I suyspect you are thinking of the 'phosphate free' thing about anti-freeze
for vanagons.

not to start any huge discussion...........but, high quality conventional
anti-freeze mixed 50/50 with clean water,
and a little bit of machinist's water-soluble oil added......makes a
*perfect* coolant mixture for vanagons, and no need for it be specifically
be 'phosphate free.' .....though professional mechanics all have their
usually strong beliefs - wouldn't surprise me if your guy says what I say
here isn't right.

Never leave any coolant mixture in a vanagon for years and years, of course.
Since you never get *all* of the old coolant out .............changing it
more often than once every two years is not wasting money .

If you use the mixture I recommend, and use the  ( 'Sierra' is one brand I
think ) non-poisonous anti-frz you'll be fine.
I'll also say that in my opinon vanagon head gaskets need to be done every
80,000 miles no matter what,
or every 8 years ......roughly.  They simply can not work well for years and
years ( though some people get over 200K on original head gaskets, but
that's not the norm ) .
I don't think it's so much 'what' coolant you use, but more that changing it
regularily is kept up .....also, that machinist's oil, as a rust inhibitor
and water pump lube - I swear by having some of that in the coolant.  Would
not run without some. Been doing it for about 20 years now, on hundreds of
cars.  Like a cup's worth for the whole cooling system.
scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "PB" <pbrattan@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 4:37 PM
Subject: Re: How long do I have?

>I had no idea that I could!  Although I knew about non-poisonous
> anti-freeze, I didn't think it could be used in a Vanagon.  I will also
> discuss that with the mechanic.  Thanks VERY much for that info!
> Patti
> ******************************
>
> On Wed, May 13, 2009 at 4:19 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
> scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>
>> to Patti.....
>> re
>> I'm also EXTREMELY concerned about my dogs or cat getting their paws in
>> the
>>
>>> tiny leak, licking them, and then getting poisoned.
>>>
>>
>> There is an anti-freeze that is not poisonous to animals.
>> Look for it where they sell anti-frz.   Any store that has a good
>> selection,
>> will have this 'other' type of anti-frz for sale, or they should.
>>
>> 'regular poisonous' anti-freese is etylene glycol.  I 'think' the
>> non-poisonous kind is propylene glycol, but don't quote me on that,.
>> Main point is .......
>> given your conern for pets you might want to run non-poisonous
>> anti-freeze
>> in your vanagon.
>> Scott
>> www.turbovans.com
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Aristotle Sagan" <killer.jupiter@GMAIL.COM>
>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 2:12 PM
>> Subject: Re: How long do I have?
>>
>>
>> I told you it's a reasonable diagnosis. The pump leaks  when it's
>> starting to fail. There is a weep hole that will put out a bit of
>> fluid.
>>
>> That's a good thing , if that's the only issue. It could be a lot more
>> expensive than that.
>>
>> tim in san jose
>>
>> On Wed, May 13, 2009 at 12:33 PM, PB <pbrattan@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Update: Although right now it's only a small leak, the mechanic said it
>>> was
>>> the water pump. I hope that's a reasonable diagnosis.
>>>
>>> I'm not worried about cost, as it's still covered under warranty until
>>> next
>>> spring. Since cost isn't really a factor right now, I'd rather nip it in
>>> the bud before I end up getting stuck somewhere.
>>>
>>> I'm also EXTREMELY concerned about my dogs or cat getting their paws in
>>> the
>>> tiny leak, licking them, and then getting poisoned.
>>>
>>> Patti
>>> *********************************************
>>>
>>> On Mon, May 11, 2009 at 9:53 PM, Allan Streib <streib@cs.indiana.edu>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>  John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET> writes:
>>>>
>>>> > That "something blue" is most likely coolant - official VW coolant -
>>>> > as it is the only fluid in a Vanagon that ever is blue to my
>>>> > knowledge.
>>>>
>>>> Only other thing I can think of that could be blue is if the brake
>>>> fluid
>>>> is ATE "Super Blue". And if it is brake fluid that would be a rather
>>>> more immediate concern than coolant.
>>>>
>>>> Allan
>>>> --
>>>> 1991 Vanagon GL
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Where ever you are, there you be. Unless you're driving my van, in
>> which case, you ain't got there yet.
>>