I've seen some alarming reports on various national television news programs
regarding the performance of Dex-Cool. There is currently a class action
lawsuit against GM by vehicle owners trying to recover for damages caused by
this coolant. The programs I've seen have presented arguments both praising
and condemning this product. I personally would never touch it after seeing
the interiors of radiators infected with this product. If you plan to use
Dex-Cool, you should research these claims on your own. By the way, was
anyone else amused by the name of the original poster of this topic?

Jason

----- Original Message -----
From: "Harald Rust" <harald_nancy_vw@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 12:37 PM
Subject: What's your vanagon antifreeze?

> Forwarded from:
> http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vw-camping/
> If you own a wbx vanagon, you are probably
> familiar with the ongoing controversary about
> which antifreeze is best.
> The dealer recommends the blue Autobahn at $20/gallon.
> It makes it expensive to flush and refill your system
> every couple of years.
> It's important for the wbx to use only Phosphate-free
> antifreeze. That's an absolute must.
> The conventional U.S. green antifreeze is not
> recommended for vanagons. It's designed for
> conventional copper/brass radiator systems,
> and the vanagon is mostly aluminum.
> For aluminum radiators, there are various
> choices of non-phosphate antifreeze.
> Volkswagen now sells 2 different types of antifreeze,
> the old blue antifreeze for vanagons (mystery what it
> contains as rust inhibitors), and pink antifreeze
> for its newer VW/Audi cars.
> Volkswagen does not recommend mixing their two
> pink and blue formula antifreezes.
> Don't know if Eurovans use the blue or pink
> antifreeze.
> About DEX-COOL antifreeze
> General Motors, since 1996, has been using pink or
> orange Dex-Cool for use only in cars with aluminum
> radiators. Dex-Cool is originally European technology.
> Recently other major antifreeze companies commonly
> sold in local auto stores like Prestone, Texaco
> Havoline, Zerex, and Cel-Cool are selling Dex-cool
> formulated antifreezes, usually for about $8 per
> gallon.
> Dex-Cool rust inhibitors are based on a new class
> of corrosion inhibitors called organic acids.
> Dex-Cool formulas are usually pink or orange,
> are phosphate free and have low or no silicates.
> They are considered long-life.
> Dex-Cool is compatible with conventional green or
> blue phosphate antifreeze without negative impact,
> but is more effective for long-life if not mixed with
> other antifreezes, according to a technical bulletin.
> It's also compatible with VW/Audi pink antifreeze,
> which might be Dex-Cool formula, but I'm not sure.
> Dex-Cool should NOT be used in cars that have
> copper and brass radiators, since it might not
> protect them from corrosion.
> My favorite mechanic (he's a factory trained
> VW/Audi mechanic) is now using Dex-Cool in the
> vanagons he services.
> I've been using Dex-Cool formulated antifreeze
> in my vanagon westy for about 3 years.
> (Disclaimer: I'm not recommending any product.)
> About other antifreezes
> There are also some other mixes out there.
> There's Japanese green, Toyota red, Korean or
> European blue, and European yellow.
> These are different formulas from Dex-Cool.
> They are all ethylene-glycol based, but have
> different corrosion inhibitor additives.
> The Japanese green and red antifreezes have no
> silicates, but are very different from U.S. orange
> and green.
> Vanagon owners, which antifreeze are you using
> in your vanagon?
> Harald
> '90 westy
>
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