Mixing coolant...

TiN · Pocket Tin Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Karma :

Ello,

Could someone please tell me just how catastrophic it is to just top up coolant levels, without knowing exactly what was/is already in there?

The vehicle in question is fairly old, so I doubt that it's any fancy stuff, and I've just got some standard coolant at hand...

(And no, I don't really want to have to flush the system)

Cheers in advance.
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T1z3R · World Chat Champion Joined: 23 Oct 2005 Karma :

wont do any harm in my opinion unless you end up at an extreme i.e. all coolant or all water.
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Whosthedaddy · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Karma :

If you read the back of the bottle of anti freeze then it states that it should a certain mixture for summer and a different concentration during the winter. Does this mean that you are supposed to drain the radiator and colling system twice yearly? (Await for the yes you are replies Shifty

)

I've always made up a mixture in an old coke bottle thats somewhere in between and just used it to top up he cooling system as and when required
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edd · Nearly there... Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Karma :

you can just top up your fluid levels, at this time of year it doesnt really matter how much anti freeze is in there so long as there is enough to inhibit corrosion, and so long as you replace the coolant before winter.
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Mix it up in a seperate bottle to the right strength and top up using that. I doubt there would be any problem with different brands of coolant reacting with one another.

They are pretty much all ethylene glycol with corrosion inhibitors in (usually sodium nitrate) and a dye.

Marci · Brolly Dolly Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Karma :

All coolants need draining and replacing at certain intervals anyway - ultimately depends on how many various metals are within the cooling loop. The more mixed metals, the more "worn out" the corrosion inhibitors become over time to the point that they no longer inhibit, and then the entire lot wants dumping and replacing.

I tend to dump mine every 6 months and replace with fresh deionised water + Zerex Additive @ 10% by volume, or LiquidCosworth @ 5% by volume.
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