G12 coolant vs regular

[bmags88]

I keep readinbg G12 coolant. Whats the difference between that and regular and why do we need to use that type. Also, is this something i can only get at the stealership??? Thanks guys

[audi_2.8r]

only use g12 or use coolant that is able to mix with g12, me and my mechanic are both audi owners and he gave me gearhead eg-12 or something like that, it mixes right in with the oem g12. he gave it to me for 20 bucks a gallon, idk if thats how much it normally costs or not, but look into it.


dealer is always unnecessarily expensive.

[widgget]

G12 from the dealer is only $20 a gallon (makes 2 gallons once you mix it with water). not worth risking it, i almost fuc*ed my engine up not following everyone elses advice.

[audi_2.8r]

yeah i used prestone when i flushed and refilled the thing, my mechanic punched me in the face...litterally...were friends tho .. haha

[manhertm]

I been runing Prestone for over a year now, no problems.

[A4_Mike]

I been runing Prestone for over a year now, no problems.

Same here. I flushed the coolant system multiple times before re-filling it though. When spring rolls around, I am going to do the timing belt and re-fill with G12 though.

[bmags88]

So using regular coolant is bad right?

[ppcastel]

From what I gather, g12 coolant has better lubricating capacities. It is perfectly ok to just run regular coolant but in idk how long, could be months or years, your hoses and metal parts will start to rust and break.

[Frey7190]

Same here. I flushed the coolant system multiple times before re-filling it though. When spring rolls around, I am going to do the timing belt and re-fill with G12 though.

You and I are doing the EXACT same thing.. Currently I have the Prestone "Mix with any color" coolant and I have no troubles what so ever.. But in like April/May the Audis going to the service bay to get a new TB with OEM G12..

[A4 Moda]

Use at your own risk.

Prestone makes a 5/150 model has no PHOSPHATES in the mixture. If you want to go cheap, that is only one from Prestone that you "can" use.

Again, this has not been verified, but Prestone did make this model exclusively for Euro vehicles.

Straight from their website:

"Q. Does Prestone® Antifreeze/Coolant contain phosphates?
A. Some European automobile manufacturers request that a phosphate-free antifreeze be used in their vehicles. This issue is related to the extremely high mineral content of the water in Europe. If you were to mix an antifreeze that contained phosphates with the type of water they have in Europe, it may produce deposits that can settle in the cooling system and promote corrosion. However, in North America we do not have this type of water problem. Typical North American coolants have contained phosphates (which is part of the corrosion inhibitor package) for many years. Therefore, the question of phosphates is a non-issue here in North America. Prestone® Antifreeze/Coolant is completely safe for use in both foreign and domestic vehicles. For those consumers who would feel more comfortable using a phosphate-free antifreeze, our Prestone® Extended Life 5/150 Antifreeze/Coolant is phosphate, silicate, and borate free. This coolant uses a special chemistry and technology that extends the life of the corrosion inhibitor package so that it lasts for five years or 150,000 miles (whichever comes first), and is safe for all cars and light trucks (old or new). Prestone® Extended Life 5/150 Antifreeze/Coolant has been approved by General Motors under their DEX-COOL® specifications and is compatible with other DEX-COOL® approved coolants.

* DEX-COOL® is a registered trademark of General Motors Corporation. "

[dirtybrd]

As long as you flush out the G12 you can use any coolant you want. The G12 is supposed to be a lifetime coolant. I run green in my car and have since I put the motor in it.

[A4 Moda]

Is that true??????????

How many miles have you ran the green?

As long as you flush out the G12 you can use any coolant you want. The G12 is supposed to be a lifetime coolant. I run green in my car and have since I put the motor in it.

[dirtybrd]

I've been running it in my car for over a year.

[jessefrank]

I've been running the compatable with all brands Prestone Green stuff for almost a year now with no apparent issues.
I couldn't get ahold of G12 at the time and someone at a local walmart service shop added green stuff to my G12 to top it off (wife took the car in for an oil change while I was deployed; luckily she didn't drive it much but it was in there for several months). I added a container of Redline water wetter too.

I have plenty of G12 now, but i'm waiting till I do my timing belt in another 5k or so to possibley switch back. Although thus far the green stuff is wayyy cheaper to run and dosen't seem to have any negative effects (as long as all the g12 is drained/flushed). Another benefit to the green stuff is you can use items like water wetter or purple ice so I may not swithch back.

