ENI Agip Permanent Spezial Antifreeze Alternative

Many recent Ducati motorcycles recommend “ENI Agip Permanent Spezial Antifreeze”.

You can definitely buy this from a dealer, but knowing that most coolants are based on ethylene glycol with anti-corrosion inhibitors, I wanted to seek an alternative.

Looks like Valvoline Zerex G30 is it. Here’s why.

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ENI Agip Permanent Spezial Antifreeze spec

On the website for ENI Agip Permanent Spezial Antifreeze, they say

Eni Antifreeze Spezial is a concentrated engine coolant, based on ethylene glycol, free from silicates, boron compounds, amines, phosphates and nitrites. It contains an innovative corrosion inhibitor package based on salts of organic acids (OAT), that allows prolonged drain intervals.

ENI website

So this is an ethylene glycol coolant that’s free of all salts — it’s silicate, borate, amine, phosphate and nitrite free — it’s an OAT coolant.

If you can get this from a dealer at a reasonable price, this should be your first choice.

Another OAT coolant — Zerex G30

A good coolant alternative is Valvoline Zerex G30.

According to their website:

Valvoline™ ZEREX™ G30™ Antifreeze / Coolant is a premium carboxylate formulation. It incorporates state-of-the-art organic acid technology in an ethylene glycol base for protection of all cooling system metals including aluminum. It meets the silicate-free requirements of the Japanese automobile manufacturers and phosphate-free requirements of European automobile manufacturers. … Contains no phosphates, silicates, borates, nitrates, amines and nitrites

Valvoline website

If you can’t get the ENI coolant from a Ducati dealer, use Zerex G30 and you should be fine.

What to avoid

When you show up to some (absolutely not saying all, just at least some) stores, they tend to sell you whatever is on the shelf.

Be attentive. If you can’t get the indicated coolant, please do get an ethylene glycol-based coolant that is free from all the stuff mentioned above.

There are other alternative OAT coolants, of course. But be aware that not all sales people (or forum regulars or mechanics) necessarily know what they’re talking about. Just because something has worked well for them doesn’t mean their engine isn’t going to seize in the next year.

You’ll find people recommending things like

• Engine ice
• Pure water
• Water wetter
• “Any old green stuff lying around”

It’s up to you (it’s your money!) but my money would go to the first then the second option above.