Mercedes-Benz coolant is specially designed to counteract problems such as
you have on your Vanagon. I use it in SAABs which suffer from similar
dilemmae.
Weren't you the police commissioner in San Francisco at one time? <g>
At 12:16 25.10.00 -0700, you wrote:
>
>My $.02 on this thread:
>
>1. The long life coolants from Prestone and Havoline are identical and
>made under license from GM, who developed the new anti corrosion
>chemistry. It is ethylene glycol based, the same as the "old stuff."
>EG has better heat transfer capabilities than propylene glycol, the base
>used in "less toxic" coolants.
>
>2. The carboxylate anti corrosion chemistry used does not break down
>into weak acids that cause corrosion like the old additives, hence will
>last much longer--at least five years/50,000 miles. They are also
>phosphate and silicate free, which makes them compatible with most, if
>not all, engines since they are EG based.
>
>3. They will mix with conventional stuff, but if there is more than
>10% of the old stuff left in the system the benefit of the new
>chemistry is neutralized. So, flush out the old completely, or you are
>wasting your money.
>
>4. Changing the coolant less frequently is probably better for the
>environment than using the slightly less toxic PG based coolants which
>have to be changed every two years. All should be collected and taken
>to a recycling center anyway.
>
>5. I now use the long life in all my cars, including the '65 MGB and my
>Vanagon, which has had a terrible history of head corrosion that is
>usually caused by additive breakdown due to not changing the coolant
>often enough. This is understandable given the pain this system is to
>bleed.
>
>Stuart MacMillan
>
>
___________________________________________________
Cheers-
William "Chip" Lamb
West of Sweden SAAB
Charles City, VA.
http://www.wmsbrg.com/sweden/
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