Coolant - can I mix two different types?

[GillyD]

Does anyone know whether you can mix coolants from different manufacturers, providing of course that they're both Ethylene Glycol based? My local Halfords don't seem to stock much in the way of Bluecol anymore, presumably favouring their own brand. Can anyone enlighten me?

[S3 Kieran]

Well if you can't, I had better watch this space too! I've topped up regularly in the past (before expansion tanks) with any make - never had a problem yet.....

I'm sure someone with more tech-know will fill us in shortly!

[madgw1ck]

GillyD said:

Does anyone know whether you can mix coolants from different manufacturers, providing of course that they're both Ethylene Glycol based? My local Halfords don't seem to stock much in the way of Bluecol anymore, presumably favouring their own brand. Can anyone enlighten me?

Not a problem.

GP

[the dodger]

Just check the specs on the cans. There are different types which shouldn't be mixed (e.g. OAT - which is what OEM's use now) with glycol based.

[HarryW]

Whats OAT , I am considering changing from the 'old' blue stuff to the newer 'pink' stuff, apparently it has a much higher boiling point and may have a form of 'water wetter' in it .
Anyone actually understand the difference between them apart for the colour , let us know .

Harry

[simpo two]

I bet the pink 'OAT' stuff is much more expensive!

[HarryW]

simpo two said:

I bet the pink 'OAT' stuff is much more expensive!

OK then, anyone know the difference, apart form the fact ones blue and the other's pink and expensive

Harry

[GillyD]

Quite! That's what i'd like to know too. I recall that MrD's Passat (tow car I hasten to add before he kills me)has pink coolant. I'd presumed it was something VW supplied so that we have to use their products and spend more money. Don't think i'd want to mix blue & pink (purple coolant - mmmm ) but blue + blue sounds ok - does anyone really know?

[anonymous-user]

My radiator exploded about two days after I did this.... might have been a coincidence, but I won't be doing it again!

[JonRB]

The pink stuff from VW/Audi sounds like G12+ which is the replacement for G11 and G12 (which you must never mix!). G12+ can be mixed with G11 or G12 with no problems, which I guess is why they brought it out. Good news for our cars as previously the Corrado used G11 and the Cupra G12 and I had to keep stock of both.

Doesn't really answer the question with Bluecol though (which is what I use in the Elan and the Chimaera). I didn't realise Halfrauds had stopped stocking it.

>> Edited by JonRB on Tuesday 19th August 19:32

[HarryW]

Well the pink stuff at Halfords (advanced something or other) seems to have a much greater temperature range -69c to +150c, the blue traditional stuff is -36c to + 108c. Can I deduce that it won't boil over so easily then

Harry

[HarryW]

Any mecahnics or trades peeps around that know, as I'm thinking of draining the system this weekend and giving the pink stuff ago .

Harry

[z_chromozone]

www.eetcorp.com/antifreeze/antifreeze-faq.htm#q28

Every thing you need to know is here.

Z

[spend]

I 'upgraded' to the pink stuff a while ago (when Audi/Toyota dealers were about the only handy sources). It is longer lasting / has better temp range.... Looks nicer (if you are a Ribena fan :-) Logic was if you dont change the coolant so often it was better value, being a bit anal I now tend to drain/filter & refill occasionally just to keep an eye on it. After 3 years its still looking good. With its added protection ~ you are'nt tempted into being overcautious overmixing - since as we all know the weaker the antifreeze/additive mix the better the cooling functions.

Dave