Volvo Concentrated Coolant Query

[StanC]

Hi All,

I'm resurrecting a query I raised last year in the hope that there is now further information out there.

I've changed/renewed the coolant in my 1996 960 3Litre 24v every 2-3 years throughout the life of the car. Up to 2015 Volvo concentrated coolant (part no.9437650) was a deep blue/green colour and coolant changes were not a Volvo service requirement; the coolant would supposedly last the life of the car, but I kept it regularly refreshed to preserve the anti-corrosion properties. The 'new' concentrated coolant (now part no.31439720) introduced in 2015 is a much lighter pale green colour - obviously different, as confirmed by the different part number. The thing that intrigues me is that the product label on this new coolant indicates a shelf life of 3 years (the pack has a 'use by' date) whereas the old stuff had an indefinite shelf life. This leads me to question the quality of the new Volvo coolant compared with the old stuff.

If the new Volvo coolant has a life of only three years just sitting on a shelf doing nothing, then presumably its life in the operating conditions of a car cooling system is no more than this - am I correct? And what if I buy coolant from a main dealer that is within a month of its 'use by' date - what is its operational life? The mere fact that it has a shelf life at all suggests that after the expiry date it is potentially degraded. The Volvo dealer doesn't know (or seem to care) anything about the reasons for the coolant having a shelf life.

Is regular coolant change now a service item on modern Volvos?

Does anyone have any intelligence on why the new Volvo coolant has such a short shelf life and of how it performs? Are any other brand coolants better quality? Any comments/advice on this will be greatly appreciated.

Stan.