Recent Trends: Mfr’s Have Added Confusion to Coolant/AntiFreeze Products

[Filthy Filbert]

Gotta love the almighty dollar!

"Hey, you know what sounds like a great idea? Let's stop using the tried and true 'Green stuff' that's compatible with every vehicle for the last 80 years, and make our own proprietary coolant so they HAVE to buy it from us!"

"Hey, that's a great idea! let's take it a step further and make it so that if they mix coolants, it ruins their cooling system!"

 

[EdGs]

"Hey, that's a great idea! let's take it a step further and make it so that if they mix coolants, it ruins their cooling system!"

Might be alot of truth in that.

 

[Docwagon1776]

My evidence is humans roaming the earth buying varying types of coolant and the sides of the road not littered with broken down vehicles with their coolant systems full of concrete. Again, I'm not saying mixing coolant types doesn't cause problems..... I just don't believe these internet pics of concrete in the systems. A bit of corrosion? Sure.... ammonia smell? Sure. Pink and brown physical sludge piled up like dog poo inside the system? Nope.... not buying it.

That's not really evidence as much as a series of guesses. That would also lead to the assumption that oil changes are completely optional, driving on bald tires is fine, etc. since I so seldom see anyone on the side of the road, period, yet know owners are often neglectful.

One could equally assume that those not using the correct ones are using the universals since that's predominate in box stores. The reason they need changing so often is exactly the same reason they are ok-ish with everything. A relative lack of the effective anti-corrosion chemicals that are the bit that's incompatible in the correct ones. Like so much in chemistry, the poison is in the dose.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Gotta love the almighty dollar!

"Hey, you know what sounds like a great idea? Let's stop using the tried and true 'Green stuff' that's compatible with every vehicle for the last 80 years, and make our own proprietary coolant so they HAVE to buy it from us!"

"Hey, that's a great idea! let's take it a step further and make it so that if they mix coolants, it ruins their cooling system!"

Car guys: extended oil life is a scam. Sure, they sell less oil but they just want me to ruin my motor!
Also car guys: extended coolant life is a scam. Sure, they protect my motor better and are compatible with modern gasket materials and aluminum components, but they just want to sell me more fluid!

 

[Dusty]

Well, no. There is no one "Mopar Coolant" even today, since older cars still exist.

Hopefully one of you would ask 'what make/model/year is this for' and know how part numbers work. Just like you would for Mopar transmission fluid or transfer case oil or pretty much any fluid or filter.

In my experience my dealer always wants the VIN for just about everything. If they don't, and sell you the incorrect stuff and that causes damage or failure of some type, the dealer could be on the hook.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 142223 miles.

 

[Jeepwalker]

I'll agree with what was written previously I generally buy fluid from the dealers: Some of our smaller local dealers (not just Chrysler) will sell coolant and trans fluid out of their bulk barrels. Bring your own jug. Works out cheaper than Walmart and other places and online too often.

One dealer in my area has a whole bunch of empty gallon jugs piled against one corner of the parts dept. A lot of them. Workers bring in their old (cleaned) jugs ...ha ha. So if you don't have a jug, they have them. I always think its funny when I see the pile. It's one of those dealers where if there were no newer cars present you wouldn't know what decade you were in. Could be 1980 .... Y2k .. ??

 

[Govtman]

I owned a 2012 Ram 1500 which had a warning label to USE ONLY HOAT coolant.

I replaced it with a 2024 Ram 2500 which specifies OAT coolant.

I subsequently bought a used 2015 Ram 1500 which specifies OAT coolant.

Since I own several other vehicles/equipment around the place that have engines using coolant….. I keep several jugs of antifreeze in the shop. A couple of the vehicles are heavy-duty diesels that require a Nitrite-additive coolant (specified to prevent cavitation on cylinder sleeves)….so I keep a few jugs of that in the “PEAK” brand.

But ordinarily, I’m a long-time / preferred user of “Prestone” ..ethylene-glycol type…almost always in “concentrated” versions.

I also own a circa-1996 Kubota M4700DT tractor (good ol’ non-emissions diesel) that specifies “ethylene glycol” but makes no distinction of OAT or HOAT….and since it’s almost 30 years old..despite the fact it has only 700 hours on it… I did a complete drain/flush/replace the coolant last summer using … you guessed it…. Prestone Yellow-Jug Ethylene-Glycol anti-freeze concentrate and distilled water mix.