[rillley]

what are the problems of the g12 and the green mixing?

[EErie B6]

what are the problems of the g12 and the green mixing?

it develops jelly like deposits and clogs coolant passages.

[bigblue]

Correct and way to bring up a thread from ages ago... Just don't mix coolants!! Either flush the whole system and run regular so it eats up your engine and cooling system or just run g12... I have like 10 bottles in my garage because I have a bunch of vag products.

[EErie B6]

Correct and way to bring up a thread from ages ago... Just don't mix coolants!! Either flush the whole system and run regular so it eats up your engine and cooling system or just run g12... I have like 10 bottles in my garage because I have a bunch of vag products.

Quote from post #10... supposedly from Prestone Website.
"If you were to mix an antifreeze that contained phosphates with the type of water they have in Europe, it may produce deposits that can settle in the cooling system and promote corrosion. However, in North America we do not have this type of water problem."

No matter where i lived, as long as i could get my hands on it, i would run distilled water anyways.

there are plenty of alloy engines here in North America running the green stuff, as long as it is fully and completely flushed i really dont see it creating an issue... other than you would now have a coolant change regimen every 2 years or so.

if people are looking to do this because it is "cheaper"... while the green stuff is technically cheaper, it is not as much as it used to be, the price has come up a lot in the last couple years. IMO the extra $20 you would spend to use the G12 would be worth it for personal peace of mind... if you are indeed worried about it.

are any of these people still running the green stuff? i would like to know if those who were problem free, are still problem free.

[mattg1.8]

Its not worth risking damage over something so simple. I would just go with the g12.

[doublezero30]

G12 from the dealer is only $20 a gallon (makes 2 gallons once you mix it with water). not worth risking it, i almost fuc*ed my engine up not following everyone elses advice.

comes premixed.

[trueno429]

DON'T use anything but g12! couple months ago my radiator hose blew off so I had no choice but to use some Prestone from a gas station. Totally forgot that I had to use g12 and rode with that green shit for the longest time. Couple days ago I started to install my 71r and the coolant lines had caked up with this brown shit. It was definitely the prestone mixing with the pink g12, because the coolant was a brown/shit color as well. What I'm saying is that unless you see that your coolant reservoir is completely GREEN or PINK after a few cycles, your shit is going to cake up. Either way, just stick with the pink

[Matt@EuropaParts]

We have the G12 if you need it (gallon size: http://www.europaparts.com/audi-genu...-1-gallon.html) or the G12++ in 1.5L size (http://www.europaparts.com/genuine-g...g012a8gm1.html)

[sean1.8t]

DON'T use anything but g12! couple months ago my radiator hose blew off so I had no choice but to use some Prestone from a gas station. Totally forgot that I had to use g12 and rode with that green shit for the longest time. Couple days ago I started to install my 71r and the coolant lines had caked up with this brown shit. It was definitely the prestone mixing with the pink g12, because the coolant was a brown/shit color as well. What I'm saying is that unless you see that your coolant reservoir is completely GREEN or PINK after a few cycles, your shit is going to cake up. Either way, just stick with the pink

No you just can't mix coolants. G12 is formulated to work with shitty european tap water. With the pure distilled water we have available we can run any coolant we want just as long as it's not mixed with different coolant(s)

[trueno429]

thats what I'm practically saying.

[Valve_Cover]

Mixing longlife and regular coolant in ANY car will cause brown gunk to build up. G12 is nothing special, If you use it with regular longlife coolant such as prestone, dexcool or whatever you will never have a problem. If you mix g12 with regular life coolant (green coolant) the two will create this brown gunk due to reacting with each other. All my vw's and audi's have always requested G12 coolant and i have never bought a single liter of g12 in my life. I'm an auto mechanic and have also never put g12 in any vw or audi! I just never mix together regular and long life coolant just like in any car!

This has never caused any problems. The only reason VW-Audi says to only use G12 is because thats the only one they can make money off of. Just like how they say to use only castrol oil in vw engines because they signed a contract with castol. You wont blow your engine from using mobil 1 , but the dealer only sells castrol. Its business ppl, thats all.

