[JFP in PA]

Like most maintence related things, instead of basing decision's on purchase price, look at them from a cost of ownership basis.

Are there cheaper alternative coolants? Yes when only looking at the acquisition costs. Even then, some products like some Pentosin versions actually can cost more just to purchase. But you need to account for several other "costs" as well: Purchase cost, how long the coolant lasts in use, and cost of the time to drain and replace the coolant, even if you do it yourself, your time still has a value.

We see a lot of cars, and do a lot of coolant replacements over the life of these cars. Some brands of coolant have "legs", meaning that years after the exchange, they continue to test well. Others, not so much. So if coolant A cost the same, or even slightly more, but is still doing well two or three years after a cheaper coolant B alternative has failed testing and had to be replaced, which one was the better deal from a purely economic perspective? Just a thought..........