best anti-freeze ? - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Corbusa · 10-10-2011

I need to get ready for winter , so what is a really good anti-freeze? I'd like to keep the system clean and hope to never change the heater core etc. IS Amsoil anti-freeze good ? What about Napa Cool or water wetter ? Thanks Guys !

mike100 · 10-10-2011

For the LT5 you need to use the old fashioned regular non-long life coolant. I used the basic autozone jug and some 15 year old Prestone I still had. The good news is that it's cheaper than the long life/low tox stuff.

GOLDCYLON · 10-10-2011

Plain old generic Green stuff. Dont use anything else

mike100 · 10-10-2011

pretty sure the 'Solutions' sticky has a good listing of commonly available coolants.

Z51JEFF · 10-12-2011

Barnds are all over the map but just make sure ITS NOT DEXCOOL!

Hammer · 10-12-2011

Napa Auto has the green antifreeze needed. The jug will state on it "contains silicates".

ittlfly · 10-12-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer

Napa Auto has the green antifreeze needed. The jug will state on it "contains silicates".

Correct. It is the 'Napa" brand in a blue jug. On the back you will see it meets GM -1825M spec for our cars.

Dime · 10-12-2011

Zerex is also very good.

Aurora40 · 10-12-2011

Just FYI, but Prestone does not make an EG coolant anymore that is suitable for the LT5. So don't pick up any coolant in Wal-Mart or similar, as that's all they generally have. The NAPA green stuff is good. Also a GM dealer will have the right stuff, though it now costs a fortune ($30 a gallon last time I checked).

Water-wetter is apparently similar to DexCool, but it really isn't an anti-freeze. As it is mainly water, it would freeze pretty easily. I think they even recommend you add anti-freeze with it if you use the A/C, as it can freeze in the heater core.

I've personally used the low-tox stuff with no problems. The additives are the same, it is still a silicated coolant just like the OEM stuff, but a PG coolant vs EG.

tomtom72 · 10-13-2011

Just a reminder about the GM stuff you now buy at the parts counter.....it's not a silicated coolant any longer. It's a H-OAT coolant. They kept the same part number on the new coolant and they kept the same "GM spec 1825-M", but it is an organic acid coolant.

I ran into this when I bought some from a local dealer up here this past April.

Some chevy stores have some of the old original stuff laying around. I got some from what used to be P&G Chevy in PA.

Just read the label on any GM coolant you get from the chevy store very carefully before leaving the parts cage.

Tom

10-10-2011	#1
Corbusa Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: TN Posts: 581	best anti-freeze ? I need to get ready for winter , so what is a really good anti-freeze? I'd like to keep the system clean and hope to never change the heater core etc. IS Amsoil anti-freeze good ? What about Napa Cool or water wetter ? Thanks Guys !

10-10-2011	#2
mike100 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Marcos CA Posts: 1,802	Re: best anti-freeze ? For the LT5 you need to use the old fashioned regular non-long life coolant. I used the basic autozone jug and some 15 year old Prestone I still had. The good news is that it's cheaper than the long life/low tox stuff.

10-10-2011	#3
GOLDCYLON Join Date: May 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 9,155	Re: best anti-freeze ? Plain old generic Green stuff. Dont use anything else __________________ GOLDCYLON - 91 ZR-1 #2014 GOLDCYLON - 90 ZR-1 #2794, 4L60e (Formerly Schrade's) GOLDCYLON - 11 CTS-V Arizona State Director 91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat 90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat 11 RED/GREY CTS-V

10-10-2011	#4
mike100 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Marcos CA Posts: 1,802	Re: best anti-freeze ? pretty sure the 'Solutions' sticky has a good listing of commonly available coolants.

10-12-2011	#5
Z51JEFF Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fremont,Ca Posts: 3,079	Re: best anti-freeze ? Barnds are all over the map but just make sure ITS NOT DEXCOOL!

10-12-2011	#6
Hammer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ideho Posts: 2,653	Re: best anti-freeze ? Napa Auto has the green antifreeze needed. The jug will state on it "contains silicates".

10-12-2011	#8
Dime Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vicksburg, MS Posts: 135	Re: best anti-freeze ? Zerex is also very good. __________________ [B][U]1991 No. 519[/U][/B]

10-12-2011	#9
Aurora40 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Leesburg, VA Posts: 2,713	Re: best anti-freeze ? Just FYI, but Prestone does not make an EG coolant anymore that is suitable for the LT5. So don't pick up any coolant in Wal-Mart or similar, as that's all they generally have. The NAPA green stuff is good. Also a GM dealer will have the right stuff, though it now costs a fortune ($30 a gallon last time I checked). Water-wetter is apparently similar to DexCool, but it really isn't an anti-freeze. As it is mainly water, it would freeze pretty easily. I think they even recommend you add anti-freeze with it if you use the A/C, as it can freeze in the heater core. I've personally used the low-tox stuff with no problems. The additives are the same, it is still a silicated coolant just like the OEM stuff, but a PG coolant vs EG. __________________ Bob Saveland Former owner of #2517 [IMG]http://a.random-image.net/aurora40/vette.jpg[/img]

10-13-2011	#10
tomtom72 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 4,645	Re: best anti-freeze ? Just a reminder about the GM stuff you now buy at the parts counter.....it's not a silicated coolant any longer. It's a H-OAT coolant. They kept the same part number on the new coolant and they kept the same "GM spec 1825-M", but it is an organic acid coolant. I ran into this when I bought some from a local dealer up here this past April. Some chevy stores have some of the old original stuff laying around. I got some from what used to be P&G Chevy in PA. Just read the label on any GM coolant you get from the chevy store very carefully before leaving the parts cage. Tom __________________ 1990 ZR-1, Black/grey, #2233, stock. ZR-1 Net Reg Founding Member #316 & NCM member