Red / Orange coolant question

[Clan]

Originally Posted by jpliddy

hi pity you didn't get the volvo coolant from dealer its not that expensive 50/50 mix been using it for 20 years in my diesel i replace it at 3 year intervals easy job and all good so far . the garage stuff should be ok .
but you cant beat genuine blue/green volvo !!!! only my personal views

you don't need to change it ...👍🏻

[Ian21401]

Have had genuine Volvo 50/50 mix in my B200F since the cylinder head went back on in 2005 shortly after I acquired the car. Never actually changed it but occasionally had to drop some out for maintenance. eg:replace heater valve, replace water pump. Always top up if required with more 50/50 mix. I’m partially colour blind but when consulted recently our daughter advised me that the coolant in the expansion tank is the same colour as the unused 50/50 mix I have in a plastic bottle in the garage, ie: blue/green.
Will soon be using the syringe extraction method to remove coolant to test/replace the thermostat.

[haymitch]

Phoned the garage this morning. They said that they used a universal red coolant made by Comma - he's going away to find the precise spec that they used.

He said that they now use this on all cars and that he's never seen any problems using it and mixing it with older coolants. He says that they used to see problems with sludging when the OAT coolant was introduced and mixed with ethylene glycol but the newer universal coolant is designed to be backwards compatible with all types which is why they use it.

He seemed genuinely surprised and he's been very trustworthy with other things, so maybe it's a difference of opinion? Looking at the comments a few other people think the same. Another forum post I read seems to suggest that the newer coolant is okay in most cases but that ultimately the Volvo / other HOAT stuff is better? https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/fo...ic.php?t=29159.

Any thoughts? In any case, I doubt that I'd be able to convince him to flush and change the coolant for free given that his professional opinion is that it is fine. So I'd likely have to flush and replace the coolant myself if I went down that route.

[bob12]

Originally Posted by haymitch

Thanks for the advice everyone - I'll phone them and check that they didn't use the OAT coolant tomorrow and then update. Heh, nothing is ever simple!

If they had used OAT you would have found out by now. It's pretty aggressive and quick acting in its destructive powers when mixed in an engine containing tradition anti-freeze..

For choice I use Comma Xstream G48 (as previously recommended by Comma and not what they now recommend on their website!).

Bob

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by haymitch

Phoned the garage this morning. They said that they used a universal red coolant made by Comma - he's going away to find the precise spec that they used.

He said that they now use this on all cars and that he's never seen any problems using it and mixing it with older coolants. He says that they used to see problems with sludging when the OAT coolant was introduced and mixed with ethylene glycol but the newer universal coolant is designed to be backwards compatible with all types which is why they use it.

I've heard of that coolant and from what i understand, it should be ok. At least he is aware of the problems OAT coolant can cause. It appears from what i can find on Commas website this is most likely the stuff they used :

https://www.commaoil.com/passenger-v...ducts/view/298

If so, you should be ok but i'd be inclined to do your own flush, back-flush and renew all the coolant with a known ethylene glycol antifreeze concentrate and water mix.

I'm not sure on the Volvo HOAT stuff but i do know on Hondas of a similar era, using Hondas Type 2 (which is pretty similar) antifreeze causes problems and just to reinforce that, those engines are all alloy so in theory, it shouldn't.
Don't forget the majority of gaskets haven't been replaced in your engine, the Honda version of HOAT tends to eat through them causing leaks, here, there and everywhere.

That's one of the problems when you have a 20+ year old car, most garages don't know any different now because none have experienced ethylene glycol.

Also many lube/coolant suppliers aren't aware of any foibles of a particular model - for example Comma state their version of Dexron II-D will be fine for the auto box in my Rover - it won't, it will kill it in very short order!

To be exact, it causes the clutch linings to fall off the clutches because it destroys the adhesive resulting in no drive and a mahoosive repair bill.

[haymitch]

Okay, sounds like things are probably fine for the moment in that case. I'll keep a close eye on coolant levels. I think I'll leave it for the time being but try and make some time to replace / flush the coolant myself. I was planning on replacing the hoses, radiator and heater control valve (I have an model with AC) as part of preventative maintenance, so I'll tackle it then. I can't tackle it right away because of ill health and a lack of space, but I'm moving house later in the year which should fix the latter at least!

Thanks all for your help and advice.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by haymitch

Okay, sounds like things are probably fine for the moment in that case. I'll keep a close eye on coolant levels. I think I'll leave it for the time being but try and make some time to replace / flush the coolant myself. I was planning on replacing the hoses, radiator and heater control valve (I have an model with AC) as part of preventative maintenance, so I'll tackle it then. I can't tackle it right away because of ill health and a lack of space, but I'm moving house later in the year which should fix the latter at least!

Thanks all for your help and advice.

I'd say that was a very good plan!

[360beast]

Comma G40 red ethylene glycol is what is in my Fabia so it's probably the same stuff, you are most likely alright then.

[V70Peter]

Hi - Ive just bought a 2012 D4 V70 diesel
its got red/orange coolant in the reservoir
how do I check if its the correct type ? - is there a test kit I can get which, maybe like a litmus paper that you dip in and it shows which type you have... good or bad ?
cheers

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by V70Peter

Hi - Ive just bought a 2012 D4 V70 diesel
its got red/orange coolant in the reservoir
how do I check if its the correct type ? - is there a test kit I can get which, maybe like a litmus paper that you dip in and it shows which type you have... good or bad ?
cheers

Is it red or orange though? It sounds very similar to the coolant in my Jag which can be red, orange or green from the factory. Should be a label indicating the type of antifreeze you need near or on the expansion tank or something in the handbook to confirm.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394125965255

Currently out of stock but they're a Ford dealer so will restock i expect. That's the orange stuff and the WSS-M97B44-D 2361571 is the number for that antifreeze. It has a 10+ year lifespan so it should either have been changed recently or is due one soon!

Because of Fords ownership of both Volvo and Jaguar from 1999-2010, there are many common parts/fluids etc, they just need finding!