Saturn Coolant Supplement Pellets?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bob Shuman
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Bob Shuman

My 17-year old son has a 1996 SL1 that we drained, flushed, and re-filled
with ethylene glycol (Peak brand) coolant earlier today in preparation for
winter.

When checking out the owner's manual to determine the cooling system
capacity (7 quarts for those who are interested), I read the following on
page 281:

"When the engine coolant is changed for any reason, two engine coolant
supplement pellets (Saturn P/N 21007224) should be added to the coolant
reservoir."

I was surprised to read this since I have been flushing radiators every two
years on multiple vehicles for 25+ years and never ever had to put in any
type of supplemental additive. Can anyone shed some light on what is in the
pellet and why it is needed for this engine cooling system? I am guessing
possibly corrosion protection, but would appreciate more info form someone
in the know. Thanks in advance for the info.

Bob
 
I may be mistaken but I believe these pelllets are a sludge preventor.. even
though you may dran an fill your coolant as recommended as the engine gets
older oils, dirt and other particles will get into the system.. These
pellets may prevent the sludge from cloging the small lines leading to the
radiator from the resovoir.
 
I had read a long while back they prevented the waterpump from weeping - I'm
not a tech and do not know.
 
Bob Shuman said:
I was surprised to read this since I have been flushing radiators every two
years on multiple vehicles for 25+ years and never ever had to put in any
type of supplemental additive. Can anyone shed some light on what is in the
pellet and why it is needed for this engine cooling system? I am guessing
possibly corrosion protection, but would appreciate more info form someone
in the know. Thanks in advance for the info.
Click to expand...

Here is the explanation from a Saturn mechanic from a
post from five years ago:([email protected]):

"The tablets you speak off are to lube the water pump and to
seal any small leak that my <sic> come from the water pump.
They have been used by GM for years and are an excellent
product. Owners of some Saturns may notice a slight sludge
in their coolant bottles right from day one, thats <sic> the
residue of the tablets and is normal."

I know that my mechanic has a stash of these seal-tabs for use
with Saturns and Cadillacs that need them.
 
Bob Shuman said:
I was surprised to read this since I have been flushing radiators every two
years on multiple vehicles for 25+ years and never ever had to put in any
type of supplemental additive. Can anyone shed some light on what is in the
pellet and why it is needed for this engine cooling system? I am guessing
possibly corrosion protection, but would appreciate more info form someone
in the know. Thanks in advance for the info.
Click to expand...

Here is the explanation from a Saturn mechanic from a
post from five years ago:([email protected]):

"The tablets you speak off are to lube the water pump and to
seal any small leak that my <sic> come from the water pump.
They have been used by GM for years and are an excellent
product. Owners of some Saturns may notice a slight sludge
in their coolant bottles right from day one, thats <sic> the
residue of the tablets and is normal."

I know that my mechanic has a stash of these seal-tabs for use
with Saturns and Cadillacs that need them.
 
Bob Shuman said:
I was surprised to read this since I have been flushing radiators every two
years on multiple vehicles for 25+ years and never ever had to put in any
type of supplemental additive. Can anyone shed some light on what is in the
pellet and why it is needed for this engine cooling system? I am guessing
possibly corrosion protection, but would appreciate more info form someone
in the know. Thanks in advance for the info.
Click to expand...

Here is the explanation from a Saturn mechanic from a
post from five years ago:([email protected]):

"The tablets you speak off are to lube the water pump and to
seal any small leak that my <sic> come from the water pump.
They have been used by GM for years and are an excellent
product. Owners of some Saturns may notice a slight sludge
in their coolant bottles right from day one, thats <sic> the
residue of the tablets and is normal."

I know that my mechanic has a stash of these seal-tabs for use
with Saturns and Cadillacs that need them.
 
Bob Shuman said:
I was surprised to read this since I have been flushing radiators every two
years on multiple vehicles for 25+ years and never ever had to put in any
type of supplemental additive. Can anyone shed some light on what is in the
pellet and why it is needed for this engine cooling system? I am guessing
possibly corrosion protection, but would appreciate more info form someone
in the know. Thanks in advance for the info.
Click to expand...

Here is the explanation from a Saturn mechanic from a
post from five years ago:([email protected]):

"The tablets you speak off are to lube the water pump and to
seal any small leak that my <sic> come from the water pump.
They have been used by GM for years and are an excellent
product. Owners of some Saturns may notice a slight sludge
in their coolant bottles right from day one, thats <sic> the
residue of the tablets and is normal."

I know that my mechanic has a stash of these seal-tabs for use
with Saturns and Cadillacs that need them.
 
