someone asked if there was a consensus on this coolant stuff ...

from what i see in the stuff that Dan Houg posted, as well as in the
stuff in the FAQ, and previously posted, the one over-riding thing is:

REPLACE YOUR COOLANT REGULARLY.

period.

which, if you think about it, makes sense. you replace your engine oil ...
because it collects contamination and "wears out". and automatic transmission
fluid needs replacing after a while. likewise, manual transmission can
benefit from replacing the oil. and the brake fluid needs replacing. so why
not the coolant?

the question is: why does the vw vanagon owner's manual specify that the
coolant is NOT to be replaced??

the rule of thumb that i've always heard is:
replace ALL fluids in/on a car at least every two years.

joel