I've been looking into this. Volvo, of course, sells a formula with its own brand name, but they tell me it's basically Prestone. Then there's the whole question of OAT and HOAT and silicates and two very different formulations among the various brands. So I'm still confused. Which one offers the best protection, price aside?

 

If I were you, I would get the Volvo stuff. Maybe the yellow stuff from NAPA. Better yet, get that the blue peak stuff. Really, it doesn't matter.

 

I like the cheapest stuff imaginable..

If you service it like you are supposed to... it doesnt really matter...

If you are going to leave it there until 2025 then get the long life expensive stuff...

Also if this is your first time buying it. save your bottle... then you can get the non watered down stuff for a dollar more...
They must put fiji water in that crap or somethign for the price you pay...

 

One time I had to buy some of the 50/50 stuff cause that is all they had at Wal-Mart and I leaked all my coolant out in the parking lot. I put the stuff in and got it home and fixed the leak.

Now I keep that bottle that says 50/50 and buy the full strength stuff and mix it with water 50/50 and keep only the mix in the 50/50 bottle. Works great for me. I used Prestone, Zerex or NAPA brand. It's the yellow/green stuff.

 

To avoid calcium buildup use distiled water for mixing

 

Mopar! Genuine Dodge/Chrysler OEM Antifreeze from the dealer.

 

Valvoline Zerex G-05 Formula (Phosphate Free) says in its application chart printed on the label that it is recommended for all Volvos, Mercedes, BMWs, and Mini Coopers from 1980 through current model year (2013). It is a golden yellow-orange color, which I believe is a color match to the Volvo factory installed coolant. I just purchased some from my local NAPA Auto Parts store for use in my 1996 960. After a very frustrating online search to find the right coolant type, the folks at NAPA knew right away. $19.99/gallon. So I'm passing the information along.

 

I'm pretty sure that Pentosin is the OEM brand and it is available at Oreillys.

Do you need it .... No.

 

Looks like you could be right about that. The Pentosin has the same listed applications as the Zerex. I saw the Pentosin, but the 1.5 quart container threw me off - thought it was some kind of additive.

I sure wish Volvo would make things more clear by simply publishing a spec. Pentosin says it's G11. The Zerez is G-05. Good old Prestone doesn't know anything about those kinds of (European?) spec numbers, but uses the American SAE/ASTM system. I still have not found anywhere that these various standards are reconciled with each other, so maybe that's a topic for a future web project - in my spare time. Ha.

 

I always use Kroger bought Distilled H20 (not that it matters it came from Krogers) to mix with my Factory VOLVO Coolant. I've heard DE-IONIZED WATER is even better though. I've personally always used VOLVO coolant for my VOLVO and VW coolant for my VW (or PentoFrost for the VW is okay). I just don't like using the wrong coolant.

 

 

That's just such "Imperial" thinking, you need to think metric

 

Yep, De-ionized is best, then distilled, then tap water. Same with batteries.

When you say "Volvo" coolant, does it actually come from the dealer in a container that says Volvo ?? I don't know, I'm really asking.

 

Just found the answer to my own question ... I posted months ago !!!

 

Seek, and you will find.

 

i recently bought OEM from dealer. some fluids i like to stick with oem

 

I always use the cheapest stuff from walmart.

Antifreeze is nothing more than distilled water with phase change modifiers. The only differences across brands might be additives to maintain proper PH (buffers), anticorrosives, etc.

If you take maintenance seriously use the cheapo stuff.

If you own a BMW 528i with an alloy tungsten/mercury/capcurius alloy for the headblock and you are lazy about maintenance, go to NAPPA and buy the most expensive one.

Our engines can accept just about any antifreeze as long as you keep up with maintenance.

 

For the most part I'm with Jose. I stick with an extended or long life coolant and usually buy at an auto parts store when they have a rebate.
It's the only time I buy 50/50 as it's usually as cheap buying the pre-mixed as getting the straight stuff and I don't have to mess around getting distilled water (+$1.00) or mixing.

Right now Peak has a three dollar rebate and that makes it a buck cheaper than Walmart's Super Tech at the auto parts store. Wally world isn't always the cheapest

 

I have to do my cooling system too, and I went to AutoZone and looked up the reccomendation on their computer. It lists the standard green stuff, and dex-cool, the two of which I thought were incompatible.

I think if you're flushing the entire system, they'd both work. Personally, I like that universal "works with anything" stuff they have now. Takes the guesswork out of it.

And, as mentioned, if you're keeping up with maintaining the system, I don't think it really matters that much. It's like oil. Everybody has an opinion, but really....just keep it clean.