1998 V70 T5 coolant colour?

[Clan]

Originally Posted by NewbieV70T5

Hi all,

What colour coolant should this car have?

A new radiator was fitted just before my ownership and its got pink coolant in.

Is that correct?

Thanks

just pop into your volvo dealer and get a 4 litre bottle of coolant , You will not get better value or quality anywhere else and it has no change interval :-) 👍

[Cookeh]

Originally Posted by Lmason

the colour is very irrelevant as it has different properties.

Everything you have posted revolves around this very incorrect, but often spouted myth. That's assuming we ignore your typo, that is - unless you've had a sudden change of heart. The colour does not reflect the properties. A certain set of properties does not give a certain colour.

Once upon a time, many decades ago, there was some truth to the statement; colours were used to differentiate between the old IAT based coolants and the new (at the time) OAT based coolants. IAT was typically blue or green, whilst OAT was assigned the colour pink or red to avoid confusion. In years gone by, with the numerous and unending advances in formulations and the equally unending updates to legislation, this no longer holds true. Coolant colour now is determined purely by the manufacturer and does not denote the properties. For example, amongst HOAT based coolants K2 use pink, Prestone (and Holt) use yellow, Valvoline use green. Whilst different manufacturers may use different colours to denote coolant made to different specifications, this does not mean that all coolants meeting the same specifications are the same colour.

When buying coolant you need to buy based on type and specification. Not on colour. To get back on topic, coolant for these cars needs to be HOAT and meet or exceed BS 6580:2010. Buying from Volvo is the simplest choice, but far from the cheapest.

[Lmason]

if your looking for cheaper than volvo coolant for your volvo, just put tap water in, then youll save a few bob meaning you can goto pub and get drunk

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Cookeh

Everything you have posted revolves around this very incorrect, but often spouted myth. That's assuming we ignore your typo, that is - unless you've had a sudden change of heart. The colour does not reflect the properties. A certain set of properties does not give a certain colour.

Once upon a time, many decades ago, there was some truth to the statement; colours were used to differentiate between the old IAT based coolants and the new (at the time) OAT based coolants. IAT was typically blue or green, whilst OAT was assigned the colour pink or red to avoid confusion. In years gone by, with the numerous and unending advances in formulations and the equally unending updates to legislation, this no longer holds true. Coolant colour now is determined purely by the manufacturer and does not denote the properties. For example, amongst HOAT based coolants K2 use pink, Prestone (and Holt) use yellow, Valvoline use green. Whilst different manufacturers may use different colours to denote coolant made to different specifications, this does not mean that all coolants meeting the same specifications are the same colour.

When buying coolant you need to buy based on type and specification. Not on colour. To get back on topic, coolant for these cars needs to be HOAT and meet or exceed BS 6580:2010. Buying from Volvo is the simplest choice, but far from the cheapest.

It by far the best overall VALUE as you only do it ONCE .... why would anyone be wanting to put cheap coolant in an alloy engine I wonder ..It's asking for trouble

[Cookeh]

Originally Posted by Clan

It by far the best overall VALUE as you only do it ONCE .... why would anyone be wanting to put cheap coolant in an alloy engine I wonder ..It's asking for trouble

I am surprised, given your previous career, that you believe any coolant is a "lifetime" option. You've been around long enough to have experienced IAT coolants - which had at best a three year service life. Early OAT and HOATs had a five year service life. This was improved through development and incorporation of minimally depleting carboxylates in coolant formulations, but there are numerous studies showing that there is still noticeable degradation of its material properties over time and through load cycles. This is true to the extent that several new specifications have been formed off the back of this, to ensure these coolants are still suitable for application in heavy duty scenarios (ASTM D6210-10 and D7583, for example). Obviously how you use your car will affect the life you see, and it is possible for coolant to last in excess of 10 years now - but this is a best case sccenario. Why do you think that Volvo advise checking coolant properties at 10k/yearly service intervals? Why do you think the OE manufacturers of coolants still recommend 5-10 year replacements? Why do you think coolant standards only assess five year life?

