Antifreeze choice for 2000 300m ???

Discussion in 'Chrysler 300' started by Steve Stone, Jun 10, 2005.

  1. Steve Stone

    Steve Stone Guest

    It's time for me to change out the antifreeze in my 2000 300M. 60
    months, 14,000 miles.

    I hear the original factory antifreeze is unique. Do I have to have this
    done at the dealer or is there an aftermarket source for this antifreeze
    and I can do it myself ?
     
    Steve Stone, Jun 10, 2005
    #1
  2. Steve Stone

    Bill Putney Guest

    The best antifreeze to use in your M is type G05. You have 4
    possibilities that I am aware of:
    (1) The Mopar brand from the dealer. I think they call it their "Long
    Life".
    (2) G05 is the official Ford antifreeze also, so any Ford dealer should
    have it.
    (3) & (4) Shell and Zerex G05 are available as aftermarkte brands - a
    few auto parts stores carry it - probably less than 1/3 do.

    The Mopar brand is reddish-orange color (but don't confuse it with
    DexCool/Prestone Extended Life - you definitely do *NOT* want to use
    that). The others (Ford, Shell, and Zerex) are dyed bright yellow -
    actually a nice color.

    I belive it will be around $12 or $13/gallon no matter where you get it.
    You system hold 9.4 qts., so, for a 50/50 mix, you will need to put in
    4.2 qts. of coolant after flushing. Distilled water only.

    Bill Putney
    (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    adddress with the letter 'x')
     
    Bill Putney, Jun 11, 2005
    #2
  3. Steve Stone

    MoPar Man Guest

    See:

    http://www.valvoline.com/pages/products/product_detail.asp?product=10
    http://www.expresscare.com/consumer/products/antifreeze.asp
    http://300mclub.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=71195&sid=90ae6fb9f7738b1a90117c88ed1593ef

    Also:

    http://www.imcool.com/articles/antifreeze-coolant/G05-Glysantin.htm

    (I believe this article dates to 2000)

    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! $$$

    Editor’s Update: Valvoline has added a G 05 Technical Bulletin to
    their website. Starting at www.valvoline.com, select “Products” from
    the left-hand navigation bar; from the drop down options labeled
    “Choose Product Category,” select “Cooling System Products” at the
    bottom of the list; push the button labeled “Technical Bulletin.”
    Notice that different from Texaco’s DexCool, this product does contain
    from 252 to 308 PPM Silicon which Valvoline believes provides a better
    aluminum protection.
     
    MoPar Man, Jun 11, 2005
    #3
  4. Steve Stone

    Bill Putney Guest

    Thanks for posting that. Assuming that Valvoline still makes the HOAT
    G05, I'll add them to the list - I juat have not seen it, and it's not
    easy finding the Shell and Zerex sitting on the shelf.

    And yes - since that article, Ford has made it their
    official/recommended coolant. Chrysler and Ford were smarter than GM by
    waiting for the G05. Not sure what GM is doing about replacing DexCool
    (which definitely has problems).

    Bill Putney
    (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    adddress with the letter 'x')
     
    Bill Putney, Jun 11, 2005
    #4
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