What coolant

[gardnerw]

Hello,

I have had my van for 3 years and i am ashamed to say have never changed the coolant...

I noticed the other day that the expansion tank was down to minimum so put some water in to get me home before doing a well overdue drain, replace and bleed.

I have been reading the wiki's to try and ensure i use the correct coolant, i have just been out to check the colour of the current fluid in the tank (in the engine bay) and although it has an odour of engine coolant it is pretty much translucent, no discernably green/pink/red or purple.

Can anyone advise me an appropriate substance to use or should i stop fecking around with things i dont understand and get a local garage to do the job!

Many Thanks

[toomanytoys]

Go read the wiki on bleeding the cooling system.. if you feel confident to do this then go ahead.. if not.. take it to a garage that DOES know how to bleed correctly......

There are lots of threads in here on this too... so have a search

Personally I wouldnt (dont) use the costly "VW special fancypants stuff" as the cooling system is 20 odd years old and it wont repair any nasty things thats been going on in there... (and it might end up on the floor if you have a leak at some point) use a good quality ordinary glycol coolant/ready mix.. pref not from Halfords unless you have money to burn.. local motor factors/agricultural engineers/truck/van parts place etc etc..

If you live in a particualrly hard water area, DO NOT use the tap water or "softened" water... but use demin water to dilute concentrate anti freeze..
Normally you will get stuff that needs 50/50 mix (check the label), so bare in mind the system holds around 17L of coolant, if drained fully..... so ideally you want 8 or 9L of concentrate in there before topping up with water...

[gardnerw]

Thanks TMT

Seems logical enough, mostly concerned about making the foolish mistake of using the wrong coolant and ending up with jelly in my van.

I shall proceed (after studying the wiki)

Many Thanks

[Red Westie]

If you properly flush the system out with a hose then there will be no issues....despite what is reported, any good quality (preferably long life) phosphate free (all long life A/Frezze is) antifreeze will do. VW G12+ if you really want to spend that kind of money.

Martin

[Ian Hulley]

I've used this .. http://www.commaoil.com/productsguide/view/6/300 for the 6 and 1/2 years we've had The Bus, I get it in the commercial 25 ltr container (not shown on that page) and we have 205 litre barrels of it at work and use it in all the plant and vehicles we have.

Ian.

[Cruz]

Yep. I used the stuff Ian has linked to. Got it in 5l bottles from local motorfactors

[Red Westie]

About Antifreeze and Coolant

Most antifreeze and coolant products on the market are ethylene glycol based with additives to prevent corrosion, lubricate seals and water pumps and aid in heat transfer to the coolant from the metal of the engine. Antifreeze coolant should typically be mixed with water at the ratio of one part antifreeze to one part water. This gives antifreeze protection down to minus 34 degrees and overheating / boil over protection up to 265 degrees. Do not use pure antifreeze in a cooling system without using at least 30 percent water in the mixture.

Most antifreeze coolant sold in recent years has been the traditional green coolant which has a life span of two to three years or up to 30,000 miles. Green antifreeze contains silicates, phosphates and borates as corrosion inhibitors to keep the solution alkaline. As long as the solution remains alkaline, corrosion is controlled and the cooling system is protected. Over time corrosion inhibitors are depleted and the corrosion protection is lost, therefore green antifreeze should be changed every two years.

Aluminium is especially vulnerable to corrosion and many vehicles have heads, radiators and other aluminium components in the cooling system. If the coolant in an engine cooling system is changed before corrosion inhibitors reach dangerously low levels, corrosion damage is prevented.
Long Life Antifreeze

An alternative to tradition green antifreeze is a product currently used by many vehicle manufacturers. Orange or Red antifreeze known as long life or extended life antifreeze increases the useful life of engine coolant. Long life antifreeze is also ethylene glycol based.

The difference between the two colours is that Orange / Red antifreeze contains a different type of corrosion inhibitor that has a much longer life than silicates, phosphates and borates. Orange / Red antifreeze contains organic acids that protect engine parts from corrosion.

Green antifreeze does not mix with long life antifreeze. Never mix the two colours in a cooling system. The organic acids in orange types will cause precipitation of silicates in the green type and corrosion protection is greatly reduced.

Orange type antifreezes are suitable for up to five years or 100,000 miles. They can also be used in many older vehicles if all of the green antifreeze is flushed from the system and is replaced with the orange / red antifreeze. The lifespan of long life antifreeze is about four years or 60,000 miles in older cars.

If you have doubts about switching from the green type of antifreeze to long life antifreeze, contact you retailer or car dealer and ask about compatibility with your cooling system. You can also contact Tetrosyl by email for further advice and technical support.

The level of protection of the coolant has little relevance to the corrosion protection. An antifreeze tester may show adequate frost protection but cannot test for corrosion protection which is depleted over time.

Change your coolant mix on a schedule based on the colour of the antifreeze you are using. Severe corrosion to engine and cooling system components can occur with resulting expensive repairs.

Bluecols's own ogano/acid based long life A/freeze exceeeds VW G12 spec so is one of many that is suitable.
Comma and Morris both do extended life OAT based A/freeze products all of which are approved by VW and meet or exceed G12 spec.

http://www.bluecol.co.uk/index.cfm?product=110

(TAKEN OFF THE BLUECOL WEBSITE)

[horns]

Cheers chaps - was about to replace mine this week, now I'm thoroughly informed on the subject.

[gardnerw]

WOW!

Thank you all for such comprahensive explanations, really appreciated.

I had thought I might trigger "not the antifreeze thread again..."

Thanks to all again.