Topping up with coolant/anti-freeze

[pilajake]

My Resevoir tank is just below "low" on a cold engine.
Can i top up with coolant/antifreeze to the full level rather than a complete change and what is the best coolant to use

There is no obvious leak just evaporation of water i hope.
regards
Sue & John

[scanner]

As has been said many times before, unless you know exactly what is already in there it isn't "safe" to top up with anything else.

Not all anti-freezes will mix and some can cause disastrous problems if mixed because their compositions are totally incompatible.

E.G.
This sort of problem.
http://autorepair.about.com/cs/coolings ... 52601c.htm
Dexcool® is just a brand name for a certain type of antifreeze which is known to cause problems if mixed with another incompatible one.

[westonwarrior]

What you realy need is the same as already have in.

However if you dont know I would just use water as that little bit cant make that much difference

But I freely admit, I know nothing

[scanner]

Here's what Bluecol say (and they should know)
http://www.bluecol.co.uk/index.cfm?page=75

[pilajake]

As has been said many times before, unless you know exactly what is already in there it isn't "safe" to top up with anything else.

Not all anti-freezes will mix and some can cause disastrous problems if mixed because their compositions are totally incompatible.

E.G.
This sort of problem.
http://autorepair.about.com/cs/coolings ... 52601c.htm
Dexcool® is just a brand name for a certain type of antifreeze which is known to cause problems if mixed with another incompatible one.

Thanks it looks like serious problems will happen
I have only topped it once before in three years, so i think i should be safe to top up with water until i give it a complete change.

[missfixit70]

3 years? - time for a change then, with a proper flush.

[mikeonb4c]

3 years? - time for a change then, with a proper flush.

nearly 3 years for me too. Must bite the bullet and do it.

[Biobongo]

My Resevoir tank is just below "low" on a cold engine.
Can i top up with coolant/antifreeze to the full level rather than a complete change and what is the best coolant to use

There is no obvious leak just evaporation of water i hope.
regards
Sue & John

lidi has a coolant antifreez tester at presant:
http://www.lidl.co.uk/uk/home.nsf/pages ... Tester.ar1