Best phosphate-free antifreeze?

[schmedes1]

Wanted to get input on the best phosphate-free antifreeze solutions out there. Have a red-color solution in the car now (was freshly changed when I bought it) and would prefer to stay with something similar. Gotta be a lot of experience on this subject out there. Thanks for your feedback!!

[Britwrench]

Most anti-freezes are phosphate free nowadays. Just use a good brand.

[bryanthompson]

I haven't found a single kind of antifreeze that was "phosphate free." They all say "aluminum safe" or "low phosphate" which is not phosphate free. I run prestone 'low phosphate' right now, but as soon as I can find some true phosphate free, I'm going to be all over it.

And use distilled water. Phosphate free doesn't mean jack if you use tap water

[WolfeMacleod]

Zerex G-05 is phosphate free.

My owner's manual also states to use ethylene glycol, and NOT propylene glycol.

[schmedes1]

So what is the brand of the RED type of ethylene glycol PF antifreeze I see in some 944s?

[pokey]

Sierra is phosphate free, I believe.

[jakemu24]

whats wrong with tap water?

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally posted by pokey
Sierra is phosphate free, I believe.

Yes, Seirra is phosphate free, however as I learned, it is the propelyne glycol kind.

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally posted by jakemu24
whats wrong with tap water?

Minerals.

[aribop]

Originally posted by schmedes1
So what is the brand of the RED type of ethylene glycol PF antifreeze I see in some 944s?

Prestone Extended life - Gray bottle with orange cap.
http://www.prestone.com/tips/page7.htm
According to Prestone, this one is phosphate free.

Either that or you have water with water wetter.
http://www.redlineoil.com/products_coolant.asp

[uvachief]

Prestone Extended Life is PF. Mix 50-50 with distilled water I believe and it works. Good choice since you can find it in most autoparts stores and it is not $50.00 per gallon. Think my cooling system holds 9 quarts or just over 2 gallons.

[curtisr]

Thought I'd throw this--from Prestone's website--into the mix (as it were):

Some European automobile manufacturers request that a phosphate-free antifreeze be used in their vehicles. This issue is related to the extremely high mineral content of the water in Europe. If you were to mix an antifreeze that contained phosphates with the type of water they have in Europe, it may produce deposits that can settle in the cooling system and promote corrosion. However, in North America we do not have this type of water problem. Typical North American coolants have contained phosphates (which is part of the corrosion inhibitor package) for many years. Therefore, the question of phosphates is a non-issue here in North America. Prestone® Antifreeze/Coolant is completely safe for use in both foreign and domestic vehicles.

[gtroth]

For pink, which is G12 I believe, Pentosin SF should be good. Here is the spec sheet.

If you end up flushing, Pentosin NF is perfect. Get it at Napa.
Audi/VW ZVX 237 105 = Pentosin G001100 = Pentosin NF = G11 = blue.
See blauparts article if interested.

[samevansjr]

Prestone Extended Life 50/50. I like to add Water Wetter to my coolant also. It Reduces or eliminates bubbles or vapor barrier that form on hot metal surfaces to reduce coolant temperatures by up to 20°.

[9FF]

...Some European automobile manufacturers request that a phosphate-free antifreeze be used in their vehicles. This issue is related to the extremely high mineral content of the water in Europe. If you were to mix an antifreeze that contained phosphates with the type of water they have in Europe, it may produce deposits that can settle in the cooling system and promote corrosion. However, in North America we do not have this type of water problem...

Distilled water in Europe is the same as distilled water here and Prestone lists distilled water in their 50/50 mix, so I cannot see how that statement they put out is relevant.

Porsche lists phosphate-free coolant and distilled water mix in all their manuals for all cars Europe or ROW.

[Grandad#3]

Not everyone here in the States has Mineral Free Water out of a household tap, it is always best to use Distilled Water. I have always carried a gallon of Distilled Water in my cars and a roll of Radiator Hose Tape. Great stuff to carry in case of a road emergency for myself as well as others. Proestone is like any other company blowing about how great their products are.

Cheers,
Larry

[gtroth]

What is 'Radiator Hose Tape'?

[jeffrsmith]

I do believe that would be vulcanizing tape, costly but works extremely well.

Rescue Tape Self-Fusing Silicone Tape, 12' Length x 1" Width, Black: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

[Gawernator]

Prestone coolant is phosphate and silicate free.. Lol and works fine for me. Pentosin is supposedly better but I don't see the cost benefit

[Dean924s]

Originally Posted by 9FF

Distilled water in Europe is the same as distilled water here and Prestone lists distilled water in their 50/50 mix, so I cannot see how that statement they put out is relevant.

Porsche lists phosphate-free coolant and distilled water mix in all their manuals for all cars Europe or ROW.

Because 99.9 percent of the people that are refilling there cooling systems go to the tap for there water.

I would be lying to you if in the 35 years of working on cars if I told you that I ever used distilled / bottled water to fill up a cars cooling system. Yes some do it but I am betting that 99 percent of us use the tap (as they do in Europe). Thus prestones statement is very relevant. Using distilled water is obviously the best way to do it so that is what prestone recommends but then there is reality.