Coolant top-up

[lew15]

*1989 1.9 DG WBX engine*

I've just topped up my coolant with some water as it had dropped a little after some very long trips. I have some coolant from the previous owner but it's purple and the stuff that my local classic VW specialist put in last year looks more red to me than purple. They said at the time it was the 'proper stuff' my engine needed.

So the question is, if I keep topping up with a little water every few months (I don't know why it's going down - everything seems fine) eventually won't the coolant/water mix be diluted? Can I buy some red stuff to start putting in as well? I can't seem to find any available...

[Aidan]

you can mix the G12 pink stuff with the red, ensure the top up tank is full to the mark and check the expansion tank is pretty much full when cold
You are likely weeping a little bit from one of the very many joints on the cooling pipework, and if it drips onto the exhaust all you get is a stain on the exhaust and a wiff of coolant when you stop when hot (sniff the rear air intakes when you get out, passenger side on a petrol is basically the smell of the engine bay) - though sometimes parking over some cardboard can reveal where it is leaking

[lew15]

Cool, thanks. Weirdly my top up tank is full (now I add that little bit) but expansion tank empty apart from some condensation. I replaced the dalek cap the same time as the garage replaced the coolant (and it was empty then too).