Exact Antifreeze Brand

[tomtom72]

Originally Posted by Scrrem

You can order here: http://gmpartsdirect.com/

Rich

Thank you Rich. I rarely use those guys as they make up their margin on the shipping charges. I was a solid customer of P & G Chevy in PA. They lost the GM franchise upon the re-organization shuffle.

It was nice at P & G as I was on a first name basis with the parts dept. there!

Guess I'll check out the local NAPA store & see what they have on hand. I always felt that using the GM stuff eliminated any guess work on my part and that it was the safe, albeit, costlier purchase.


Tom

[Aurora40]

Originally Posted by 95ZR1#418

From what I read here, this containing Ethylene glycol, this prestone product should be O.K. to use, meaning it is not Dexicool, is this correct logic??

No, that is incorrect logic. Dex-Cool is an ethylene glycol based coolant. All automotive coolants except "low tox" coolants are ethylene glycol. The EG is what modifies the boiling and freezing point of the water you add it to. And it makes the coolant "slick" to lubricate the pump. But the protection package is what makes the difference.

Dex-cool uses organic acid technology as a protectant. Older coolants use silicates and phosphates. There are also others, like the mentioned Zerex which is a hybrid organic acid technology. It is sort of a combination of Dex-Cool and the old stuff, though obviously it's more complex than that.

[Aurora40]

Originally Posted by 95ZR1#418

The product goes on to state: Intended for all passenger vehicles & light trucks. Compatible with ANY make or model on the road today. Designed to provide up to 5 years or 150,000 miles of protection for extended performance when added to ANY EXTENDED LIFE antifreeze/coolant(The caps were in the write up). Protects aluminum & all other engine metals. The product does not specifically state it meets GM 1825M spec

Just FYI, though it is irrelevant for our cars since you shouldn't do it in the first place...

But that last bit is true of any OAT product. If you drain out silicated coolant and then fill with Dex-Cool or similar, you will not get the long-life protection offered by the OAT coolant. Apparently the silicates coating everything can prevent the OAT stuff from doing their job properly. The Dex-Cool will still be safe (assuming the car can use Dex-Cool), but you'll want to change it at normal intervals, i.e. every two years.

[95ZR1#418]

Guess I'm going to flush mine now.
I contacted GMPARTSDIRECT with the PN: 12378560 to be sure this was correct, then ordered a gallon promising never to sell it to any ZR-1 owners in Oregon(I totally agree, those people can't be trusted with anything).

GMPARTS reply:
Hi Bob,
I am providing the information we have for part number 12378560.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION AND FUNCTION:
A high-boiling, non-evaporating antifreeze-coolant preparation
containing chemical ingredients to protect against rust and
corrosion. Can be used with either low- or high-opening
thermostats and at high altitudes. It will not harm rubber
hoses, pump seals, or gaskets.
GM Antifreeze-Coolant mixes perfectly with water, flows freely
and transfers heat efficiently. Protects to -34¡F. Protects
aluminum components.

GM VEHICLE APPLICATION:
For 1995 and prior vehicles except medium-duty truck.

SPECIAL PRECAUTION:
Do not add to cooling systems that require DEX-COOL.
In compliance with the Oregon Toxic Household Act, Antifreeze
Products can only be purchased for use in professional vehicle
repair facilities and cannot be displayed for sale or sold to con-
sumers. By ordering this product, you agree not to sell it to cus-
tomers in Oregon.


Thanks Floyd,
GmpartsDirect.com
When replying to emails please include all previous email correspondences so we can better assist you.

[bdw18_123]

I didn't know that the antifreeze thing was as complicated as the oil issue for our cars. It sucks having to wade through all the BS that the manufacturers throw at you just to figure out the proper stuff to put in. After reading through this thread and the equally long oil thread, this is what I'm going to use for antifreeze and oil when I get my Z back together:

Antifreeze: Going to check Napa for the 1825-M stuff (I think Hammer said it was the house brand?) & will use that if they have it. The Napa store near me is also a Napa warehouse, so they probably have some stuff that the normal small Napa's don't have.

I have never used the "water-wetter" stuff before, is it something that is absolutely necessary? What is it supposed to do? The less crap I have to buy the better...

Oil: From what I read in the oil thread, the Mobil 1 fully synthetic high mileage stuff has some extra Zinc compared to the regular fully synth stuff & I can get it from my local store. I know it's not quite the same amount of zinc as is recommended, but I think it's close enough to not be an issue.



.

[95ZR1#418]

Originally Posted by bdw18_123

I have never used the "water-wetter" stuff before, is it something that is absolutely necessary?


Mobil 1 fully synthetic high mileage.

You don't need the "water wetter" by any means; you can find the same lengthy threads about its benefits. If not the NAPA brand then do what I just did, get the GM stuff, and use distilled water (50/50).

I also use the Mobil 1 synthetic high mileage.

[Aurora40]

Originally Posted by 95ZR1#418

then ordered a gallon

FYI, the system holds about 3 gallons total. So you will need to get two gallon containers of anti-freeze to mix up >3 gallons of 50/50.

[95ZR1#418]

Originally Posted by Aurora40

FYI, the system holds about 3 gallons total. So you will need to get two gallon containers of anti-freeze to mix up >3 gallons of 50/50.

I mentioned 50/50 because that's what most people use, personally, I use 10% as mentioned in an earlier post.

[bdw18_123]

Originally Posted by Dynomite

After starting this thread back up three days ago I have come to the same conclusions

Lucky for me my engine is in parts for a while and I can think some more on these antifreeze and oil issues

My LT5 is in the same state, in pieces all over the garage (and some in the house)!

[PhillipsLT5]

Yes, original formula as pictured shows 1825M, yes correct oil as per Marc H(Zinc on label)