MIXING COOLANT

[TVRGareth]

I have not long bought a chimaera 450.
Now I have a leak from the header tank and until I have it welded I will keep topping the coolant, however I checked the header tank today and it's full with green coolant but the expansion tank is empty.
I went to halfords are their computer recommended Comma X Stream G48!!!!!! Which is blue.

He then said green coolant is probably a mix of blue and red coolant, eh...........

Any thoughts if they can be mixed????

[Boosted LS1]

I can't really help but don't mix pink with blue. I'd say that sticking with blue or green would be alright but wait for some more comments ;-)

[bluezeeland]

Colors are just that, dyes ! That said, nowadays OAT coolants like G12++ are mostly reddish (anything from orange to pink...)
The blue G48 is an ethylene glycol based coolant, as is probably (..) the green coolant in your car, so yes they are 'mixable'
An OAT (organic acid technology) coolant offers better heat transfer and corrosion inhibiting proporties and is ideal for our alu engines

[TVRGareth]

Thanks for the reply folks.
This is a non oat coolant, is that correct?

[bluezeeland]

yep !

[Chuffmeister]

Hmmm, from what I understand non-OAT coolant is better for the RV8. OAT coolants are designed for modern engines and don't have the silicones or phosphates needed to maintain the seals in classic engines. I guess a lot of this would depend whether your engine has been completely overhauled with new seals etc.

Red and blue don't necessarily make the green coolant. Sometimes different coolant brands may react with each other... Speaking from experience.

[TVRGareth]

I have the rover v8 but it hasn't overhauled or had any work at all,
Would I be ok topping up the expansion? Or am I going to blow the engine up!

[TVRGareth]

I have the rover v8 but it hasn't overhauled or had any work at all,
Would I be ok topping up the expansion? Or am I going to blow the engine up!

[N7GTX]

For now just fill with plain water. It will only dilute the coolant a little. You've got until October before it starts to get cold enough to consider the antifreeze.

[bluezeeland]

N7GTX said:

For now just fill with plain water. It will only dilute the coolant a little. You've got until October before it starts to get cold enough to consider the antifreeze.

make that demineralized, yes, and no, you won't blow up your engine.............

As for Chuffmeister' comments; its a classic designed engine, but even the early cars/RV8 engines are applied with 'modern' seals (the G12+ (single) coolant is less compatible /worse for seals)

[Thundersports]

The "OAT" anti-freeze eats through copper; Rads and Gaskets. Don't mix blue with pink or red either as they emulsify.

Edited by Thundersports on Saturday 20th June 01:01

[N7GTX]

bluezeeland said:

N7GTX said:

For now just fill with plain water. It will only dilute the coolant a little. You've got until October before it starts to get cold enough to consider the antifreeze.

make that demineralized, yes, and no, you won't blow up your engine.............

As the OP lives and breathes in Edinburgh, think you'll find the water is soft up there. Certainly not hard so tap water will be perfectly okay for now until he does a proper job...;)

[bluezeeland]

Water is really important in scotch scotland !