Zeerex GO5 & G48 coolant- what is the difference? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ROLLGUY · #1 12-02-2017, 08:29 PM

I needed to fill the coolant in my '07, and could not find G48 (Blue). The car had the blue coolant in it from the factory, but it all came out in a recent front end collision. I did some research, and both are Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT). The only difference between the two that I can see is the color. I went ahead and bought two gallons of GO5, and put it in. Any thoughts?

Mxfrank · #2 12-02-2017, 09:49 PM

The SCA in G05 is HOAT, but it also contains low silicates (for aluminum) and nitrites to prevent cylinder liner cavitation. G48 appears to be solely HOAT. I think G05 is as close to a universal product as it gets. It will work in all systems, regardless of metal composition, gas or diesel.

https://sharena21.springcm.com/Public/Document/18452/f93a8057-fe75-e711-9c10-ac162d889bd3/c264d227-0dbd-e711-9c12-ac162d889bd1

https://sharena21.springcm.com/Public/Document/18452/5d3b8057-fe75-e711-9c10-ac162d889bd3/f3d9d350-0dbd-e711-9c12-ac162d889bd1

ROLLGUY · #3 12-02-2017, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mxfrank

The SCA in G05 is HOAT, but it also contains low silicates (for aluminum) and nitrites to prevent cylinder liner cavitation. G48 appears to be solely HOAT. I think G05 is as close to a universal product as it gets. It will work in all systems, regardless of metal composition, gas or diesel.

https://sharena21.springcm.com/Public/Document/18452/f93a8057-fe75-e711-9c10-ac162d889bd3/c264d227-0dbd-e711-9c12-ac162d889bd1

https://sharena21.springcm.com/Public/Document/18452/5d3b8057-fe75-e711-9c10-ac162d889bd3/f3d9d350-0dbd-e711-9c12-ac162d889bd1

Thanks, exactly what I was looking for. I figured it would be fine to put the GO5 in, instead of the G48.

shertex · #4 12-03-2017, 05:50 AM

IIRC both meet the same MB spec....I think it's 325.0.

shertex · #5 12-03-2017, 05:54 AM

The one thing I've wondered about is why the drain interval is longer for the G48 than for the G05.

Mxfrank · #6 12-03-2017, 09:17 AM

Silicates tend to fall out of solution eventually, not so with HOAT.

Graham · #7 12-03-2017, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shertex

The one thing I've wondered about is why the drain interval is longer for the G48 than for the G05.

MB Coolant was same as G05 up to 2012. (See TSB below). The inhibitors are IN the coolant. Coolant needs too be replaced every 3 years on many models so as to replenish inhibitors. Change interval is whatever car manual says. I just went through researching this for my 98 W210. Used Zerex G05 which is sessentially what car had when new. I use same on my 85 300D and 72 R107. Not sure what my GLK250 has, but it has no regular service requirement.

MB went to the G48 coolant in 2012. Some cars have an inhibitor puck that slowly releases inhibitors into the coolant. Then the change interval becomes 15 years.

The spec is 325.0 and that is still good for cars up to April 2014. After that, spec is 325.6 and it is good for all cars, according to to Spec310.1 It is designated as G-40. Confusing eh ?

tyl604 · #8 12-03-2017, 01:07 PM

Man, you guys are pretty smart. That's what I like about this forum. Lots of information.

Graham · #9 12-03-2017, 01:14 PM

To add to above, this is a pretty good article on MB antifreezes:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gd6pwv2p7nhds71/antifreedec04_0-1.pdf?dl=1

shertex · #10 12-03-2017, 08:17 PM

Just so I'm clear...my 05 has blue coolant in there that was replaced by the dealer in 2013. Am I fine adding G05 to it if the need arises? I assume so but wanted to double check.

ROLLGUY · #11 12-03-2017, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shertex

Just so I'm clear...my 05 has blue coolant in there that was replaced by the dealer in 2013. Am I fine adding G05 to it if the need arises? I assume so but wanted to double check.

I can't see why not from the info I am gathering. My '07 had blue, but it was mostly water. I drained off about a gallon and a half and put in G05. The color is very light blue-ish green. By the way, Motorcraft Gold is G05, and is sometimes less expensive than Zerex.

Jeremy5848 · #12 12-03-2017, 09:13 PM

All automotive manufactures are under pressure from regulators to reduce the amount of chemicals that have to be disposed of (properly or not so properly) so they have been increasing drain/fill intervals. Some of this is "real," due to improvements in chemistry, and some of it is just changing a number in a spec, which is easy and costs them nothing. We the consumers get to decide which version we're getting.

I just changed the coolant in my '96 E300D (3 years, 18000 miles); Zerex G-05 out and in. The old stuff still looked clean and yellow and tested better than -40°F. Unfortunately, I don't have any way to perform any chemical tests but I probably could have left it in longer.

Graham · #13 12-04-2017, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shertex

Just so I'm clear...my 05 has blue coolant in there that was replaced by the dealer in 2013. Am I fine adding G05 to it if the need arises? I assume so but wanted to double check.

The MB G05 coolant was a light yellow color. If yours was blue, then it was likely G48. If you went back to dealer, they would likely put G40 in today (they don't call it that! 325.6)

They are all 50/50 Ethylene Glycol and water. The differences are in the corrosion inhibitors as described earlier. So long as you change coolant after another 3 years, I doubt there would be any interaction between the coolants. (see TSB link at bottom of Post #7)

optimusprime · #14 12-04-2017, 01:22 PM

Funny this, i am just on my last year [3 years ] .So next year i must changing my antifreeze And i use G48. Used G48 for the last 2 changes .

ROLLGUY · #15 12-04-2017, 03:00 PM

The problem around here, is that I can only find G48 in 50/50 mix. It is more expensive than 100% G05, and I am not about to pay $10+ a gallon for distilled water. Next to "lather, rinse, repeat", - "premixed" coolant is the most genius and profit making scheme I have ever heard of.