Bob Shuman said:
I was surprised to read this since I have been flushing radiators every two
years on multiple vehicles for 25+ years and never ever had to put in any
type of supplemental additive. Can anyone shed some light on what is in the
pellet and why it is needed for this engine cooling system? I am guessing
possibly corrosion protection, but would appreciate more info form someone
in the know. Thanks in advance for the info.
Click to expand...

Here is the explanation from a Saturn mechanic from a
post from five years ago:([email protected]):

"The tablets you speak off are to lube the water pump and to
seal any small leak that my <sic> come from the water pump.
They have been used by GM for years and are an excellent
product. Owners of some Saturns may notice a slight sludge
in their coolant bottles right from day one, thats <sic> the
residue of the tablets and is normal."

I know that my mechanic has a stash of these seal-tabs for use
with Saturns and Cadillacs that need them.
 
Bob Shuman said:
I was surprised to read this since I have been flushing radiators every two
years on multiple vehicles for 25+ years and never ever had to put in any
type of supplemental additive. Can anyone shed some light on what is in the
pellet and why it is needed for this engine cooling system? I am guessing
possibly corrosion protection, but would appreciate more info form someone
in the know. Thanks in advance for the info.
Click to expand...

Here is the explanation from a Saturn mechanic from a
post from five years ago:([email protected]):

"The tablets you speak off are to lube the water pump and to
seal any small leak that my <sic> come from the water pump.
They have been used by GM for years and are an excellent
product. Owners of some Saturns may notice a slight sludge
in their coolant bottles right from day one, thats <sic> the
residue of the tablets and is normal."

I know that my mechanic has a stash of these seal-tabs for use
with Saturns and Cadillacs that need them.
 
Jeeze...could you post that again...I didn't get to read it the first SIX
TIMES!!!!
 
I wouldn't use them. They are actually ginger root used to seal any
small leaks. They really sludge up the system. Just use palin old
water pump lubricant if that's what you feel the pellets are for.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Went to the dealer and picked up the pellets (part number given was
superceded by a new one and cost was $3.52 for two). Parts guy said they
were to seal the system and were definitely a GOOD IDEA for our 1996 SL1
single cam engine. I crushed them and then dropped the powder into the
reservoir.

I guess I kind of agree with TC below and do not understand why anything
extra should be needed to seal the system and believe that whatever gets
added will only hasten the demise of the radiator and cause blockage.

But, in the end I figured replacing a radiator is easier then replacing the
head gasket...so put them in as the owner's manual stated.

Bob
 
I believe that some of these things are actually made from walnut shells..
GM puts them in a lot of cars at the factory to prevent small leaks/weeping
around hose fittings and such. They are meant to seal only very small leaks,
they're not like the "stop leak" stuff you usually see at auto parts stores,
which apparently does tend to clog things up sometimes.
 
When I was young, we used black pepper as a quick, cheap, and
available stop leak. Seemed to work as well as most.

Ken
 
....and the turbomachinery company I work for used to use a walnut shell
concoction to clean turbine engines. I remember having to stock it by the
pallet load in the warehouse years ago...
 
You shouldn't have used Peak... it has phosphates in it (check your label to
be sure). Saturn forbids phosphates, though I don't know why.
 
Interesting that the Peak bottle clearly states that it is Ethylene Glycol
since this is the first ingredient listed. But, as you have pointed out, it
also lists Dipotassium Phosphate (7758-11-4), water (7732-18-5), and
"corrosion inhibitors, silicates, defoamer, and dyes."

I had assumed from the owner's manual that it would be either Ethylene
Glycol based OR Phosphate based and that they were referring to the newer
longer lasting formulations. Anyone familiar with this requirement? Again,
this is our first Saturn and I would like to follow the manual. What is the
harm in using Peak? Anyone else made this mistake and have a tale to tell?
What antifreeze should be used (other than what is available from the
dealer?)

Thanks for additional responses.

Bob
 
First you need to be sure that the coolant you use is PHOSPHATE FREE. Then be
sure to add the conditioner tablets once a year. They do NOT cause sludge. I
change my coolant every 2 years and my coolant system is as clean as the day
the car was new.

The information I read claims the tablets condition the coolant that
non-phosphate coolant lacks. It clearly is NOT a stop leak product.

Also I read that eventually, all coolants will be phosphate free thanks to the
EPA.

James1549
 
Saturn uses Dexcool instead of conventional antifreeze. The base
ingredient is the same but the anti-corrosion chemistry is different. It
is a bad idea to mix the two.

Ed
 
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