Coolants are not just coolants!

[Ron Miel]

Hi Scanner. I did say the (BASF) link promoted G40, not (your excellent initial) posting and it does, by saying G40 combines the advantages of both earlier types including G30 - in marketing speak, there are pitfalls for the unskilled with the others but you can't go wrong with G40.

I admit I hadn't picked up your specific reference to G30* later, and I take the point that G30 does include Mazda in its manufacturer listings - although not as "approved", just as a make of engine "it will protect" - as will the Comma green extra life. I guess that, if G40 combines the advantages of G30 with BASF's others, it's reasonable to assume that it would also protect a Mazda engine but they just haven't said so.

Point I was really making was that BASF are promoting a whole range of expensive own-brand coolants, with G40 said to be the best - "after all, VW have switched over to it now"! Bully for them but there are equally good lower cost solutions which northern gurus Wheelquick are very happy with - and they have to deal with any consequences in very many Bongo owner's motors, including their own.

*(G30 also costs 24 quid for 6 litres, from the same eBay source as for the G40/G48 prices I mentioned , compared with 14 quid for the Comma extra life green product bought in my home town.)

I agree you stressed don't mix types. Your useful posting also brought out lots of other good pointers, and I really wasn't knocking it, I was just trying to warn against any general concern about other colours in currently satisfactory use - if based solely on BASF's sales blurb. If starting from scratch with a flush out and re-charge, no reason not to splash out on an expensive coolant if anyone wants to, of course, but meanwhile, for all the reasons I mentioned, I'll not change to red, I'll not buy BASF own-brand, and I'll still stick to Wheelquick's advice.

[bigdaddycain]

if based solely on BASF's sales blurb. If starting from scratch with a flush out and re-charge, no reason not to splash out on an expensive coolant if anyone wants to, of course, but meanwhile, for all the reasons I mentioned, I'll not change to red, I'll not buy BASF own-brand, and I'll still stick to Wheelquick's advice.

The coolant mike uses is more than adequate,i changed to red after checking with mike, that is also suitable. Not strictly neccessary given the bi-yearly coolant change schedule with the bongo, but it means i can have plenty of the same coolant in my garage that suits all the vehicles in my household.

[scanner]

Point I was really making was that BASF are promoting a whole range of expensive own-brand coolants, with G40 said to be the best - "after all, VW have switched over to it now"! Bully for them but there are equally good lower cost solutions which northern gurus Wheelquick are very happy with - and they have to deal with any consequences in very many Bongo owner's motors, including their own.

I would guess that to many people mineral oil changed every 3000miles is "equally good" to semi-synth changed every 6000miles - "bully" for them.

*(G30 also costs 24 quid for 6 litres, from the same eBay source as for the G40/G48 prices I mentioned , compared with 14 quid for the Comma extra life green product bought in my home town.)

Moral of the story "don't buy from Ebay then!" I didn't pay anywhere near that price.

I agree you stressed don't mix types. Your useful posting also brought out lots of other good pointers, and I really wasn't knocking it, I was just trying to warn against any general concern about other colours in currently satisfactory use - if based solely on BASF's sales blurb. If starting from scratch with a flush out and re-charge, no reason not to splash out on an expensive coolant if anyone wants to, of course, but meanwhile, for all the reasons I mentioned, I'll not change to red, I'll not buy BASF own-brand, and I'll still stick to Wheelquick's advice.

Exactly..........
When topping up you must either use the SAME colour coolant or a compatible one and the advice, or rather instruction, is that Red isn't compatible with any other colour.

I could respond to your cynicism by saying I wouldn't ever be so equally cynical and suggest that UK garages would prefer to change your coolant for you every 2 years instead of every 5, as we all know it's only German chemical companies that promote their own interests.

BDC

The coolant mike uses is more than adequate,i changed to red after checking with mike, that is also suitable. Not strictly neccessary given the bi-yearly coolant change schedule with the bongo, but it means i can have plenty of the same coolant in my garage that suits all the vehicles in my household.

But surely that's the point of the Red - you don't have to change it every 2 years - if you do change (apart from standardisation in your case) there is no need to stick to the 2 year schedule any longer.

[Ron Miel]

...........suggest that UK garages would prefer to change your coolant for you every 2 years instead of every 5, as we all know it's only German chemical companies that promote their own interests.

Not sure where 2 years and 5 years come from - in the context of my inputs, anyway. Comma Green Extralife is specified for 3 year changes, and BASF products, blue, green AND red are all specified for 3-4 year changes - as your initial posting also seemed to reflect. I interpret 3-4 as 3.5 on average, i.e., a gain of 17% over Comma but a price premium, via the only UK source thrown up by Google, of 71% for G30 or G48, and 93% for G40. How much did you pay per litre in Germany for G30, BTW?

Incidentally, I also like to use the best products when I can justify/afford them and, pension permitting, might well decide to change to the latest and most expensive coolant, whatever that is by then, when my 3 years are up. I just don't want to be told that red is the necessary choice now, when really it isn't. ScubaBongo first suggested red as the Bongo colour in this thread, and you picked up on it later. Agree with everything else you said.

[scanner]

2 years is what "everybody" says the Bongo coolant should be changed at, not what I say.

4-5 years is what BASF say "older" vehicles should change "long life" coolant that can last "up to" 10 years in vehicles which have it in from new.

All I have said about Red is that it shouldn't be mixed with blue/green, because that's what the makers say.

