Anti freeze

[aspg4]

What is everyone's opinion of which brand of anti freeze is best (for 99 Chevy pickup) and for the various tractors. Are all the brands about the same?

 

[4570Man]

I use Napa products whenever possible because I get a discount at that store.

 

[Phillip w]

To me antifreeze is antifreeze. You got straight antifreeze and a 50/50 mix. Brand names dont mean much to me. I get mine at Wal-Mart. I just put it in and mix it until I get a solution that will test to about 40 degrees below zero Fahrenheit.

 

[flyerdan]

Agree that they all have to be pretty much compatible as if one was demonstratively superior they would lord it over the others in adverts. Don't buy the pre-mixed, that's like paying 7.99 a gallon for distilled water, which is .89 at the grocery store (or a couple aisles over, if you're there).

 

[RalphVa]

I go with the dealer's brands in our cars and pickups, as I've gone with the 10 year changouts. Need to be sure you get stuff that's fully compatible with your engine metallics.

For my JD, I've just bought their coolant and change it about every other year, as it's an easy thing to do.

Not sure what I'm going to do about the antifreeze in our Central Maine diesel generator. When I decide to change it out in around 6 or 7 years, I'll probably order from them. Not looking forward to it because containing the antifreeze may be a problem where it's located. Used an oil extractor for its first 50 hour (after about 4 years) oil and filter change. No mess with that. May change out the radiator hoses on it then. They don't impress me as long lasting hoses like the ones were on our 1983 Benz that were still good at 26 years of age.

The additives in the antifreeze have to match the metallics in your engine and radiator system. Not sure Prestone and Zerex are a good fit any more, particularly for 10 year life.

Ralph

 

[aspg4]

No they're not the same and shouldn't be mixed. For GM products after 1995, you're supposed to use the Dex-Cool stuff. Many don't like it, including me, but I'll leave that decision up to you.

For tractors, it depends on diesel or gas. If diesel, it will depend on if you have liners or not, and wet or dry liners.

Check the specification of the antifreeze you're interested in. If it meets the ASTM-3306 specification, it's good for any gas application and light duty diesel use. The best is to use a product that meets ASTM-6210. That specification is for heavy duty diesel service. That spec is common enough that you shouldn't have any problem finding something you like. If you are going to abandon Dex-Cool or any 2 year green stuff, do a through flush of your system.

When Dex-Cool first came out years ago I decided to change to it in my old Buick. Apparently I did not get all the green antifreeze out, and when the Dex-Cool mixed with what was left of the green antifreeze it stopped up my heater core so I was told by my mechanic. It took many flushes to get it unstopped.

 

[Phillip w]

I dnot know, been running Wal-Mart antifreeze in everything for years. Pick-ups, tractors, van, cars, you name it. Been getting along just fine with it. One tractor is 75 + hp, I think that would qualify as a heavy-duty diesel. It also goes in my 730 John Deere and use to use it in 930 case. My van is 2001 gmc and my pickup are for. I put in my 1531 massey ferguson compact tractor. To me antifreeze is antifreeze. Been running that Wal-Mart (super tech) green antifreeze in everything for years and get along just fine. And I save money over that supposed to be better high dollar stuff.

 

[aspg4]

Flushing is super important when changing types of antifreeze. I don't know how old the old Buick was, but a problem with Dex-Cool is that it has to be in a completely sealed system, including the overflow tank. Dex-Cool does not mix well with air. The overflow tanks on Dex-Cool vehicles have a sealed and pressurized tank that doesn't let air in.

The Buick was a 1994 Roadmaster. Finally used powder dishwashing detergent to clean the system. Put the powder in, and drove the car a day or two and then flushed again really well. That did a really good job cleaning the system, and never had any other problems.

 

[3930dave]

What is everyone's opinion of which brand of anti freeze is best (for 99 Chevy pickup) and for the various tractors. Are all the brands about the same?

As has been stated, Dexcool is what GM specs today.

For gas engines, I usually use Prestone. Any quality modern (HOAT) coolant should be good for 5 years or 250k km in gas applications.

Diesel, I use Delo, basically what is used in OTR (highway) tractors and other heavy equipment - these modern organic acid coolants are long life and distance in heavy applications, somewhat less so (but still very long) in light trucks/tractors. Old school diesel coolant needed SCA or DCA added and tested, to deal with potential cavitation corrosion - been there, can do it if needed, but much prefer the newer diesel coolants....

I use distilled water when mixing.

Any spec meeting name-brand coolant should work fine; just don't ignore the coolant manufacturer's time/mileage limits - they know what they are talking about.

Rgds, D.

 

[747driver]

No they're not the same and shouldn't be mixed. For GM products after 1995, you're supposed to use the Dex-Cool stuff. Many don't like it, including me, but I'll leave that decision up to you.

For tractors, it depends on diesel or gas. If diesel, it will depend on if you have liners or not, and wet or dry liners.

Check the specification of the antifreeze you're interested in. If it meets the ASTM-3306 specification, it's good for any gas application and light duty diesel use. The best is to use a product that meets ASTM-6210. That specification is for heavy duty diesel service. That spec is common enough that you shouldn't have any problem finding something you like. If you are going to abandon Dex-Cool or any 2 year green stuff, do a through flush of your system.

I was thinking the same thing. Our motorhome diesel uses what is called SCA Pre Charge. My Kioti manual just says anti freeze...no mention of the SCA type.