Now I’m thinking this used, ten-year-old Ram 1500 likely has never had a coolant flush/change…so I thought I’d do so.

All the usual resources WARN us to NOT USE “Universal” coolants ….despite their claims because they might Still “gel” …and they do not likely have the long-term-life of standard OAT or HOAT coolants. SOOOoooo….. I’m out shopping for anti-freeze to treat the new-to-me 2015 truck to a fresh charge of coolant.

PROBLEM: NONE of the many bottles of anti-freeze found at Wally World or anywhere else Specify WHAT TYPE coolant is inside the bottle!

They ALL claim “Mixes with ANY TYPE”….or, …particularly irritating… Prestone has Five or Six DIFFERENT Formulations…in Different Color Jugs…. claiming to be for “Nissan” or “Honda” or “Jeep” or….. so on and so on….
Some of them also claim to be “correct Purple” or “ORANGE” or….whatever. (I’m anxiously awaiting a NEW RAINBOW COOLANT.)

. BUT NO DESCRIPTION on ANY of them… .. the TYPE such as OAT or HOAT.

A few mention mysterious ASTM standards …..which are undefined…..but no ISO standards are listed.

There’s a Phone Number listed for “Questions”….so I called it….which results in several minutes listening to “Our Menu has Recently Changed” …. and then making the proper selection for “Customer Service” questions….. it rolls-over to “leave a message” …or to “Press 4 for a Listing of Extensions”…which leads to me having to NAME someone…
So…. I tried “SMITH” and “WILLIAMS” and “Black” and “White” and “POISON” and “EMERGENCY”…. finally, out of frustration….“Fud-Pucker” …. none of which go anywhere except a response “None Found…. Good-Bye!” and a hang-up.

I called the number back using my cell phone “redial” feature and ended up at totally different entities such as “Federal Exchange” and such.

The point of this missive is: Despite strong warnings to Confirm the TYPE of coolant used in your vehicle…NONE of the mfr’s…not Prestone, not Peak, not SuperTech, etc etc…. provide an actual description of the TYPE of coolant in the bottle.
And the COLOR of coolants is a Well-Known Misleading clue…as there is no longer any standardization in the industry.

Damn irritating.

They might say Organic Acid Technology instead of the abbv. OAT.
Basically Dexcool or the new purple Mopar variety.
I assume HOAT is for heavy duty apps. 2500 diesel and up.

 

[mtnrider]

I assume HOAT is for heavy duty apps. 2500 diesel and up.

2500 up use Mopar OAT, I think that started around 2013? Prior to that it was HOAT

.

 

[Grams]

They might say Organic Acid Technology instead of the abbv. OAT.
Basically Dexcool or the new purple Mopar variety.
I assume HOAT is for heavy duty apps. 2500 diesel and up.

Nope! As I stated in my previous post: My new 2024 Heavy Duty Cummins Ram 2500 ….the one at the Left in my Avatar…..Specifies OAT.

(and, in further response, No…they also Do Not mention “organic Acit technology”

 

[Grams]

Here is a video which gives a decent run-down of the problem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-vtqp5y-SA

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

What if you just need to “top off” the reservoir..? Whatcha’ gonna do?

Distilled water

 

[Grams]

FINALLY: A company who Clearly Defines and Identifies Their Products:
Golden West is the supplier my favorite garage uses for all their transmisison, gearbox, engine, and vehicle fluids. Their website provides complete and accurate identification of their fluid types. Thankfully!

Want a HOAT coolant? or rather have a OAT? Extended Life w/low nitrites or silicates?
Curious to know if Your transmission or transfer case is getting the correct fluid?

https://www.texasenterprises.com/Resources/GoldenWestSpecSheets

 

[Grams]

I get your point, but if a person relies on what's in the owners manual and sticks with the factory type there shouldn't be a reason to cause alarm. If someone wants to save a few of bucks on coolant the price savings may be offset by fret and worry.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 142134 miles.]

That might work if you’re the original owner. (It’s prob’ly forgotten this thread began with this dilemna over a pre-owned vehicle.)

 

[ramman95]

Every vehicle I maintain gets flushed out and refilled with Prestone's best universal concentrated coolant and distilled water. All of the Rams I've owned, our Durango and even my daughters Honda, no issues.