Coolant

cena

I have just checked my mothers car and it has ran out of coolant.

it was an orange colour coolant could I put in a different colour coolant.

ba_barabus

No.

You must replace it with orange OAT coolant. Blue and orange react differently.

cena

I can't get any orange coolant anywhere. Brother has blue ready mix

Jesus.

Ideally no but it won't make much difference. I've mixed coolants in the past without any bother

brembo26

I think what happens is when you mix the two together you get a chemical reaction which speeds up corrosion of the cooling system parts.

The speed it happens at is probably minimal. Ideally drain the whole system and fill it and bleed the system with the new stuff.

Could be wrong and i'm open to correction about this.

brembo26

What year and make of car is it anyway. For all we know at the moment it might be supposed to have the blue stuff in it.

OREGATO

When you say it's run out of coolant is the system completely dry or is it just low?

If low, you could possibly put in distilled water to tie you over until you can get the orange stuff.

What car is it?

Tails142

Don't mix the two coolants.

Guy in work mixed his coolants and it crystallised in the heat exchanger, or so his mechanic said, and he had to get it replaced to get heat back working in his car.

biko

I think Halfords has it.

cena

Its a 07 astra. I put the car on flat surface there was enough in it to add some water

debabyjesus

Its probably red just gone a gank orange colour

cena

biko wrote: »

I think Halfords has it.

Ya they have it. Not driving an hour to galway city for it

Kristopherus

Where are you?

chinwag

Is attached thread of any assistance here?
It brings back memories of the helpful Nissan Doc who recently closed his account.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=76441141

Anan1

The urgent issue here isn't the colour of the coolant, it's how it's escaping. How much water did it take?

cena

Kristopherus wrote: »

Where are you?

Near the border of galway and roscommon

cena

Anan1 wrote: »

The urgent issue here isn't the colour of the coolant, it's how it's escaping. How much water did it take?

I didn't fill it up all the way. About 500ml I would guess. I checked the pipes and they all seem fine.

I'll get it replaced when the garage reopens

zzantara

You do realize that the Coolant Bottle should be filled to about 50% only ,there is a maximum line about half way up the bottle, Astras will take about half a litre og coolant about every six months, this is just natural evaporation.
If it takes more than this it might be leaking so keep a close eye on the Engine temperature.
You are better just topping up with water over the Christmas and get the correct type after Christmas.
Most Opel Dealers will be open next Monday and Tuesday, it's not an expensive Main Dealer item.

Sobanek

ba_barabus wrote: »

No.

You must replace it with orange OAT coolant. Blue and orange react differently.

I thought this was sarcasm but it turns out I'm an idiot

harbourmill

orange coolant is longlife coolant , blue coolant has to be changed every 2years , DO NOT mix as stated previously they will solidify and cause damage. flush out and refill with oat (orange) or flush and use the blue coolant only, and if blue, replace every 2 years as it loses its protection properties.