Once again, I cannot keep my antifreeze for more than 6 months. My $10 head gasket repair has finally failed after 2 years and 34,000 miles.I am getting an intermittant leak, and see  the repair failing completely, soon. Probably when it is colder and snowier(Yes,I have no garage).It was a owner/labor defect. JB Weld Stick is good to 250 degrees,but I think the tempatures near the head are higher.I  found a similar product that is good to 500 degrees.Magnum steel it is called(Auto Zone or Walmart).I knew of this product before the first repair,so it is an owner/labor problem.I think the $10 fix description is on the first week of 2005 in the archives under re:85 1.9 need head gasket repair shop in Northern Virginia.

  I will grind the old puddy off tomorrow, and use  Magnum Steel instead.I now have a heat gun to shorten up the drying time, and will ruffen the aluminum more than before.At anytime ,I could still do the kosher repair ,but why bother on an engine with 188K. The $10 repair does not damage the engine or head.  Should work ok.

  Back to the antifreeze... I use Peak brand Sierra antifreeze ,for the reason mentioned above.Not as efficient thermally as other antifreezes, but I have had no problems This is phosphate free. It is no longer avaliable at Pep Boys. I called Peak and am told that ACE Hardware and NAPA($14.99/gallon) still sell it.Call ahead and ask if they have it,they said .It does contain silicates,but is now $10.99/gallon with a $2 rebate(ACE). At Pep Boys,it was $7.99 w/$2 rebate.Peak also sells a new produce that is phosphate free called GLOBAL something or other. It doesnt say phosphate free on the bottle, but the tech at Peak says it is.It is compatable with all antifreezes(10.99/gallon at Rite Aid).Everything is going to extended life products here.so Sierra may not be made much longer.I cannot find any other reasonably priced antifreeze that is phosphate free,except Global.At least one that says no phosphate on the wraper.

  Signed.....the cold corps under the van

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