Antifreeze concerns

37 CTS

Here is a link to the Buick forum with some discussion on, not to use
Extended life antifreeze in our older vehicles.

http://forums.aaca.org/f165/urgent-warning-extended-life-anti-freeze-292162.html

[Deleted User]

A lot of bull. I use Prestone in my 53 H-H and change it every 3 years, that's 30 to 35 thousand miles of driving. In 12 years it now shows 134,000 miles and my radiator water is nice and green and you can see the top of the cores, still like new and no crap. If you start with a clean system like I did, new 4 core radiator and a clean block and change every 3 years you will have no problems. No gaskets have ever been changed along with the water pump. 1 gallon of Prestone, 4 ounces of soluble oil, and a bottle of water wetter. Walt.

Unknown

Walt, they're talking about the newer 'extended life' type of antifreeze, the pinkish orange stuff, not the green glycol based product you're using!

hudsontech

I can't say with certainty, but I think this extended life stuff was what messed up the Caddy Northstar engines, like my '97. Ate out the head gaskets. Ah well, at least I saved some $2k in getting it fixed the last time around - I got rid of the Caddy and bought a '96 Olds Ciera for $2300.

Hey, Olds is an orphan, right??? :P

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

[Deleted User]

walts garage-53 wrote:

1 gallon of Prestone, 4 ounces of soluble oil, and a bottle of water wetter.

Walt, Is this your coolant formula that you use topped of with distilled water>

J Spencer

hudsontech wrote:

I can't say with certainty, but I think this extended life stuff was what messed up the Caddy Northstar engines, like my '97. Ate out the head gaskets. Ah well, at least I saved some $2k in getting it fixed the last time around - I got rid of the Caddy and bought a '96 Olds Ciera for $2300.

Hey, Olds is an orphan, right??? :P

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

Alex, if you 'google' Dex Cool you can find an article where a class action lawsuit was brought against GM as it was determined that the gasket material,used on GM motors (intake, head gaskets) and the Dex Cool were not compatable causing premature gasket failure.

Most garages usually use the standard Prestone type ant-freeze when they do a repair or flush job. My 02 Buick was changed before I bought it. Replacement gaskests by FelPro and other top quality gaskets are far superior to original.
I believe even GM upgraded their repacement gaskets.

I have bennusing Prestone in my Hudson for 21 years and no problems. I also follow the procedure that Walt recommends. ( I was a auto mechanic for 45 years)

Jim Spencer

[Deleted User]

I use San Francisco water right from the faucet. No need for distilled water. Never use water from a well or from Mexico. Hello Alex, how's it going?? Walt.

forjack842

Pacemaker500 wrote:

walts garage-53 wrote:

1 gallon of Prestone, 4 ounces of soluble oil, and a bottle of water wetter.

Walt, Is this your coolant formula that you use topped of with distilled water>

Please allow me to be stupid for a moment to get this formula completely clear. I've got a 29 Hudson and days from adding coolant after a 8 month R&R. I've got the Prestone Green Stuff, what is a soluble oil (vegtable?} and the water wetter is available where and actually called what?

thanks for this important informantion!

Jack

Unknown

Not sure about water soluable oil, but water wetter is available under the brand name Water Wetter. I believe that it is made by Red Line and should be available in most auto parts stores.

Unknown

Water soluble oil is used by machine shops mainly to cool the tools when cutting met 1/4 of a pint to treat an average cooling system 4ozs. +al as in lathes, mills , etc. you may be able to find it at a hardware store, you may have to go to an industrial hardware store to get it, Graingers, McMaster-Carr, or the like. you only need about 1/4 of a pint to treat an average cooling system. 4ozs. + or _.

RonS

Interesting. The gaskets in our old cars are probably not up to the modern standards needed to withstand this "attacking" of that OAT stuff, if the statement is true. The Prestone that I have used didnot have Oat in it, niether does the Peak on my shelf.Ditto about Dex-Cool.Where did you guys get the soluble oil? Ace does not carry it. I use 1 gal of anti freeze ( Arizona temps never drop low enough),1 can of water pump lube(any auto parts store), and water wetter( for hot weather).Plain water cools better(heat tranfer), so my 31 Ford doesn't get anti-freeze.But it gets drained every year, the Hornet every 3.I'll consider being on the safe side,and stick with Peak or Zerex etc.

J Spencer

Steve E wrote:

Water soluble oil is used by machine shops mainly to cool the tools when cutting met 1/4 of a pint to treat an average cooling system 4ozs. +al as in lathes, mills , etc. you may be able to find it at a hardware store, you may have to go to an industrial hardware store to get it, Graingers, McMaster-Carr, or the like. you only need about 1/4 of a pint to treat an average cooling system. 4ozs. + or _.

If you inquire at Auto Parts stores you may find it. It was marketed as water pump lube or similar. I still have a couple cans left from awhile back. I work for Advance Auto Parts and we no longer carry it. I would try a NAPA store.

Jim Spencer