Sorry if this has been addressed before, but when flushing and replacing the coolant in a '98 V70, what type of coolant can be used besides the Volvo product? Is there an approved aftermarket product?

it's antifreeze...how much difference can there be?

I beleive I used the Dexcool which is the pink 150,000 mile crap they sell!
Only a few more bucks. As long as it has i beleive the ethylene glycol, look in your manual/bay13. Should be safe with aluminum which most ALL cars have now.

I just got off the phone with Zerex. Then tech asked for the color of the Volvo coolant and without hesitiation said to use the factory coolant. I asked him about Zerex Extreme G-05 (the one recommended in a FAQ on this board) and he said "you could use that if you wanted to". Not exactly a comforting statement. I'll stick with the Volvo stuff.

Not much of a tech if a coolant is judged by its colour and "you can use it if you want" moronic statements. Surely I wouldn't use coolant manufactured by a company that employs such idiots.

This topic has been rehashes quite a bit here, and the general consensus seems to be "stick with the Volvo brnded stuff".
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Steve F. in Hoboken, NJ

According to who? I remember quite well (check the archives) that there has been NO consensus at all. Some people swear by Volvo stuff (just to be safe) while others go for Dexcool. If you want an professional opinion go to www.brickboard.com.

"If you want an professional opinion go to www.brickboard.com." I thought thats where we are???? :)

Anyhow....there was a thread like two weeks ago, and one of the posters gave a very logical explanation as to why Volvo branded coolant was better to use in the white engines. I would guess its about 50/50 either Volvo or generic....with the people here.
I will stick with the Volvo stuff....until somebody tells me why the other stuff is better,,,,not just say hey save money....its cheaper.
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Steve F. in Hoboken, NJ

I'm sorry. I meant www.volvospeed.com.
Apart from that, 50/50 opinion split is exactly 50% away from consensus. And since it's your money you can get Volvo's own coolant if that is what you fancy, but the point in all the discussions either here (where we are) or on www.volvospeed.com was that any coolant as long as it was aluminum compatible was OK. Hence, there is no absolutely no reason to repeat the same old and tired litany that;
1. only Volvo coolant is acceptable or you kiss your engine goodbye
2. there is no other coolant that will do as good job (or maybe even better)
3. there is a consensus on anything (coolants, brake fluids, oils, ATFs, etc)

Here's a new twist. I opened the Volov coolant...bright green! Looks identical to Prestone. Where's the classic blue/green color? Did they change the formula?