Prestone Products Corporation

What Prestone Products Corporation does

Prestone Products Corporation, legally organized as Prestone Products LLC in Illinois, is a privately held manufacturer of automotive chemical fluids founded in 1927 as the inventor of ethylene glycol antifreeze. The company formulates and markets a broad portfolio centered on antifreeze and coolant (the All Vehicles, MAX, Platinum, Prime, Dex-Cool, and Command lines), extended with brake fluids (DOT 3/4/5.1), power steering fluids, automatic transmission fluid, windshield washer fluids, diesel exhaust fluid, and ancillary maintenance chemicals such as stop-leak additives and cooling-system cleaners. Its technical platform is built around patented Cor-Guard anti-corrosion inhibitor technology, Triple Seal Protection leak-stopping formulations, and a series of patented recipes (US5,741,436; US8,216,383 B2; US6840990; US7163578; US6143243; US7585828; US7959826; US7749402; US7927504; US6881711; US7776811) covering antifreeze, radiator sealers, washer additives, glass treatments, and interior cleaners. A super-concentrate antifreeze meeting GM6277M is currently patent pending.

The company operates a dual-channel go-to-market. On the consumer side, products are sold through every major US retail chain — AutoZone, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Advance Auto Parts, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, and Meijer — supported by branded content and social channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) and a DIY how-to library. On the OEM side, Prestone holds original-equipment fill and licensing relationships with Ford (and Lincoln/Mercury), General Motors (Chevrolet, plus a Dex-Cool trademark license), and Toyota (Lexus, Scion), positioning itself as the #1 OEM antifreeze supplier in North America. Heavy-duty is served through the Prestone Command line for Class 1-8 commercial vehicles, with the Command Nitrite Free product warranted up to 1,000,000 miles in Class 8 service. Internationally, Prestone operates wholly-owned subsidiaries in Mexico, China, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand (under the UCI-FRAM Group banner) and Brazil, with a forthcoming Prestone EVX product line aimed at electric-vehicle thermal management. Corporate headquarters are in Rosemont, Illinois, and the company operates as part of a network of affiliated firms that includes Recochem, Holt Lloyd, Adam's Polishes, KOST USA, and B&B Blending. No revenue, headcount, or capital-raise data is publicly disclosed.

Name

Prestone Products Corporation

Legal name

Prestone Products LLC

Website

https://prestone.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Prestone Products Corporation is a privately held, Illinois-based manufacturer founded in 1927 that formulates and sells automotive antifreeze, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, DEF, and related chemicals to DIY consumers via major US retailers and to Ford, GM, and Toyota as an OEM fill supplier across North America, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Chemicals (Antifreeze & Coolant)

NAICS

Automotive Parts and Accessories Retailers (44133)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714), Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013)

akta.pro primary industry

Aftermarket Fluids, Lubricants & Chemical Products Manufacturing (Oils/Coolants/Additives/Cleaners) (IMACANAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Lubricants, Fluids & Chemical Products Distribution (Oils, Coolants, AdBlue/DEF, Cleaners) (TLAKAOAL)

Keywords

• Automotive antifreeze coolant
• Brake power steering fluid
• Engine cooling protection
• Diesel exhaust fluid
• OEM coolant formulations

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake Forest

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Consumer Automotive Fluids: Sale of antifreeze, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, windshield washer fluid, and related automotive chemical products through retail distribution channels to individual consumers and professional mechanics.
2. OEM Original Equipment: Supply of original antifreeze/coolant fill to automotive manufacturers including Ford, Lincoln, Chevrolet, GM, Toyota, and Lexus for factory fill and service parts.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Prestone manufactures and sells branded automotive chemical products including antifreeze/coolants, brake fluids, power steering fluids, automatic transmission fluids, windshield washer fluids, diesel exhaust fluid, and cooling system maintenance products. The company serves both consumer vehicle owners through major retail chains and automotive OEMs (Ford, GM, Toyota) for factory-fill applications, with a separate heavy-duty line (Prestone Command) for commercial Class 1-8 vehicles.

