Club 80-90 Forums

Hi Guys,

I could be wrong but I am pretty sure that the first time I was researching which coolant to use I read a comment by Mr Baxter that in an ideal world you use the G12+ coolant but as it's so expensive and you'll probably end up changing the coolant for some reason or other before 5 years is up you can use standard coolant... just be sure to change it within 2 years.

To be safe I went the expensive route and sure enough as he predicted I did indeed need to replace the coolant long before the 5 years was up when one of the coolant pipes sprung a leak due to rust. I got my mechanic to replace it as it was in for an MOT and forgot to ask him to use the expensive stuff and he replaced it with his usual coolant.

I can't find that comment/thread (by Simon I think) so maybe I misremember it?
Thanks,
Tim.

Think that was Ian Hulley, and he was right....over the last 7 years I have had to drain my coolant (in part or fully) on at least 4 occasions:
A hose burst driving up a mountain pass in Switzerland, the next time was to replace the plastic thermostat housing/stack that was leaking, another time was to replace a corroded and leaking metal pipe on the left side of the engine and then last year to change the small metal pipe on the O/S cylinder head.

25+ year old wasserboxers have lots of places that they can leak coolant so 'chances are' coolant won't be in there for the full duration of the antifreeze life (2years for old blue/green, 5 years for OAT pink/orange/purple)

However, what owners tend to forget is that the coolant can be caught and re-used and simply filtered through a clean piece of cotton rag (an old shirt or similar)
Given that it can be re-used, its not as if you are chucking away your precious coolant every time one of these repairs occurs, and that is why I would always recommend a modern G12+ approved coolant is used as it will last 5 years.
The extra expense (maybe 20% more compared to older blue green stuff) is worth it as it potentially lasts two and a half times longer whilst giving improved protection especially as a corrosion inhibitor.

Martin

Thanks Martin for the clarification.

By the way, would a G12+ be compatible with the standard coolant the garage used or would I need to drain it first.

Actually the coolant they used is pink so maybe they did use G12 or an equivalent?

Thanks,
Tim.

timski wrote:Thanks Martin for the clarification.

By the way, would a G12+ be compatible with the standard coolant the garage used or would I need to drain it first.

Actually the coolant they used is pink so maybe they did use G12 or an equivalent?

Thanks,
Tim.

If it is pink then as you say, it is very likely G12/G12+ equivalent so the percentage guess would be it will mix fine with other similar OAT coolants. Always best to check with the garage as to what exactly was used.