Coolant

[Craig J.]

I have a 1977 L-48. I've run long-life coolant in other vehicles but not sure if I should stick with the green coolant or go long life. Searching didn't yield much on this topic.

Also, if a car is being judged, are points deducted if the coolant is not green? Thank you.

[Steven S.]

Re: Coolant

Coolant color is not judged, nor is the coolant itself. I tried the new coolants (orange) in my '63. You need to flush the total system very well to keep it from gumming up the system. Many articles I read after putting it in talked about it not working well for cars that are not driven on a regular basis. This meant you had to change it just as often as you would the green. I did experience some built up on the rad. cap so flushed system again and went back to green.

[Alan D.]

Re: Coolant

I have a 1977 also. The coolant I use is the green type and have been doing so for the past 20 years in the car. There is no judging points taken off for the color of the coolant. I use a 5 year coolant in the green typemade by Prestone. It is good for 5 years or 150,000 miles and it called extended formula. The car has been top flighted several times and performance verified twice and never had a problem with the coolant color. Good luck with your car and when are you going to have it judged?
Al Dieterle

[Craig J.]

Re: Coolant

Coolant color is not judged, nor is the coolant itself. I tried the new coolants (orange) in my '63. You need to flush the total system very well to keep it from gumming up the system. Many articles I read after putting it in talked about it not working well for cars that are not driven on a regular basis. This meant you had to change it just as often as you would the green. I did experience some built up on the rad. cap so flushed system again and went back to green.

Thanks Steven, I'll stay with the green stuff.

[Craig J.]

Re: Coolant

I have a 1977 also. The coolant I use is the green type and have been doing so for the past 20 years in the car. There is no judging points taken off for the color of the coolant. I use a 5 year coolant in the green typemade by Prestone. It is good for 5 years or 150,000 miles and it called extended formula. The car has been top flighted several times and performance verified twice and never had a problem with the coolant color. Good luck with your car and when are you going to have it judged?
Al Dieterle

Al, I'd not seen the green 5-year coolant yet, but I'll find that and give it a try! The car will be judged at the end of this month. I'll have owned it for about two months by then, so it'll be very interested to watch this judging process and see how my Vette does. Thank you.

[Duke W.]

Re: Coolant

I have a 1977 L-48. I've run long-life coolant in other vehicles but not sure if I should stick with the green coolant or go long life. Searching didn't yield much on this topic.

Also, if a car is being judged, are points deducted if the coolant is not green? Thank you.

...suggest you do a search: Zerex G-05

Duke

[Jim T.]

Re: Coolant

I switched to the Zerex G-05 in my 1968 and 1985 Corvettes. Plan on the same switch on my 1970 next.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Coolant

+1 on the Zerox G-05

Do some research before you install the green antifreeze.

[Dick W.]

Re: Coolant

I have a couple using G 05 and a couple using a 750,000 mile/8 year coolant. Ever what trips yer trigger

[Joe L.]

Re: Coolant

Al, I'd not seen the green 5-year coolant yet, but I'll find that and give it a try! The car will be judged at the end of this month. I'll have owned it for about two months by then, so it'll be very interested to watch this judging process and see how my Vette does. Thank you.

Craig-------


The green Prestone is OK. I used it for years with no real problems, at all. However, I no longer recommend it for two reasons:

1) Zerex G-05 is easier on copper/brass and solder joints than any other coolant. Many C3's have copper/brass radiator, including your 1977. However, all C2 and C3 Corvettes have copper/brass heater cores even if they have aluminum radiators. These heater cores are notoriously "labor intensive" to replace, so you want the heater core to last as long as possible.

2) Prestone will not supply technical data on any of their coolants. All they will say is that they "meet specifications". I already know that. I'm interested in how much better they are than specifications require as demonstrated with specific test results. Prestone will not provide this information and Zerex (Ashland Chemical) will. So, now I use Zerex products.

[Craig J.]

Re: Coolant

Thanks Duke, Jim, Timothy, & Dick for your input! You all have sold me on the Zerex G-05. Thanks again.

[Alan D.]

Re: Coolant

Me too! I am due to change the coolant this year, so I will use the zerex.

[Paul Y.]

Re: Coolant

I have a couple using G 05 and a couple using a 750,000 mile/8 year coolant. Ever what trips yer trigger

Now if ya had a couple with green in em you would really have a rainbow!

[Craig J.]

Re: Coolant

Craig-------


The green Prestone is OK. I used it for years with no real problems, at all. However, I no longer recommend it for two reasons:

1) Zerex G-05 is easier on copper/brass and solder joints than any other coolant. Many C3's have copper/brass radiator, including your 1977. However, all C2 and C3 Corvettes have copper/brass heater cores even if they have aluminum radiators. These heater cores are notoriously "labor intensive" to replace, so you want the heater core to last as long as possible.

2) Prestone will not supply technical data on any of their coolants. All they will say is that they "meet specifications". I already know that. I'm interested in how much better they are than specifications require as demonstrated with specific test results. Prestone will not provide this information and Zerex (Ashland Chemical) will. So, now I use Zerex products.

Joe, thank you for the info, especially about G-05 and solder joints. I'm buying G-05 today. :-)

[Dick W.]

Re: Coolant

Green is fine, IF you monitor the PH and nitrites and adjust accordingly. Penray (Wix, NAPA, Carquest, Cummins, Ford) offer cooling system additive that does just this. They also offer test strips to monitor the PH and nitrites. I have used this method since the late '60's and had vehicles for over ten years without changing the coolant with absolutely no problems. Have torn down engines that had the chemicals used and the cooling passages looked as good as the day the block and heads were cast.

Pick yer own poison, conventional or G-05, both are very good properly maintained