Product overview

Prestone Products Corporation is a manufacturer of automotive antifreeze/coolant and performance chemical products. The portfolio includes: core universal antifreeze/coolant products (All Vehicles, MAX, Platinum lines) offering protection for 10-15 years/300,000-350,000 miles; vehicle-specific formulations for American, Asian, and European vehicles; heavy-duty Prestone Command® products for commercial Class 1-8 vehicles including diesel exhaust fluid (DEF); and performance chemicals including brake fluids (DOT 3/4/5.1), power steering fluids, transmission fluids, washer fluids, and cooling system maintenance products. The company also develops Prestone EVX for electric vehicles (upcoming). Products feature patented Cor-Guard® technology for rust and corrosion protection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Prestone Command®: Heavy-duty coolant products specifically engineered for Class 1-8 vehicles, including antifreeze/coolants and diesel exhaust fluid for on-road and off-road applications
• Prestone EVX
• Prestone Low Tox®
• Prestone Cor-Guard®
• Prestone Prime®
• Prestone MAX
• Prestone Platinum
• Prestone Gear

Products and services

• Prestone MAX All Vehicles Antifreeze + Coolant Premium universal antifreeze/coolant engineered for all vehicle makes, models, and years with gas or diesel engines, delivering extreme temperature protection and industry-leading rust and corrosion protection via Cor-Guard technology. Targeted at consumer vehicle owners and DIY mechanics seeking maximum coverage with a 15+ year/350,000-mile guarantee.
• Prestone All Vehicles Antifreeze + Coolant (Universal) Ready-to-use universal antifreeze/coolant designed for all vehicle makes, models, years, and fluid colors, featuring Cor-Guard anti-corrosion technology that protects against rust, corrosion, scale, buildup, and clogging. Targeted at consumer vehicle owners seeking broad compatibility with a 10-year/300,000-mile guarantee.
• Prestone Platinum All Vehicles Antifreeze + Coolant Prestone's premium-tier universal antifreeze/coolant providing extreme freeze protection to -50°F and boil-over protection to +268°F, with the most advanced Cor-Guard chemistry. Targeted at consumer vehicle owners needing extreme-temperature performance, guaranteed for 15+ years/350,000 miles.
• Prestone MAX American, Asian, and European Vehicle-Specific Antifreeze + Coolant Color-coded, vehicle-specific antifreeze/coolant formulations engineered to match the chemistry required by particular American, Asian, and European makes, using Advanced Original Equipment Technology. Targeted at DIY vehicle owners and service shops needing OEM-matched coolant for specific makes/years, with up to 15-year/350,000-mile guarantees on American/Asian variants and 5-year/150,000-mile coverage on select European variants.
• Prestone Dex-Cool Antifreeze + Coolant GM-approved Dex-Cool compatible OAT (Organic Acid Technology) antifreeze/coolant for GM vehicles 1995 and newer, most Ford vehicles 2011-2018, and most Chrysler vehicles 2013 and newer. Targeted at owners of GM-spec vehicles needing licensed Dex-Cool chemistry.
• Prestone Command Heavy-Duty Antifreeze + Coolant (Nitrite Free, Nitrited, and ESI Precharged) Heavy-duty extended-life and extended-service-interval antifreeze/coolant formulations for Class 1-8 commercial vehicles on-road and off-road. The Nitrite Free variant carries warranty coverage up to 1,000,000 miles for Class 8 vehicles. Targeted at commercial fleet maintenance operations and heavy-duty truck operators.
• Prestone DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) API-certified Diesel Exhaust Fluid meeting ISO 22241 standards, designed to OEM purity and performance requirements. Targeted at diesel vehicle owners and commercial fleets needing compliant DEF for SCR emissions systems.
• Prestone DOT 3 Brake Fluid Standard DOT 3 brake fluid for automotive braking systems, formulated with bitterant per US patent 5,741,436. Targeted at general consumer and DIY automotive maintenance.
• Prestone DOT 4 Brake Fluid Higher-performance DOT 4 brake fluid for automotive braking systems. Targeted at consumers and service shops requiring higher boiling-point brake fluid.
• Prestone DOT 5.1 Brake Fluid High-performance DOT 5.1 brake fluid for automotive braking systems. Targeted at performance vehicle owners and service shops requiring maximum boiling-point brake fluid.
• Prestone Power Steering Fluid + Stop Leak and MAX Power Steering Fluids Synthetic power steering fluids — including a multi-vehicle universal with stop-leak additive and vehicle-specific MAX formulations (American, Asian, Full Synthetic European) — for power steering system service and leak repair. Targeted at DIY consumers and service shops.
• Prestone Multi-Vehicle ATF + Stop Leak