I bought some of the G30 in Germany because it was at a good price (I wish I'd bought more) and looked to be the same colour as in mine already - well I hope it is 'cos I've already added some "neat" to stiffen it up for the winter.

[mister munkey]

As I get through a fair chunk of coolant on a fairly regular basis, I recently needed a litre in a hurry, bought the only available in the garage, 50/50'd it & chucked it in. So I now have a 20% mix of red with green stuff.

Am I in trouble??

[scanner]

As I get through a fair chunk of coolant on a fairly regular basis, I recently needed a litre in a hurry, bought the only available in the garage, 50/50'd it & chucked it in. So I now have a 20% mix of red with green stuff.

Am I in trouble??

Could be, if as alleged the Red causes the Green to dump all it's silicates into your cooling system.

Should use sensiblecates in the first place and save all this confusion.

Just a thought check the bottle (if you still have it) and see if it warns against mixing with other types.

Apparently Vauxhall Main dealers say it is quite OK to mix Red and Blue/Green, despite what Bluecol and BASF say.

[mister munkey]

Could be, if as alleged the Red causes the Green to dump all it's silicates into your cooling system.

Should use sensiblecates in the first place and save all this confusion.

Just a thought check the bottle (if you still have it) and see if it warns against mixing with other types.

Apparently Vauxhall Main dealers say it is quite OK to mix Red and Blue/Green, despite what Bluecol and BASF say.

Hmmm, did look at the label, it said "compatible with all types of [something I cant remember] coolant.

Could just've meant other pinkies though. Gonna get a flush & refresh to be on the safe side methinks.

[scanner]

By the sound of it the coolant industry really needs to get it's act in order if some Reds are mixable and others aren't - it just makes any advice/instructions you read meaningless.

As you say best not to risk it - but would be interesting to see full text on bottle all the same.

[lindeelu]

Mixing coolants is like mixing drinks or playing Russian Roulette.

If you change coolants you need to do a proper flush
There are 2 main types of flush, acidic and alkalyne.

If you don't get it right and don't get all traces of the wrong type out, you are in for
trouble long term as your coolant will turn acidic.

Green coolant is available in OAT and glycol based, so colour means nothing anymore.

Read the label, do a complete flush before changing types and never mix.

A lot of people in the motor trade don't seem to have this understanding of coolants.

[bigdaddycain]

BDC

The coolant mike uses is more than adequate,i changed to red after checking with mike, that is also suitable. Not strictly neccessary given the bi-yearly coolant change schedule with the bongo, but it means i can have plenty of the same coolant in my garage that suits all the vehicles in my household.

But surely that's the point of the Red - you don't have to change it every 2 years - if you do change (apart from standardisation in your case) there is no need to stick to the 2 year schedule any longer.

You could well be correct there, but given that there is concern over the part time use of the radiator in the bongo, then sudden use of it, (possibly stirring up accumulated crud deposited there) I won't chance it, i'll class the coolant changes like an oil change. (i change the oil probably 8 times to every coolant change though! )

[Ron Miel]

2 years is what "everybody" says the Bongo coolant should be changed at, not what I say.

4-5 years is what BASF say "older" vehicles should change "long life" coolant that can last "up to" 10 years in vehicles which have it in from new.

All I have said about Red is that it shouldn't be mixed with blue/green, because that's what the makers say.

I bought some of the G30 in Germany because it was at a good price (I wish I'd bought more) and looked to be the same colour as in mine already - well I hope it is 'cos I've already added some "neat" to stiffen it up for the winter.

Thanks again Scanner.Yes, that's all quite clear and as long as the "don't mix" message gets through, I reckon we should all be OK within the specified limits of whatever modern coolant we're using. From subsequent posts above, that's an important message - don't throw baby out with the bath water just because there's a nicer colour bath oil on the shelf but do throw out the bath water if the bath oil's got mixed with the washing up liquid. That about it?

[bigdaddycain]

As long as the instructions on the bottle are adhered to, then all should be well... It's when you add to a coolant that could well have been added in japan that the problem starts... There could be anything in there for all we know. The only definitive way of really knowing is dropping ALL the existing coolant, and starting again from scratch with a KNOWN type.

Same scenario as buying a second hand car, if you get a bit low on oil,need to top up half a litre, you really need to change all the oil & the filter, just to avoid any possible mismatch.

[Simon Jones]

I've bought some of the Halfords advance OAT red stuff & plan to change it when I next do a full flush. I did some research & it seems the red stuff is not only better in terms of corrosion prevention, but also has improved thermal properties that may help the engine run cooler. The point about not mixing can't be stressed too highly - you must get every drop of the old stuff out.

One point to bear in mind is the availablity of the older green/blue stuff is probably still better than the pnk/red OAT. So, if you spring a leak in the middle of nowhere, the local service station will probably has the green stuff on the shelf. However, as more manufacturers change over, the situation will reverse. Moral of the story: carry a spare bottle of which ever type you are currently using.

[scanner]

Green coolant is available in OAT and glycol based, so colour means nothing anymore.

If that is the case, then just WHAT IS THE POINT of different colours?

Read the label, do a complete flush before changing types and never mix.

Exactly - But if the above is true, just how would you know?

A lot of people in the motor trade don't seem to have this understanding of coolants.

Why would you expect their knowledge of coolant to be any better than their knowledge of anything else?

I've heard of main dealers using the wrong oil because the one they used was "what is in the drum - it's all we ever use".