Urgent MINI coolant query

[Blue Oval84]

Hi all, my mate is at my house now with a 2002 1.6 MINI and we've noticed that the coolant expansion tank is below the minimum.

I just so happen to have 5 litres of ready mixed OAT (red) coolant, can I top his car up with this?

We're just letting it cool a bit before opening the expansion tank so thought I'd check with PH before doing anything?

The coolant at the moment appears to be water as I can't see any evidence of it being a particular colour. If I was a betting man I'd suggest it may have been leaking for a while and the last owner has just been topping it up.

[Fleckers]

what colour is the stuff in his car ?

if it is red then should be fine, let it cool, get the car levle as poss then fill above minumum but below max

[Blue Oval84]

Can't really tell to be honest, if anything I'd say it had no colour making me suspect it may just be water!

I'll report back when we've opened the cap, the car was hot when we noticed so I didn't want to open it immediately!

[Blue Oval84]

Yep, just had a look and it's definitely got plain water in it, after some more googling and a quick check with the ECP site it appears that it should be the blue coolant, so we've just topped up with more water and my mate's going to get it checked properly soon.

[Triumph Man]

The stuff in my Gf's mini is red, so should be ok, but I think that you are right about it leaking!

[Silent1]

It should be blue coolant, not red.

[Triumph Man]

Silent1 said:

It should be blue coolant, not red.

Really? Bugger.

[E30M3SE]

Triumph Man said:

Silent1 said:

It should be blue coolant, not red.

Really? Bugger.

Yes, OE BMW/MINI 'anti-freeze' is blue.

[Backtobasics]

Think it should be blue

Why is it Urgent? Has it over heated?

[reggie82]

Sounds like this won't be an issue for you as, but it's worth pointing out that the colour of the coolant is not indicative of the type!

[Blue Oval84]

Ah right I always thought that one type was blue and the other (OAT) was red/pink.

It was urgent as his car was parked outside mine and if pink was the correct "type" we'd have used what I had! As it happens it was full of water so we just topped up with that until he can get it checked properly.

[Happy82]

If it is losing coolant, the thermostat housing is a common fault on the Mini.