Should I be putting antifreeze in my VW

[clift_d]

I never realised the diesels were waterboxers.

It was intended for the OP.

[silverbullet]

Green coolant for an iron block/alloy head combo i.e. all the older ohc inline engines.

Don't mix blue colours (this includes green) with reds (including purple) without completely flushing the system* out first.

Unless of course you want a coolant system full of brown tarry sludge that needs acetone or brake cleaner to dissolve...

* and some system cleaners can do more harm than good!

[max and caddy]

Green? That was G10...doubt if any of that is still around....G11 is blue...G12 purple and not compatible but G12+ is..G13 is in for life...and very good stuff...drain you full system..hose it out..suck it dry with a wet vac...dill it with water..do it all again...back flush the engine, rad and matrix...remove as many pipes as possible...then fill with 50/50 water (de iron if your southern) and G13... Sorted...applies to all engines...WBX won't tolerate water for long...diesels will but eventually will have issues..

[silverbullet]

SA uses green coolant and our '99 Sharan has used it from new!

[ghost123uk]

-7 degrees in some places last night

Hey Mr/Ms "wbmkk", I hope your motor is OK. Did you sort your coolant out yet?

[Titus A Duxass]

Mine appears to be using a rust coloured anti freeze, we had temps down to -15 and oft survived.

[California Dreamin]

A weak and old solution may just about prevent freezing but as you have witnessed....it doesn't stop the innards of your engine corroding.

Martin