Coolant, cannot find Phos. free

P944GUY · P944GUY's Garage

Help !!! I can't find any coolant, antifreeze that specifically says Phosfate free. Some brands say ok for alum. radiators, are these brands ok. And what about the red stuff ( says ok for Dex Cool) those do say they are phos. free-can I use in my 87 944?? Or should I just go to dealer and spend $20 for the porsche stuff. What has everyone been using???

lordgrommit · 08-27-2001, 08:13 AM

I found that the seirra stuff that's suppost to be non toxic... but only slightly more than regular. Was Phospate free says on the bottle.

Matt

Sergio · 08-27-2001, 08:16 AM

Get the Texaco Dex-Cool Its in a black jug with an orange lid.

P944GUY · P944GUY's Garage

Is the Dex Cool stuff safe to use in the 944 engine. I've also heard to use distilled water instead of tap. I live in Phoenix where the water has a very high calcium content.

Sergio · 08-27-2001, 08:50 AM

The dex cool is phosphate free and safe for aluminum. It says phoshate free on the bottle i do belive. As far as distilled, sure wouldnt hurt, and your only going to need a few gallons....

mlue · 08-27-2001, 08:59 AM

Go to a VW dealer and ask for the Phosphate Free coolant for the older cars. It comes in a blue and white jug and says phosphate free on it. Seeing how Porsche used alot of common VW parts in our cars I wouldn't be surprised if this was the same stuff that the car originally came with from the factory.

Mark
'86 944NA

[This message has been edited by mlue (edited 08-27-2001).]

jwolk1 · 08-27-2001, 09:13 AM

Havoline Extended Life is phosphate-free - should be able to pick it up at Pep Boys or a major autostore chain -

Jeremy
1983 Guards Red

mideastmafia · 08-27-2001, 10:02 AM

im running my car with no coolant in san diego weather and i have never been past the 3/4 mark.

SHAUN

eimkeith · 08-27-2001, 11:44 AM

dex-cool and distilled (not BOTTLED) water.

------------------
keith
'86 951 redNeckarsulm

javier · 08-27-2001, 01:32 PM

what could happen to my car if I use just water and no coolant

drew1 · 08-27-2001, 02:19 PM

javier,

In winter time when it gets freezing you could bust a block. You'll probablly run at higher temp during summer. At least use that Red Line stuff, Water Wetter.

drew1

TheStig · 08-27-2001, 02:22 PM

Shaun I should smack ya across the face for running it with no coolant...tell me you at least have water in there???? No coolant I believe will cause damage to your radiator and waterpump. I seen cars that were ran dry of coolant at auctions. The engines sound terrible and the radiators all screwed up.

------------------
Porsche. Es gibt keinen Ersatz.

Bob's944 · Bob's944's Garage

Coolant has alot more in it than just ethalene glycol to raise the boiling point. It does help lubricate your waterpump, but more important it has things to protect the metals in your engine. Basically the coolant becomes it's own battery system, that happens anytime you take a polar compound like water and then have different metals involved, there are more metals than just aluminum in your engine. Each one has it's own dielectic coeffient and some become sacrificial to the stronger ones and get eaten away. Coolants help to slow down these kind of reactions that WILL happen when you use just plain water, even distilled water. I've seen a sacrificial electrode being made that is a cap for the overflow reservoire with magnesium as the sacrifiacial metal, I think it's an awsome idea. San Diego does have some great weather, no doubt, but chemistry is the same everywhere.... protect those metals inside your engine.

Mrmerlin · 08-27-2001, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mideastmafia:
im running my car with no coolant in san diego weather and i have never been past the 3/4 mark.
Hi Shaun, hey your living dangerously, get some coolant in the system, there are a whole lot of other things like corrosion that you cant see going on , and H2O pump lubrication

SHAUN

DennisR_944 · 08-27-2001, 04:53 PM

Phosphate free is easy to find. It's usually not green. I got mine (Prestone) at Advance Auto Parts. Just a dollar or so more than the usual green stuff. Bob's right. Have you ever seen an aluminum lawn chair that has been left out in the weather for a while?? Water causes aluminum to corrode especially when it's in contact with dissimilar metals. Anti freeze serves a lot more purposes than just keeping your engine cool. JMHO.

Dennis Russell

------------------
Dennis Russell
Indianapolis, IN USA
1987 944 n/a

mideastmafia · 08-27-2001, 05:05 PM

the car originally had coolant in it, but ever since ive had it, i have only added water. not coolant. only had to refill twice so im guessing there is some coolant still chilling in there. ill go buy some coolant next time i need to refill.

SHAUN