[O2VW1.8T]

I run toyota red coolant and like it. Plus i get it free at work so it helps.

[poop_on_jdm]

I flushed my coolant about a year and a half ago and used prestone and havent had any problems yet

[Smyle12]

I've been running it in my car for over a year.

That's not a "lifetime", bud.

[nefkntym]

When I put in the 2.7TT I swapped to prestone/dexcool. This car will never be worked on by anyone but me, it's convenient and decently priced.

[Timtheguru]

Stopped reading a while ago in here of all the posts, but OMG you people need to change back to G12 as soon as possible.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...nt-amp-Testing

/thread (Sorry had to :) )

[Fast4esT]

i've run prestone nonphosphate for last 8 years in my 5cyl S6, no problems. the coolant you run must be phosphate free or can lead to corrosion. also, as others have said you CANNOT mix coolants with G12, (maybe Pentosin coolant). if you already have g12, i would stick with it, if you are afraid of getting stuck somewhere without coolant then 2 options: stay on top of the coolant system or flush it and run prestone.

[Timtheguru]

Oh, Pentosin g12 is sold at Napa, not sure if at every one, but they do/can get it.

[nefkntym]

Dexcool is almost just as good, costs 4x less than G12, and is readily available everywhere. After seeing his test thing, I am more then happy with my choice to switch coolants.

I may not have been using dexcool as long as others, but I have been using with a 2.7t w/770s that can generate some good heat and I have not any issues with cooling at all. To me that is more important than showing loyalty.

[Timtheguru]

Why are you guys having to fill your coolant all the time? I did my timing 2 years ago with a coolant flush and it has been very close to the level for 2 years, I top it off with a little leftover 50/50 mix that I have had since my timing belt.

It's not like $20 for G12 is a lot of money for a vital car fluid that lasted for 2 years.

[igo4uga0586]

Running extended life (100,000 mi) coolant after flushing the g12 out. Havent looked back (been 40,000 miles)

[B6A4Dave]

Pentosin SF will work in our cars just fine.

O'Reilly's sells it in 1.5L bottles

[Mad-Matt]

Mixing longlife and regular coolant in ANY car will cause brown gunk to build up. G12 is nothing special, If you use it with regular longlife coolant such as prestone, dexcool or whatever you will never have a problem. If you mix g12 with regular life coolant (green coolant) the two will create this brown gunk due to reacting with each other. All my vw's and audi's have always requested G12 coolant and i have never bought a single liter of g12 in my life. I'm an auto mechanic and have also never put g12 in any vw or audi! I just never mix together regular and long life coolant just like in any car!

This has never caused any problems. The only reason VW-Audi says to only use G12 is because thats the only one they can make money off of. Just like how they say to use only castrol oil in vw engines because they signed a contract with castol. You wont blow your engine from using mobil 1 , but the dealer only sells castrol. Its business ppl, thats all.

well it is good business but here is the problem when a manufacture state that your dub or audi or any car needs a specific type of fuild like coolant you need to replace it with OEM spec coolant if that what it call then thats what it gets get you head out of you ass and if your an auto mechanic (Thank god your not a auto technician which is higher up than mechanic) you should be ashamed to cut corners like that not good business. vw clearly states g12 or g11(older models) for coolant. i seen someoneflush their complete coolant system and put normal 50/50 in. 3 years later the coolant ate though the head gasket and droped the coolant in the cyls past the rings and in to the pan and yeah vw makes alot of money off of g12 but they also designed the car and thats what it takes i will always use oem for coolant oil is a differnent story but they did make a specialized oil for vw and audis with castrol so just food for the tought

[MNAudi101]

g13 Volkswagen dealer 19.99 plus takes exact same as g12 just different name

[fdruiz011]

My coolant light came on so i poured some prestone in the tank... I was no where near the dealership and i work at autozone so i just got prestone there. I havent noticed anything different at all but should i put more g12 in there to make the mixture about 95% g12 and 5% prestone?

[Timtheguru]

My coolant light came on so i poured some prestone in the tank... I was no where near the dealership and i work at autozone so i just got prestone there. I havent noticed anything different at all but should i put more g12 in there to make the mixture about 95% g12 and 5% prestone?

Flush it and do 50% G12 and 50% distilled water.