Different coloured coolant?

RentDayBlues

Had to top up the coolant in my car over the weekend, what was left in it was red but the one I used was blue? Any issue here? It said for all engines on the bottle.

I'm sure this has been asked but without the search function is a pain to find

voxpop

I know with VW you can mix 2 types but there is a third type you cant mix. I think you could mix red and pink (G12?) - but not the other. Usually there is some sort of spec number and you can check if the two specs can be mixed

RentDayBlues

Thanks Voxpop, its was a bit of an emergency so I didn't pay too much attention to it, was on motorway and in hurry to get it sorted. The bottle I used was a generic own brand and it didn't have any warnings on it about not mixing with other coolant, just not to mix with water. Car seems fine

no1beemerfan

As far as I know blue and green can be mixed but red needs to be topped up with red. I think the red coolent is a different make up than the blue and green coolent. Not sure what harm mixing blue with red would cause though.

mikewest

Blue is short life coolant i.e. 2 year but red is long life phosphate free. Do not mix.

Edit: forgot to say the mixed coolants deposit a sludge in your system which can lead to blocked radiators/pump failures etc. Get system flushed and fill with red coolant in a 50:50 mix with water preferably DI water but good quality tap water will do.

RentDayBlues

Balls! So I assume best thing is to drain it soon, flush with water and refill with red?

Edit: Thanks mikewest, just saw your edit there. Will get to that this weekend