NOTHING if it is not phosphate free. Otherwise, ist gut vor Wasserboxer, and other water cooled VW's up until more recent models having one of 3 different spec anti-freezes, and other dealer only source fluids for the tranny and power steering and on and on. There is a bunch of stuff necessary that you can't get at any FLAPS no matter what they sell you, and you can risk system failure if the fluids and procedures are not spec. Your owner's manuals will give the specs for fluids. Ignore them at your peril. Dex Cool ist Kool vor Wasserboxers. Only costs twice as much as the wrong stuff and honors the specs.
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