Mixing coolants

[tokomak]

Earlier today, I got a coolant level warning as it was low but the only thing I had on hand was some cheap blue antifreeze. I put in as little as I could to get over the minimum level, with the intention of getting some decent stuff tomorrow or the next day but I'm concerned after reading that mixing coolants is a bad idea.

Anyone had any issues with doing it or do i need to drain it all now?

Also since I have only had it a month I have not picked up any of the consumables, what kind antifreeze should I get? and what kind of Oil is best for it?

Thanks.

[PatchySan]

It's a bad idea to mix antifreeze together as you risk corroding the coolant system. Since you mixed cheap blue antifreeze which probably is the shorter life Glycol Ethelene to the OEM's Red Organic Acid Technology (OAT) coolant it can also cause it to form some sort of jelly like sludge which can clog the system and consequently cause your car to overheat. Get the coolant flushed asap and use VW spec G12+/G13 antifreeze in.

For Oil VW recommends 5W-30 longlife oil that meets 504.00 specification for the GTI. Not normally the cheapest oil around (especially with big names like Castrol Edge and Mobil 1 ESP) but you can't go wrong with Quantum Longlife III which is what the dealers themselves sell. You can find a hefty 5l bottle for just under £20 here which is a steal in my opinion for the quantity.

[richtung]

If you are doing a full coolant flush, a bottle of OEM G13 is all you need. Its is pretty cheap also:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-VW-SEAT-AUDI-SKODA-G12-G13-Coolant-Antifreeze-G013A8JM1-/141461055578?hash=item20efbc685a:g:KR4AAOSwPe1T~KsL

Rich

[Flyingscotsman]

Yes, good idea to change it. Actually you will need a few of the 1 L bottles of G13. Can't remember exact capacity of cooling system off hand,  but I think it's about 4.5 litres. Check in Haynes manual.

[tokomak]

Great, lying on a wet street in winter to change my coolant. The joys of motoring.

[Dan_FR]

Next time spend all of 30 seconds on Google first to save yourself the hassle

[Rasco]

As above, deionised or boiled water would have been perfectly ok to tie you over, until you could get a bottle of G13 if you mix two different types of base coolants they can cancel each other out and stop the coolant working properly, really bad idea. Also putting water straight from the tap is an equally poor idea and unless you want a coolant system full of green slime in a few weeks, if I was you I'd do a flush with deionised only then you want a 50/50 mix of G13 and deionised water it's actually cheap and quick(ish) to do

[tokomak]

I already knew it was a bad idea when I did it, but places had to be got to and it was Sunday so i made the choice. Just didn't know it was as bad as it can be VW engines.

But I didn't know about the de-ionised water though. I try to keep some on hand.

s'pose it gives me a job to do beyond washing the thing.

[r5gtt]

Yes, good idea to change it. Actually you will need a few of the 1 L bottles of G13. Can't remember exact capacity of cooling system off hand,  but I think it's about 4.5 litres. Check in Haynes manual.

1.5L bottles 

[Flyingscotsman]

Yes, well spotted @r5gtt - the bottles are 1.5 L. I think the total volume of coolant is 7.6 litres.  However, as some is in the block and not the radiator, it may be difficult to drain the full volume.
Also another thing to look out for is whether the G13 is already mixed 50:50 with water.  The last (1.5L) bottle I bought was already diluted.
I think that it is also available 'neat', in which case you need to mix 50:50 with de-ionised water (from Halfrods or ECP).

[pudding]

I've never used de-ionised water!  I've never seen dealers or indies use it either!  What is the reason for using it?  Just curious.

I believe the coolant already contains water conditioners, assorted other lubricants and rush inhibitors etc. 

[r5gtt]

Just thought I'd throw it out there 

No need for anything but plain water and G13 

[PatchySan]

I've never used de-ionised water!  I've never seen dealers or indies use it either!  What is the reason for using it?  Just curious.

I believe the coolant already contains water conditioners, assorted other lubricants and rush inhibitors etc.

De-ionised water has been filtered to remove chemicals that could scale the metal surface. A good example of this would be looking down your kettle's heating element if you just used unfiltered tap water for a while. Brand new it would be shiny but over time the tap water's chemical properties such as calcium, chlorides and magnesium would dull out and scale the metal surface. You can imagine what this can do to the cooling system in our cars so it is preferable to use De-ionised water if you can to reduce the build up of this problem (I live in the Midlands where we have really hard tap water so it's a no-no for me).

Not all coolant are ready-mixed, some are concentrated and need dilution. I have a Mobil 1 Advanced Antifreeze (G12+) that needs diluting on application, just check the instructions, apply the right amount and you be good to go! 

[Flyingscotsman]

Just thought I'd throw it out there 

No need for anything but plain water and G13 

OK if you live in a nice soft water area, but if you live in London  where the tap water is full of limescale then de-ionised water is a good idea if you don't want your inside of your  engine block looking like an old (London) kettle   

[r5gtt]

Just thought I'd throw it out there 

No need for anything but plain water and G13 

OK if you live in a nice soft water area, but if you live in London  where the tap water is full of limescale then de-ionised water is a good idea if you don't want your inside of your  engine block looking like an old (London) kettle   

I knew I shouldn't have opened my big mouth as london has the absolute worst water in the country and you are correct on that one buddy so I'll take my comment and place is where the sun doesn't shine  I forget I'm not living in Birmingham anymore where we have nice cleanish water and less chemicals unlike london water which scales the kettle and before you know it the tea  mug turns brown so now I drink milk tea  or bottle evian.