Thanks Sean,

I was probably delivered from some potential difficulties by driving in
Manitoban winters. On the other hand, the year we did New Orleans and
the South, my engine was probably begging for water with that
antifreeze!

I also mixed the orange and the green stuff. Ouch. Thankfully, I now
have a clean start. I shall get phosphate free coolant (or whatever the
manual specifies when I get it) and do it right.

Cheers,
Terry
____
>From: Sean Bartnik
>To: TTiessen@PROVIDENCE.MB.CA
>Cc:
>Sent: March 31, 1998 08:38 AM
>Subject: Re: Head gaskets and Antifreeze
>
>
>>
>> I never added water to the antifreeze. I always put
>it in straight. Is
>> that unwise?
>
>Generally, YES!  Antifreeze/coolant does not work as
>well when it is not
>mixed with water.  You will usually find instructions
>on the bottle
>telling you to make a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and
>water.  Not only that,
>but it's cheaper that way.  The boiling point of the
>stuff is lower
>without the water mixed in, as I recall.
>
>There may be some new antifreezes that do not require
>water but you
>should first check your owner's manual to see what VW
>recommends, and
>then follow their recommendations.  There are now two
>basic types of
>antifreeze/coolant, ethylene glycol (familiar green
>stuff) and propylene
>glycol (orange stuff generally, may not need water).
>These two types
>are not compatible, so don't mix them.  Bad things
>will happen.  As far
>as I know, the VW Autobahn blue phosphate-free coolant
>is just that, a
>phosphate-free version of ethylene glycol.  The label
>on the bottle will
>tell you what sort it is.  PLEASE NOTE THAT COLOR IS
>NOT NECESSARILY A
>DEFINING FACTOR IN WHAT YOU HAVE.  ALWAYS READ THE
>LABEL.
>
>
>--
>Sean Bartnik
>Fredericksburg, Virginia
>1981 Volkswagen Vanagon L Westfalia
>1974 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia convertible
>http://www.type2.com/bartnik/myvan.htm
>