I truly dislike coolant and oil based threads, as they're full of out-dated myths and misinformation.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Cookeh

I am surprised, given your previous career, that you believe any coolant is a "lifetime" option. You've been around long enough to have experienced IAT coolants - which had at best a three year service life. Early OAT and HOATs had a five year service life. This was improved through development and incorporation of minimally depleting carboxylates in coolant formulations, but there are numerous studies showing that there is still noticeable degradation of its material properties over time and through load cycles. This is true to the extent that several new specifications have been formed off the back of this, to ensure these coolants are still suitable for application in heavy duty scenarios (ASTM D6210-10 and D7583, for example). Obviously how you use your car will affect the life you see, and it is possible for coolant to last in excess of 10 years now - but this is a best case sccenario. Why do you think that Volvo advise checking coolant properties at 10k/yearly service intervals? Why do you think the OE manufacturers of coolants still recommend 5-10 year replacements? Why do you think coolant standards only assess five year life?

I truly dislike coolant and oil based threads, as they're full of out-dated myths and misinformation.

Indeed i have been in the trade for 40+ years and volvo coolant is the best you can get in all that experience .. it has NO change interval . It has a yearly service check to make sure that it is still in good condition as a lot of misinformed people are putting inferior coolant in as the car gets to it's second and third owners ...

I have a 1988 343 with its ORIGINAL coolant if you want to do some tests on it .. it is still bright green , clear and still protects to -37C ...

I have used Volvo coolant in many many of my cars and friend's cars over the decades ..

There is a small glitch in volvos coolant history ... from 2010 for about 3 years the factory were using a "thinner" looking coolant which went yellow/brown sometimes after just a year , it was still capable of not freezing until -37C but the corrosion inhibitors had failed . . obvious cost cutting ... It was soon solved and picked up on the regular service checks and changed .
The coolant you buy at the volvo parts dept has ALWAYS been the very highest quality however since the 1970's ..

[NewbieV70T5]

Ok, the reason for my question was as follows; the car has PINK coolant in it when the last owner changed the radiator. Considering I am changing the cambelt/waterpump, I wanted to know whether it was PINK coolant in there or BLUE.

I have no issue changing for Volvo coolant, but didn't want to cross contaminate the colours.

I usually use Mannol AG12 if I'm servicing a car which already has PINK coolant in it (Alfa GTV etc), and have it in stock if I replace like for like. Switching to Volvo GREEN now will entail flushing the entire cooling circuit.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by NewbieV70T5

Ok, the reason for my question was as follows; the car has PINK coolant in it when the last owner changed the radiator. Considering I am changing the cambelt/waterpump, I wanted to know whether it was PINK coolant in there or BLUE.

I have no issue changing for Volvo coolant, but didn't want to cross contaminate the colours.

I usually use Mannol AG12 if I'm servicing a car which already has PINK coolant in it (Alfa GTV etc), and have it in stock if I replace like for like. Switching to Volvo GREEN now will entail flushing the entire cooling circuit.

That is no bad thing 👍

[Bigfella666]

Good to see an intelligent spat just starting to develop between Cooks and Clan both of whom make valid points

The Bigfella reverts to his post of a few days ago. Ray given the $ yoo have invested already I would flush and change the coolant. I am not convinced genuine Volvo coolant is service free but Volvo, Comma, take your pick, change it change out of fifty quid if yoo buy savvy

I have inspected far too many T5 and R’s with brown coolant to be convinced of Clan’s lifetime claim but he will no doubt say well come and have a look at the res in this baby if yoo do not believe me

Terribly important to make love not war, especially in the difficult winter months ahead

At the mo I do not care cleared my diary to visit my local spoons for first time in such a long time I cannot remember. Decent beer perfect condition 99p a pint Happy Days xxx

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Bigfella666

Good to see an intelligent spat just starting to develop between Cooks and Clan both of whom make valid points

The Bigfella reverts to his post of a few days ago. Ray given the $ yoo have invested already I would flush and change the coolant. I am not convinced genuine Volvo coolant is service free but Volvo, Comma, take your pick, change it change out of fifty quid if yoo buy savvy

I have inspected far too many T5 and R’s with brown coolant to be convinced of Clan’s lifetime claim but he will no doubt say well come and have a look at the res in this baby if yoo do not believe me

Terribly important to make love not war, especially in the difficult winter months ahead

At the mo I do not care cleared my diary to visit my local spoons for first time in such a long time I cannot remember. Decent beer perfect condition 99p a pint Happy Days xxx

That will be due to neglect . those cars are quite old now and people in the past will have put poor quality coolant in and neglected it .

Change out of £50 ? its around £20 for 4 litres of volvo coolant if you buy wisely best quality , best value ...

It my claim as i observe , because i have been working on these cars daily for the last 40+ years on a professional basis , so see many each day of all ages ..

If you lined up all the volvos i have inspected in a row bumper to bumper on the M4 starting from London, any guesses how far they would reach heading west ?