Cooling System - Recycling of Extended-Life Coolants

BULLETIN NO: 96-I-05

ISSUE DATE: April 1996

CORPORATION NO.: 686203

SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN

SUBJECT:
Recycling of Saturn Extended-Life Engine Coolants

TO: Saturn Fixed Operations Managers

With the importance of protecting the environment and reducing waste, significant attention is being given to the use of extended-life engine coolants. Saturn vehicles have used specially formulated, extended-life engine coolants since the 1991 model year. Saturn's original "green" engine coolant (P/N 21030365), which is still used for 1991 - 1995 vehicles and early 1996 vehicles, contains special inhibitors that enables the maintenance period to be 36 months/60 000 km (36,000 miles), versus the 2 year/48,000 km (30,000 miles) period for conventional engine coolant. Beginning in April, 1996, interim Saturns will be serviced with the next generation of extended-life engine coolant, known as DEX-COOL(TM) extended life engine coolant, which has a maintenance period of 60 months/160 000 km (100,000 miles).

DEX-COOL(TM), which is "orange" in color, cannot be used in vehicles that were originally built with Saturn's original "green" engine coolant; however, it is the next step in reducing future engine coolant waste.

Recycling engine coolant is another way to reduce waste, and many engine coolant recycling systems are being marketed today. Recycling of Saturn's original "green" engine coolant or DEX-COOL(TM) to their original formulation is not feasible at this time; therefore, Saturn Corporation does not endorse the use of any recycled engine coolant in Saturn vehicles. However, Saturn's original "green" engine coolant and DEX-COOL(TM) can be mixed into your "used" conventional engine coolant storage container, and the mixture recycled in the same manner as other engine coolants. This recycled mixture of conventional engine coolants and Saturn engine coolants must then be used as conventional engine coolant and must not he used in Saturn vehicles.

Research will be conducted to evaluate the feasibility of recycling DEX-COOL(TLM) to DEX-COOL(TM) in the future. As soon as this research is finished and the information is available, a bulletin will be sent to advise you on the possible recycling of DEX-COOL(TM).