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, Tue, 19 Nov 2013 10:40:29
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As noted above, G-05 is yellow, G-48 is blue, Dexcool is orange, and a version for heavy trucks is red.
G-05 and G-48 use "Organic Acid Technology (OAT) and have the same stuff in them: sebacic acid based inhibitor with some silicate added for good measure. G-05 has more of both than G-48, and in standard corrosion tests actually builds up on the samples (corrosion tests measure the weight loss to tabs immersed in the coolant). Dexcool is also OAT based, but has zero silicates and starts with carbolic acid, not sebacic acid.
Supposedly the carbolic acid based inhibitor lasts a lot longer than the sebacic acid one, and the absence of silicates extends the life of water pump seals. It is also supposed to be particularly well suited to protecting aluminum components. In reality the silicates can supply some protection to poorly designed cooling system components. poorly designed water pump impellers where there is cavitation will erode away with Dexcool (not a problem with Saabs) and cooling systems that allow air to be drawn in can experience "red sludge" (rust) clogging the works (not a problem with Saabs).
The red version for HD trucks also has some nitrites added to prevent nucleate boiling erosion from the wet cylinder liners that these engines commonly have, so unless you have an old Peugeot or Renault, chances are you don't need to even consider the red stuff.
Prestone has been selling a "universal long life mix with anything" coolant that combines the carbolic acid inhibitor of Dexcool with enough silicate to prevent water pump erosion and red sludge.
My opinion is that you could mix G-05, G-48, Dexcool, and/or the Prestone universal in any 0=5 without catastrophe, but as Larry said, I wouldn't assume the same 5 year (or lifetime) rating that Dexcool claims unless I had pure Dexcool. I would never use Dexcool in an older Saab, one with a soldered brass and copper radiator and/or heater core.
posted by 70.126.9...
, Tue, 19 Nov 2013 15:17:31, Thu, 21 Nov 2013 03:08:48, Tue, 19 Nov 2013 13:18:40, Tue, 19 Nov 2013 10:40:29
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