Coolant Top Up

quinnw · Post by **quinnw** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 2:24 pm

Sorry if asked before...

a) Is there a particular coolant that I should use to top up my collant?

b) Should I / can I just top the coolant up or do I need to bleed it down and change it?

Thanks (as usual).

Bill

smartmonkey · Post by **smartmonkey** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 2:57 pm

You should match whatever coolant is in at the moment. The best idea is a complete change and flush but failing that just top up with the same colour. If you cant make out the colour then you really need a complete change.

brorabongo · Post by **brorabongo** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 3:03 pm

Does it tell you on the container you buy, what colour the coolant is?

nfn · Post by **nfn** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 3:36 pm

Halfords brand is pink -- you can't tell until you open the container. The stuff in my bongo is green. You need a coolant for aluminium engines, which I believe will contain ethylene glycol.

brorabongo · Post by **brorabongo** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 3:42 pm

Cheers for that

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:02 pm

I mean. you don't normally have to top up coolant on this kind of system unless there's a fault in it do you? Never had to on previous similar cars. If that is even more or less true, I'd avoid double guessing what to top it up with and do a full drain, (back)flush and -depending on the colour of what comes out - thermostat change, thorough hose inspection and radiator flow test. It could be the best bit of preventative maintenance you could do even if it is a bit of a pain