What does Prestone 44 mean

[Larry Hayward]

Hi all

 

What does Prestone 44 mean?

 

I have seen it stencilled on the front of WW2 GMC's & Dodges

[79x100]

Anti-freeze ! Basically an instruction not to drain which was standard overnight procedure on earlier vehicles.

[Larry Hayward]

Thanks

 

But why not stencil 'Do not drain' on the bonnet?

 

I have also seen Prestone 43 - is this number related to the year?

[cripp]

Yes, Prestone 43 means it was winterised that year.

[abn deuce]

A fellow collector friend of mine heard a father tell his son that he drove one of those "prestone 44's" in the war

[Bodge Deep]

Prestone is actually a brand name & they sell it in Motorworld just up the road from here... PRESTONE 07 ... hmm :whistle:

[abn deuce]

Yes The Prestone Brand is live and well and a good brand of anti-freeze still sold all over the world

[woa2]

Not really into American vehicles, but I thought the 44 in 'PRESTONE 44' was the year the antifreeze was supposed to be drained and replaced. Can anyone confirm/deny?

[abn deuce]

Its the otherway around it's the brand of antifreeze used and year the antifreeze was put into the vehicle

[Lauren Child]

I did a bit of googling around this a while ago. Prestone anti-freeze was different to the normal stuff used at the time (one was alcohol based I think, but dont quote me on that).

 

The marking is a) showing that it's got antifreeze (and which year it was put in), and b) showing that it's prestone anti-freeze and not the other kind so nobody tops it up with the wrong stuff.

[Jack]

Now is Prestone the only anti freeze EVER used during WW2 - did they win the contract or were their other companies?

[Lauren Child]

I think there were others, hence the need to differentiate. It could be to differentiate with whatever was picked up locally though, so it would be interesting to know if the Prestone was the only official one.