Which Coolant?
- Thread starter Kyle.
- Start date
G12 mate your coolant expansion tank or cap should have it on somewhere, im sure mines on the cap
If you have any of the G12,G12+ or G12++ in the system your ok to top it up with G13. There all mixable.
Just make sure what you get is the red stuff for VAG group cars. If the car all ready has the correct coolant in there is no need to drain the system Tue coolant is designed for the life of the vehicle.
Well why are you adding coolant? is it just a top up or are you doing a system flush?
If you are flushing the lot out then you can put what you want in. No it dosnt have to be VAG specific. You need to see what the coolant contains, Ethelyne glycol is usually the Red stuff and lasts 10 years, I would reccomend that and it's available from any motor factor. Just dont mix blue coolant with red as they dont go together
If you are flushing the lot out then you can put what you want in. No it dosnt have to be VAG specific. You need to see what the coolant contains, Ethelyne glycol is usually the Red stuff and lasts 10 years, I would reccomend that and it's available from any motor factor. Just dont mix blue coolant with red as they dont go together
Head to the stealers and get a bottle there. It might be a quid more than you can get elsewhere, but it'll definitely be the right stuff. I think G13 is the new VAG-wide standard additive. Make sure you dilute it properly too, don't just pour the stuff straight into the tank or you'll damage something expensive.
marktdisport
Registered User
I've never seen a thread with so many opposite comments on what to do, for sake of a few quid would you want to run the risk of using the the red stuff if there somethink in it which could be proven to eventually corrode or rot you cylinder head or block who knows the answer over a short term probably no issues, but can't believe people can't be ***** to buy proper vag coolant for probably a few quid more........
As I work for VW some of the replies in this thread are starting to amuse me. VW state that the G12,G12+,G12++ and G13 are all mixable. Correct ratio is 3 parts water to 2 parts anti freeze for protection down to minus 25 celcius fine for this country. Also the proper VW stuff is supposed to he mixed with dostlilled water not regular water for it to last life of the vehicle.
That is why I advised to drain the lot out if it because the corrosion inhibitors wear off after a while and fresh coolant is always good for the car. I personally would not use the cheap stuff from lets say, Tesco. I always use the longlife "RED", but I dont see what your point is If it isnt from VW ? You can buy non VW coolant which works just as good and compatible.
Glad to hear it. Just double checked online, and like I thought every coolant I have seen says Vw/Skoda/Audi/Seat compatible, then Ford Vauxhall etc.
At work we use Quantum Red Longlife,which is the VW brand we get from TPS, and that goes in everything not just VWs. The small Comma branded tubs we sometimes have in Red are also compatible with this G12, So therefore I would want to save a few quid by not buying from the dealer. In my case I saved quite a bit I bought a big 25l tub of longlife on offer from Lookers Vauxhall rep for £33 and like the rest it's compatible, So I would say topping up with Red would be safe, IF thats is what is in his car. If it wasn't or if there was no record of a coolant change in the last few years then I would be draining and flushing the lot out with the hosepipe. But each to their own
Roughly 50/50 of quantum will give me -25 on the hydrometer, as long as theres between 2 and 4 floating on a service then it's good to go :icon_thumright:
I don't know what's in it now, it's brown an dirty. Think I've got some longlife in the garage so ill see if I can find it. May aswell do the stat at the same time.
thanks everyone
thanks everyone
may aswel mate, not expensive at all. bleed it up at the same time instead of doing it twice !
brown and dirty is not good, signs of rusting that is. run some radiator flush in it for a bit, it says run for 10 minutes but I'd give it a bit longer than that, drive round for a bit let it really get to work.
Although not reccomended , on my old Escort the heaters went really weak one winter, changed the stat as that appeared at fault but wasn't right still. Bought some wynns radiator flush from halfords after work and poured it in then, drove 5 miles home, couldn't be bothered to drain it when I got home as I was knackered, then drove 10 miles to work next day, then back home again and then I pulled my finger out and flushed it....It came out black ! Blasted the hose pipe through the matrix pipes and everywere else until it was clear. Heaters perfect after that.
Although mine was blocking and the water looked fine, rust from the radiator or matrix floating round can also cause a blockage and just shows that the coolant has lost it's anti corrosion properties through being in there for too long hence the brown ****ty looking water.
