Antifreeze - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

ZR1OUS 94 · 11-10-2005

What brand are you using??? Going to change mine soon,any tip or tricks I should know about?

Z Factor · 11-10-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZR1OUS 94

What brand are you using??? Going to change mine soon,any tip or tricks I should know about?

Well the first thing I would do is read articles like the one posted in this thread;

http://www.zr1netregistry.com/forum/showthread.php?t=994

Different people have their own preferences just like with motor oil. Regardless of what brand you use, you want to only use distilled water with it. This will help to keep the mineral deposits/scale etc., to a minimum. Depending how cold it gets in your part of Utah, you may also want to go the route that some do and only use distilled water along with Redline Water Wetter. It provides rust and corrosion protection along with lowering the temperature. However, it is not an anti-freeze, so if it gets cold where you live, you will also need some anti-freeze with it.

More on Water Wetter in this thread;

http://www.zr1netregistry.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4182#post4182

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

cwmoss · 12-11-2005

Texaco Dex-Cool. Change your thermostat also. You do not want to get these engines hot!

Aurora40 · 12-11-2005

I'm using that Prestone Extended-Life All Model stuff. It's basically Dex-Cool but yellow. I couldn't find silicated coolant locally. I think I will try G-05 or whatever the Zerex stuff is called, though.

I'm not a fan of flushing coolant systems unless there's crud in them. Pumping water through that isn't distilled seems like a good way to introduce crud into what was a clean system.

ralph92ZR1 · 12-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZR1OUS 94

What brand are you using??? Going to change mine soon,any tip or tricks I should know about?

I have read in the service manual that the cooling system should be flushed annually and have also looked into doing so. There is a good procedure listed under "maintenance-cooling system" in the members only ZR-1 Registry. My ZR-1 has only 15000 miles; my only hesitation has been since reading an article [and I cannot remember where] that stated in about 30% of the time entrapped air becomes an issue and I do not recall a solution. Also, I agree about the distilled water and would guess filling and flushing as per the procedure mentioned should be with Di.
Good luck..maybe someone else can comment about the entrapped air??

WB9MCW · 12-15-2005

in the members newsletter Marc H. tells the whole story on the coolent debacle air entrapment...3 of ten have the air trap most will self bleed out and for the final 10%(one) he has devised a posi psi pusher thru and out the air bleeder spot device that is all detailed well in his article...pays to be a member (pun intended= am ex ad) lol.... My mech said he goes with the Prestone.

tomtom72 · 12-16-2005

If one was to go look at CF/ZR-1 section there is another thread up on this subject. If I'm outta line by bringing up the reference to CF, I'm sorry.

Anyway, MrCrowley presents some evidence of the damage that DEX-Cool the red stuff did to gaskets in an LT5. I've tried to find "silicated" coolant where I live & most parts stores don't have it. I went to my local chevy store & asked for the stuff listed in my 90 owner's manual by GM spec #, 1825-M, they said NLA on that stuff. Further they said that the stuff in the C5/C6's is what replaces the 1825-M coolant.

The concensus over at CF by the Z owners is not to use the DEX Cool red coolant in an LT5. I don't know what to say as I'm not a chemist. A few owners that live in Canada have found the "silicated" stuff & are stocking up. I let the dealer do my flush & refill but now I'm on a search for the "silicated" coolant based upon what is being said over at CF/ZR-1 section.
Tom

zesstey1 · 12-16-2005

DEX COOL

cwmoss · 12-17-2005

I have seen the light!! I thought I had researched and found that Dex cool was the cats meoww. After reading the posts here nd at CF, I am getting this crap outta my Z. I'm going to put regular Prestone in for now. Tell me, What should I use. I have found on the Prestone site, a coolant that might be OK, but you guys are the experts. What should I use?

I found that Zerex G-05 has silicate. I will be using this until you all convince me of something better.

Aurora40 · 12-17-2005

Prestone's All-Model extended life coolant is basically the same as their Dex-Cool approved coolant.

There is a coolant called G-05 that Zerex came out with, it's a hybrid OAT with a low amount of silicates. It seems interesting. Otherwise, just go with silicated green coolant.

http://www.valvoline.com/pages/produ...asp?product=10

11-10-2005	#1
ZR1OUS 94 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Park City,Utah Posts: 54	Antifreeze What brand are you using??? Going to change mine soon,any tip or tricks I should know about?

12-11-2005	#3
cwmoss Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Caldwell, Texas Posts: 30	Re: Antifreeze Texaco Dex-Cool. Change your thermostat also. You do not want to get these engines hot!

12-11-2005	#4
Aurora40 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Leesburg, VA Posts: 2,704	Re: Antifreeze I'm using that Prestone Extended-Life All Model stuff. It's basically Dex-Cool but yellow. I couldn't find silicated coolant locally. I think I will try G-05 or whatever the Zerex stuff is called, though. I'm not a fan of flushing coolant systems unless there's crud in them. Pumping water through that isn't distilled seems like a good way to introduce crud into what was a clean system.

12-15-2005	#6
WB9MCW Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: McHenry, Il. Posts: 6,584	Re: Antifreeze in the members newsletter Marc H. tells the whole story on the coolent debacle air entrapment...3 of ten have the air trap most will self bleed out and for the final 10%(one) he has devised a posi psi pusher thru and out the air bleeder spot device that is all detailed well in his article...pays to be a member (pun intended= am ex ad) lol.... My mech said he goes with the Prestone. Last edited by WB9MCW; 12-17-2005 at 07:25 PM.

12-16-2005	#7
tomtom72 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 4,609	Re: Antifreeze If one was to go look at CF/ZR-1 section there is another thread up on this subject. If I'm outta line by bringing up the reference to CF, I'm sorry. Anyway, MrCrowley presents some evidence of the damage that DEX-Cool the red stuff did to gaskets in an LT5. I've tried to find "silicated" coolant where I live & most parts stores don't have it. I went to my local chevy store & asked for the stuff listed in my 90 owner's manual by GM spec #, 1825-M, they said NLA on that stuff. Further they said that the stuff in the C5/C6's is what replaces the 1825-M coolant. The concensus over at CF by the Z owners is not to use the DEX Cool red coolant in an LT5. I don't know what to say as I'm not a chemist. A few owners that live in Canada have found the "silicated" stuff & are stocking up. I let the dealer do my flush & refill but now I'm on a search for the "silicated" coolant based upon what is being said over at CF/ZR-1 section. Tom __________________ 1990 ZR-1, Black/grey, #2233, stock. ZR-1 Net Reg Founding Member #316 & NCM member

12-16-2005	#8
zesstey1 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5	Re: Antifreeze DEX COOL

12-17-2005	#9
cwmoss Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Caldwell, Texas Posts: 30	Re: Antifreeze I have seen the light!! I thought I had researched and found that Dex cool was the cats meoww. After reading the posts here nd at CF, I am getting this crap outta my Z. I'm going to put regular Prestone in for now. Tell me, What should I use. I have found on the Prestone site, a coolant that might be OK, but you guys are the experts. What should I use? I found that Zerex G-05 has silicate. I will be using this until you all convince me of something better. Last edited by cwmoss; 12-17-2005 at 02:34 PM.

12-17-2005	#10
Aurora40 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Leesburg, VA Posts: 2,704	Re: Antifreeze Prestone's All-Model extended life coolant is basically the same as their Dex-Cool approved coolant. There is a coolant called G-05 that Zerex came out with, it's a hybrid OAT with a low amount of silicates. It seems interesting. Otherwise, just go with silicated green coolant. http://www.valvoline.com/pages/produ...asp?product=10