Recommended coolant

[wharlos]

I recently replaced the coolant in my '88 944 with distilled water and Prestone (no idea what was in there when I bought the car). If I were doing it over again I would have sourced some Porsche spec coolant. Any comments on issues/ problems using non-Porsche coolant?

[Grandad#3]

I use PEAK Anti-Freeze and can't remember if it's on the bottle, as long as it says "Phosphate Free" you are good to go. I researched before using and was already using Peak in my other cars.

Cheers,
Larry

[89-944NA]

Stick with the "known, better" brands, Prestone, Peak etc. As for "phosphate free", that really is only a problem in countries like Europe, where there are many more minerals in the water (hard water) than in the US. Sure you can use "Porsche Specific" antifreeze, it's only $36.00 a gallon (and really only a requirement on the Boxster, 996 and later water cooled P-cars).

[JJ 911SC]

Plain old AIR... but not sure about the Sense of Humor level of the forum

[Rasta Monsta]

I use Valvoline.com > Products > Zerex > Antifreeze Zerex > Zerex G-05® Antifreeze / Coolant.

[minho78]

Originally Posted by Grandad#3

I use PEAK Anti-Freeze and can't remember if it's on the bottle, as long as it says "Phosphate Free" you are good to go. I researched before using and was already using Peak in my other cars.

Cheers,
Larry

+1. Phosphate Free

[968rz]

+2 = as long as it says "Phosphate Free"

[surfdog4]

Originally Posted by 89-944NA

As for "phosphate free", that really is only a problem in countries like Europe, where there are many more minerals in the water (hard water) than in the US.

What he said....Phosphates cause minerals to settle out of the water, even if there are phosphates in the antifreeze it wouldn't be a problem unless you were also using very hard (lots of minerals) tap water along with it...it's a scare tactic to get you to pay for "Genuine" antifreeze

[Rasta Monsta]

There is info out there indicating that for cars like my 931 (alum head, cast iron block) phosphates can contribute to aluminum corrosion.

[89-944NA]

JJ 911SC Aren't you just another "air head"? You got air cooled, we got balance, horsepower, and room for that long legged blonde with the HUGE bumpers and her twin sister. lol

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by 89-944NA

JJ 911SC Aren't you just another "air head"? You got air cooled, we got balance, horsepower, and room for that long legged blonde with the HUGE bumpers and her twin sister. lol

... there is no bitterness between the cooling faction

[ernie9944]

[QUOTE=wharlos;5498226]I recently replaced the coolant in my '88 944 with distilled water and Prestone.

Originally Posted by JJ 911SC

... there is no bitterness between the cooling faction

I've use Prestone 50/50 for 26 yrs in my 944 NA now have the same in my 968 ,no problems with neither of them up to now. 911 SC ___ Long life to both.

[ernie9944]

Originally Posted by 89-944NA

JJ 911SC Aren't you just another "air head"? You got air cooled, we got balance, horsepower, and room for that long legged blonde with the HUGE bumpers and her twin sister. lol

I did some research on the long legs & ON THE 944 turbo S they came as an option ,the 968 had them as standard equipment.

[flash968]

porsche is VERY specific about using phosphate free coolant - failure to do so voids any warranty of the pump, radiator, etc

tap water contains minerals - these minerals are known to build up in the radiator and clog it, thereby reducing its efficiency

NEVER use tap water - ALWAYS use distilled water

[89-944NA]

Distilled water also negates the need for phosphate free antifreeze, as there are no dissolved solids in distilled water. I have warrantied many water pumps in my dealings with Porsche 944's etc, and never had a warranty refused because I didn't use phosphate free antifreeze.

The only vehicles that Porsche is very strict on coolant is the newer water cooled head engines, 996, Boxster, Cayman etc, and they REQUIRE the use of Porsche Coolant.

As I said earlier, the phosphate free antifreeze is only required in countries with water that contain high levels of dissolved solids (hard water). Also, in discussions with a senior manager with PCNA and the Head Technician (30+ years) at my local Porsche dealership, both stated that phosphate free antifreeze is not required in the United States due to our better quality (softer) water than most countries, but the expense of changing the wording (to delete the reference to phosphate free antifreeze) in owners manuals for US cars was not deemed necessary.

Also, distilled verses tap water is NOT A REQUIREMENT, but a personal preference (but yes, I do use distilled water). My car never runs over the lower mark on the temp gauge unless I am stuck in the aforementioned LA traffic, where it may rise to the middle of the gauge.

Gentleman, what we are discussing here is more personal preference than hard fact, and we have strayed from the original posters question, "Any comments on issues/problems on using non-Porsche coolant?"....

In a nutshell, there are NO ISSUES with using "aftermarket" coolant in our pre-1997 water cooled cars, other than the actual cost of the coolant itself, "aftermarket" coolant about $12.00 per gallon, Porsche coolant $36.00 per gallon. Your preference and wallet will decide which you should use.

[running_cold924]

lot of guys run the vw pink stuff

[flash968]

i understand what 88-944A is saying, and cannot disagree with the concept - my dad ran the west coast's largest antifreeze packaging plant for 20 years, so i know a lot more about coolant than i would like to (for example which brands are really other brands)

that being said, i called porsche north america when i first got my blue 968 - long story but the idiot who did the work on the car only used watter wetter and water, and i wanted coolant - not knowing what to use, and not wanting to void any warranties, i called them for the official recommendation - i was on hold for quite a while until i got to the right person in the tech department - i was very clear about what model i was dealing with too, so there was no confusion

they were VERY clear about using ONLY phosphate free coolant, and that they would absolutely void any warranty of any coolant system part if it was not used - they were actually pretty abrupt about it

having now seen a dozen or so radiators that used tap water and/or other coolant, and the owner of the country's biggest 968 shop having seen a lot more than that, and 100% of them were at least partially clogged, i cannot stress enough that doing anything you can to prevent that from happening is well worth the extra cost and hassle

side note: there are PLENTY of places here in the states that have extremely high mineral content water - i am in one of them here in socal

[Aufgeladen944]

The water in my township is very hard. I use distilled water whenever I can.

I've been using Dex-Cool. That's what was in it, that's what the shop said to use, and that's what I have laying around.

[flash968]

that's what i have been running for the last 6 years too - i just yanked my radiator as a part of the supercharger project - clean as a whistle

[HondaDustR]

+1 more on Prestone DexCool. Haven't had any obvious problems with it, although I'm getting the feeling my radiator could be a little clogged, but then again it might just be the thermostat.