Anti-freeze for older gas engines

[RichZ]

The other thread on anti-freeze made me think of my own situation. My own tractors are older gas engines from the 1960's and 1950's. They take ethylene glycol anti-freeze. Is there any difference between Prestone and generic. They're both ethylene glycol with rust inhibitors. So is it OK to use the generics, like store brands, or is Prestone really better?

 

[bgott]

I use the generic antifreeze they sell at Sam's in my Cummins diesel and I haven't seen any evidence of adverse effects in the five years and 63,000 miles I've owned it. I haven't flushed the system and when I drain and fill the radiator I get no sludge or discolored discharge. I do use distilled water when I change it. Back when your tractors were built they didn't use dissimilar metals so I think the additive package would a non- issue compared to newer engines. The additive package is the only difference in antifreeze brands, ethylene glycol is all made the same. I'd run the cheapest stuff I could get.

 

[s1120]

Rich, I am with bgott on this one. Maby the "store brands" don't have as much, or as good of a addative packedge as the "name brands" but in anything older, I say go for whatever you can get. The key is not to let it stay in for to many years. Drain and refill every year, or two, and you wil be fine. Now you should D&rf eaven with the pricy stuff, but it may be a little more forgiven if you "forget" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. BTW, I use whatever is around when I need it. If I am going to walMarts when I need some, I get there brand, parts store, theres, etc. Granted my newest car/equipment is a 94, and they get a LOT older after that. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[RichZ]

Thanks!!! I'm glad to hear you guys say that, because I've been adding store brand anti-freeze to my Ferguson. It has a slow leak someplace in the cooling system that I haven't found yet, so I have to add anti-freeze once in a while. I figure if I use the cheap stuff, it's not even worth me taking out the radiator, because it's cheap, and I don't have to add much very often.