Quantifiable outcome

• 1/16 inch of radiator buildup can reduce cooling capability by approximately 40%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Ford Motor CompanycoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPrestone supplies original equipment antifreeze/coolant for Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Products engineered to meet Ford specifications with OEM by Prestone branding.
• General MotorscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPrestone holds license from GM for Dex-Cool trademark and supplies Dex-Cool compatible antifreeze/coolant for GM vehicles 1995 and newer. Also supplies original equipment fill for Chevrolet vehicles.
• Toyota Motor CorporationcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPrestone supplies OEM by Prestone antifreeze/coolant for Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Products designed to meet Toyota specifications for all models and years.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Recochem: Recochem is identified in Prestone's ownership commentary as part of the same affiliated corporate umbrella that operates Prestone globally; it manufactures automotive fluids and chemical products and is therefore both a corporate affiliate and a direct comparable in the automotive chemicals manufacturing category.
• Adam's Polishes: Adam's Polishes is identified in Prestone's ownership commentary as part of the same affiliated corporate network; it produces automotive appearance and detailing products that are adjacent (rather than directly competitive) to Prestone's functional fluids but serve overlapping DIY enthusiast consumers at retail and online.

Broad incumbents

• BASF (Glysantin): BASF's Glysantin is the leading European OEM coolant brand and competes with Prestone globally for OEM factory-fill contracts and European aftermarket shelf space, leveraging BASF's integrated chemistry R&D and Tier-1 OEM relationships.
• Castrol (BP): Castrol, owned by BP, is a broad automotive chemicals and lubricants incumbent that competes with Prestone in coolant and related fluids, leveraging global OEM partnerships, branded service networks, and adjacent motor oil lines to defend shelf space at major retailers.
• Havoline / Chevron Lubricants: Chevron's Havoline and DEXRON-aligned coolant brands compete with Prestone in both consumer and OEM service channels; Chevron's integrated petrochemical supply chain for ethylene glycol provides a structural cost advantage versus independent formulators like Prestone.
• Mobil 1 / ExxonMobil: Mobil 1 (ExxonMobil) competes with Prestone in antifreeze/coolant and broader automotive chemical categories, leveraging ExxonMobil's petrochemical feedstock position, global OEM relationships, and the strong Mobil 1 brand presence at retail to bundle coolant sales with motor oils.
• Shell Rotella / Shell Antifreeze: Shell competes with Prestone in heavy-duty and consumer coolant categories through its Rotella and broader Shell lubricant portfolio, leveraging its oil-major scale, fleet service programs, and OEM relationships to cross-sell coolant alongside engine oils and gear lubricants.

Direct peers

• PEAK Antifreeze (Old World Industries): PEAK is Prestone's most direct US competitor in the antifreeze/coolant category, with comparable retail distribution and OEM presence; both companies compete head-to-head on shelf at AutoZone, O'Reilly, Walmart, and mass merchants in North America for the same DIY consumer and professional installer customer.
• Pentosin (Deutsche Öl): Pentosin is a specialist European automotive fluids manufacturer with vehicle-specific coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid lines that compete directly with Prestone's MAX vehicle-specific portfolio in European OEM service channels and import-focused aftermarket retailers.
• Zerex (Valvoline): Zerex is Valvoline's antifreeze/coolant brand and competes directly with Prestone in both consumer and heavy-duty coolant segments; both serve automotive parts retailers, professional installers, and OEM service channels with overlapping vehicle-specific and universal coolant SKUs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/prestonecommand
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@prestoneOfficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/PrestoneOfficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/prestone-products-corporation
• Instagraminstagram.com/prestoneofficial
• TikToktiktok.com/@prestone_official

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Prestone Products Corporation