Zerex G-05 Anti-freeze Information

[Turbo Tim 1]

I looked back through the archives and found nothing on this, has anyone heard anything about this stuff? It looks like top quality stuff. Look here at the spec sheet



Spec Sheet



I did a google search and couldn't find anything bad about it only good, it appears as if it will be factory fill on all Chryslers as of 2004. On the spec sheet it says it is approved by Cummins. I think it was $8 or $9 bucks a gallon at the Advanced Auto store. It is low silicate, phosphate free, low pH.



Here is the web site for the Zerex



Zerex Web Site

 

[Motorhead]

I have Delo EC1 coolant in my Cummins. It is a 300,000mi or 12,000hour coolant. At 300,000mi, you add a recharge package and run it another 300,000mi. You can buy it pre mixed or concentrate. The pre mix is mixed with de-ionized water. It is Cummins listed as well as Mack, Detroit, ect. I bought it at a fuel and oil distributor. It runs about $8. 00 on the pre mix and $14. 00 on the concentrate.

 

[AlFischer]

Can I also use it in my 2000 Toyota Camry?

The Toyota anti freeze is about $15 a gallon!

 

[Motorhead]

It says that it is formulated for todays heavy duty diesel, gasoline and natural gas engines. I tried to scan the lable but it wasn't readable.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

TTT



I wanted to bring this back up and see if any of our anti-freeze experts have any information about this stuff or any reason not to use it.

 

[wsteffes]

Zerex G-05 is a HOAT type coolant (Hybrid Organic Additive Technology)



This is the type coolant called for in the 03 owners manual.

Sorry thats all I have.

Bill

 

[Loren]

I’m hoping that Robert will publish my article in the next TDR that covers oil and anti-freeze highlights from the presentation at the Columbus rally. It will detail my hunt for the coolant I wanted to use in my truck.



To cut right to the conclusion, I was convinced from the presentation that the product I wanted in my truck was Zerex Extreme Extended Life Coolant, part number ZXED1 (concentrate) or ZXEDRU1 (premixed). I found the coolant, but couldn’t find anyone who carried, or even who could order a bottle of the extender. This coolant is good for 3 years/300,000 miles before the extender is added. It is then good for another 3 years/300,000 miles before the coolant must be changed. Today, I cannot find a reference to this coolant on the Zerex web site.

www.valvoline-technology.com



It appears that Zerex has replaced this coolant with 618-1 coolant, which has the same longevity and uses an extender to double the life. If you can find this coolant and the extender, this is one that I would use.



My search for the Zerex coolant involved numerous auto parts retailer, several Internet searches, and discussions with three Valvoline/Zerex distributors in two states. I was unable to find the extender (except in case lots from the distributors), and I refused to buy the coolant without being able to get the extender.



Finally a suggestion from the local Mack truck dealer led me to Caterpillar, where I bought and installed Caterpillar Extended Life Antifreeze/Coolant (pre-mixed), part number 101-2844. The local Caterpillar dealer also sold me a quart of the coolant, Caterpillar Extender, part number 119-5152. This extender comes in a quart bottle. Our trucks will require only half that.



If you have a Caterpillar dealer near you, I’d recommend using their products. At least you can find them.



Loren

 

[Motorhead]

Loren, The Delo EC-1 has the same ratings except it doesn't put a year time limit on it. It has a 6,000 hr or 300,000 mi and with the replentisher will go the span again. It is Red in color. The first rating on the bottle is Cat-EC-1. I found it readily available at a HD truck garage and at a petroleoum dist. Chris

 

[Loren]

Chris,



The Delo EC-1 sounds like the same stuff to me too.



The color doesn't define anything about the coolant (it's just a dye), but it seems that most manufacturers are using red for the extended life stuff. Orange seems to be the color for coolant that meets GM Dex-Cool specifications. That's similar, but not exactly the same as extended life.



My problem with the whole affair was finding the extender. I could track down extended life coolant from several manufacturers, but no one except Caterpillar had the extender.



If that concerns you, be sure you get the extender when you buy the coolant. Then comes the hard part: Don't lose it before you need it.



Loren

 

[Blakers]

What's different about using this new stuff compared to the old green stuff? I think my 95 said only use the green.



Thanks.

 

[Loren]

Blakers,



The new Organic Acid Technology (OAT) anti-freeze/coolants were not available in 1995, or at least not widely available. Your service and owners manuals for the 1995 truck specify coolant with Alugard. Try to find some of that today. You can still get it at NAPA, but even the Dodge coolant no longer mentions Alugard as an ingredient.



The presentation at the TDR rally in Columbus, IN, last summer convinced me that the OAT, extended-life coolants were the way to go. They have longer change intervals, can be extended with the use of a pint of additive, and contain no silicates.



Silicates are what create the goo in your system.



There are basically two types of OAT coolants available, Dex-Cool and Extended Life. Dex-Cool is a GM specification. Extended Life coolants seem to be any OAT coolant that may not meet Dex-Cool specs. The Dex-Cool coolants do not have the ability to operate for a second change cycle by adding the extender, or at least they are not marketed that way. That capability seems to be limited to the Extended Life coolants.



The reason I switched from my old green coolant is two-fold. First, I got better coolant. The OAT coolant does not contain silicates, and it lasts longer.



Second, I can extend the service life of this coolant by merely adding a pint of extender. I won't have to drain and replace my coolant (a nuisance, at best) for another six (6!!!) years.



There's nothing wrong with the green coolant, and it's about half the price of the OAT coolants, but I think you can do better today.



Loren

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

The Zerex G-05 is also a organic acid technology anti-freeze and is the recommended type of coolant for Dodge trucks now. From what I've seen it does not offer the extendability of the others but that is fine with me, I would rather change it and know the condition than add extender and guess. Plus this stuff is comparably priced to the green stuff.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Loren, by the way here is the Zerex stuff you were talking about, it's still there



Left mouse click here

 

[Blakers]

Thanks Loren.



So, what is in the new truck now? Can it too be extended by the addition of the additive?



Blake

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

It is my understanding that this G-05 stuff is in there, the article that I found made it sound like Mercedes started this technology requirement a few years back and now it has moved to the US. I don't want to say this but I think ford has been using it for a couple of years now also.

 

[Blakers]

I've heard talk of the Dex-cool stuff having some kind of dissolved solids coming out of suspension and plugging heater cores. Seems to be a common problem on the S-series Chivys. Hopefully this extended life is an improvement over that.

 

[FourBarR]

long life coolant

i have been using shell million e. c. l. for three years. they have a extender to be added at 500,000 mi. red in color , no problems so far . was not available in premix at that time. Oo. Oo.

 

[Loren]

Tim,



Yep, that's the stuff. I couldn't find it last night. It's good coolant too, but I couldn't find the extender.



Loren

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Loren, how about this for a thought, if the stuff just came out a couple years ago and is good for at least three years maybe they aren't putting the extender out to market too much yet.

 

[illflem]

The Cummins OAT equivalent to Zerex is called ESXtreme, good for 600k

www.cumminsnorthwest.com/News/ESXtreme.asp