I continue to use the Texaco Havoline green stuff. I have never had a leak
problem with it. It says on the back of the jug it is made for moden aluminum
engines. I see no reason to change. Most of todays engines are made of aluminum
or at least have aluminum heads.

John Rodgers

karl wrote:

> OH jeesh, here we go again!! I beg to differ, is the inferior 'green'
> propylene glycol gonna kill ALL the cars on the road? (And it IS
> phosphate-free!) I believe like 90% of the cars out there have aluminum
> heads on cast blocks..........I've NEVER seen corrosion caused by the green
> in ANY car I've serviced! YMMV.
>
> Doktor Karl M�llendorf
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: T.P. Stephens <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 9:35 PM
> Subject: DM: Re: VW coolant
>
> > At 06:44 PM 11/16/1999 EST, you wrote:
> > >In a message dated 11/16/99 11:14:20 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> > >WoodyHalsey@COMPUSERVE.COM writes:
> > >
> > ><< 1) What color is VW phosphate-free coolant?
> > >
> > > 2) Is it possible and smart to try to save the precious stuff, if you
> need
> > > to drain your system to replace a pipe?
> > >  >>
> > >
> > >you can buy phosphate free coolant nearly anywhere these days. Kmart
> sells
> > >that Sierra stuff that is pretty good. its orange.  stock VW $tuff is
> blue.
> > >chris
> > >
> >
> > The spec is non-phosphate ethylene glycol. Look on the back of the
> > container for contents.
> > If it says propolene glycol, that's not it. If it says any type of
> > phosphate, that's not it either.
> >
> > The higher spec. anti-freeses recently available meet the new GM specs.
> > These are the orange dyed fluids. They are non-phos e-glycol with a bit
> > different addative package, silicates and such. It took US manufacturers
> > some 40 years to begin using the same higher spec. the Germans were
> > requiring since they first put an aluminum head on a cast iron block in
> the
> > 50's. One way to tell is the spec. fluid is always two to three times the
> > cost of the loss leader green stuff. Basf Corp. Germany makes the same
> > fluid in either yellow or blue for Mercedes, VW/Audi/Porsche (Autobahn),
> > Jaguar, Saab, Volvo, ect.
> >
> > It is only available at the various dealers. The factory European manuals
> > state either fluid from the dealer or "non-phosphate ethylene glycol". The
> > new US specs. meet this latter criteria.
> >
> > Keep in mind, if it is green, it's wrong. If it is yellow or blue, it
> > genuine dealer. If it is orange, it is the new GM spec.
> >
> > Phosphate carries ions. That's why it's verboten in a mixed metals DM
> > maschine.
> >
> >
> >
> > Doktor Tim
> > Maintenance Repair and Restoration of European Vehicles
> > San Juan Island, WA