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by Mole Snoopster™
Appeared July/August 2000 Cool Profit$ Magazine
© 2000 All Rights Reserved
Actually, the headline above could just as well be “DaimlerChrysler Introduces Same Coolant Now Used By US-Built Mercedes, Ford Is Looking—None Follow GM.”

Or, it could read “DaimlerChrysler Brings On Mercedes Benz Coolant As A Long Life Coolant, Ford May Too.”

To give it to you straight, DaimlerChrysler (DC) has two production vehicles now using a hybrid organic acid technology coolant (HOAT). This coolant’s inhibitor package is slightly different from traditional high-silicated green coolant, enough that it’s expected to provide double the service life, but is still compatible with traditional.

Above: The engine cooling system of DaimlerChrysler's innovative and successful PT Cruiser comes charged with the Zerex product, Glysantin G 05. In Europe, BASF has marketed coolants under the brand name Glysantin for several years. It has become synonymous with coolant.

Background. Several years back, carmakers, feeling the push from new car buyers who like the words “low maintenance,” decided that 3-years and/or 30,000 miles was not a sufficient service life for coolant. The search began for a longer life product. In 1995, GM converted its new cars over to Dex-Cool®. That product, manufactured by Texaco, is a non-silicated organic acid technology (OAT) coolant designed to provide 5-year, 100,000-mile service (since upgraded to 5-year, 150K miles—but not for Saturn). Industry watchers expected that DC and Ford would soon jump on the OAT bandwagon. That didn’t happen. Instead, after running tests of their own, they decided to stay with what they had and research the options a little longer. To learn more of DC’s and Ford’s concerns about OAT, read “Coolant Controversy” and Technical Correspondent Paul Weissler’s “OE Makers Put Brakes On ‘Orange’ Coolants” as it appeared in the May 1999 issue of Automotive Cooling Journal.

What’s a HOAT? Hybrid OAT in this case means it has a traditional Ethylene Glycol-base, with a single OAT inhibitor and is moderately silicated. The version now being installed by DC, and tested by Ford, is based on the German BASF product, Glysantin G 05. It has been used in extensively in European Mercedes Benz and other manufacturer’s vehicles since the late 1980’s. New users expect that it will provide the 5-year, 100K miles coverage they desire. G 05 proponents believe that its moderate dose of silicates provide greater aluminum protection than a straight OAT while still being water pump friendly.

Where to get it. Manufactured by Valvoline® (Zerex®), for now the product will be available only as DC’s MOPAR®. If Ford adopts it, expect it to be sold under the Motorcraft® brand. However, you may want to also try your local Mercedes Benz dealership. None of the current Zerex, Igloo® or Pyroil® products are G 05, but it will be available as a Zerex product in the near future. The MOPAR long life product is orange in color; Ford’s, if adopted, will most likely be gold. Initial laboratory results indicate G 05 is compatible with traditional green product, but mixing with too much green may lower the coolant life. Mixing G 05 with Dex-Cool is probably not wise. Ford is said to be running extensive fleet tests to better answer the compatibility question. (Hopefully, the Snoopster can share a copy of technical paper with you in the future.)

Why the secrecy? Why do I, an industry snoop and tradeshow gadfly, have to be the one to bring you this news? Why is it that the only printed material I could find about this “new” product (Glysantin at that)—written in English—was on a Latvian web site? (Latvia??) Could it be that none of the OEs really want to shine a light on their coolant products right now? Could there be a little consumer-based testing going on? Maybe.

Look at the variables!!! But can you blame them? In their effort to meet higher emission and fuel mileage requirements, look at the variables auto makers have to contend with: both gas and diesel engines functioning at higher than ever operating temperatures, coolant flow rates and pressures; aluminum radiators made out of a slew of different aluminum alloys and by several different manufacturing/brazing processes; copper-brass radiators constructed with everything from high-lead through lead-free solders; umpteen different hose materials; numerous metal components and all types of exotic seals and gaskets. Plus, they always have to be prepared for unknowing consumers and technicians subjecting a system to highly corrosive top off water. Automotive antifreeze does not seem to be an easy business to be right now. In any case, it’s good news for service businesses that know their stuff. Car owners, especially those owning more valuable vehicles, need you! They may not know it nor be willing to admit it, but they really need you! $$$