mixing coolant...what are the implications

[ermie571]

Hi guys,

right...2.1 dj running carb and LPG

coolant....when I have topped up always been the pink g12 stuff. Been to garage....4lt was dropped and replaced with a blue coolant? Garage not worried about it...should I be? xx

thanks folks

Em
xx

[Graham81]

Yes, g12++ doesnt mix with the blue stuff it turns to sludge, seen it happen on the mk4 golfs.

[kevtherev]

yep it will sludge up the radiator and heater matrix

[ninja.turtle007]

What about blue and green?

[kevtherev]

G12 is pink
whats the green from?

taken from the bluecol site...

.....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.

green antifreeze should be changed every two years, compared to red/orange (g12) which is long life which is every five

[ninja.turtle007]

G12 is pink
whats the green from?

taken from the bluecol site...

.....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.

Sorry, that wa a bit of a hijack.

[ermie571]

Thanks guys, will great that sorted asap then. Ta, Em x

[California Dreamin]

Besides....what are they doing dropping your coolant and putting just 4litres back? was this a repair and so all the coolant wasn't lost?
System capacity is 16 litres so needs 8litres for a 50:50 mix.

Ethylene Glycol (old fashioned traditionally blue or green but has older less stable inhibitor pack) 2 year fill.

Organo-Acid Technology (OAT) (later types based on this more modern formulation) 4 or 5 year fill.(pink/orange/puple)

Ethylene Glycol-based 'Hybrid Organo-Acid Technology' (HOAT). Uses Ethylene Glycol but with OAT-based corrosion inhibitors...now these are reported to also be long fill 4/5 years as there inhibitor pack is also OAT based and this is where the grey area arises.

You can't JUST go on colour although it is USUALLY a good indicator of type...However IT ISN'T FOOL PROOF.

I would ask them to show you what they used and if it doesn't mention OAT (organo acid technology and mentions a 2 year change) it is the old stuff and as others have mentioned SHOULD NOT be mixed with newer OAT A/Freeze.

Martin

[HarryMann]

There's a fair bit in the Wiki about this, updated with some of this comment now...

https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Co ... ded_brands

[Plasticman]

Well my concerne would be that they have 'dropped ' 4ltr of coolant for whatever reason and then topped up with a non compatible antifreeze,
even if they dropped all the coolant surely there would still be a good few ltrs in the heater matrix, galleys and such that unless it was flushed it would still remain,
what also need sto be found out for future reference is how much blue would be required to form a sludge as in kevs picky,
So as said, if youve been using pink and they have added a non compatible "substance" lol then a full flush and refill with the correct product would be needed and at their expense.
mm

[ermie571]

Thanks again

Will be onto them later today

cheers again

Em

xx

[ermie571]

sorted.

[Plasticman]

'sorted'
as in
mm

[ermie571]

Sorted - to be shot at dawn!


No - have spoken with them...and they admit the mistake. Apparently 4lt wasn't dropped - they simply topped up the level in the number plate flap. Ok, I haven't received the best service, and I should have checked before I took it away, and I didn't stipulate G12. They have offered to drop and refill - they will pay for blue, but will help with the cost of pink. I will be sticking with pink. Will go home and look in the expansion tank, see what is happening there....remove the stuff from the header, and refill with water.

Em
x

[djhammy]

Every time i have the van serviced i have to remind them to leave the coolant well alone or use mine thats in a can pre mixed under the rock and roll bed. even put a note on the number plate.