[American Cincinnatus]

Hey guys. A while back I had a coolant flush from a local generic mechanic. Only when doing my OFHG, mickey mouse flange etc did I realize my coolant is a strange reddish burgundy color. I would really like to replace it with the real blue stuff, but the flush will be a pain and I'll always be worried I didn't get all the red stuff out. I can't find much info on red coolant. Do you guys have any opinions? I'd imagine I'll have to drain at the radiator and behind the thermostat, fill with distilled, bleed, run engine briefly to circulate, and repeat a couple times to ensure I'm not mixing coolant types. Just thinking about it stresses me out! Anyways is this the best way to ensure that the old (but really, new) coolant is removed? How long can I leave it before it contributes to any wear? I'm not even sure that it's phosphate free.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by American Cincinnatus

Hey guys. A while back I had a coolant flush from a local generic mechanic. Only when doing my OFHG, mickey mouse flange etc did I realize my coolant is a strange reddish burgundy color. I would really like to replace it with the real blue stuff, but the flush will be a pain and I'll always be worried I didn't get all the red stuff out. I can't find much info on red coolant. Do you guys have any opinions? I'd imagine I'll have to drain at the radiator and behind the thermostat, fill with distilled, bleed, run engine briefly to circulate, and repeat a couple times to ensure I'm not mixing coolant types. Just thinking about it stresses me out! Anyways is this the best way to ensure that the old (but really, new) coolant is removed? How long can I leave it before it contributes to any wear? I'm not even sure that it's phosphate free.

I use Amsoil coolant with a coolant booster. It's red. I've done so for about 130,000 miles with no issues.

Ask the garage what coolant they put in.

[Luis561]

Am I wrong for only using distilled water and a bottle of water wetter

[ryan stewart]

Originally Posted by Luis561

Am I wrong for only using distilled water and a bottle of water wetter

I use that for the race bikes but with that you're only really getting maximum heat transfer, missing out on a lot of the extended boiling point and, most importantly for road cars, the real anti-corrosion impacts. I dont do it on street bikes because Im not constantly dumping the water.

Also one driver for just water on the track is they want that because if you dump traditional coolant its a bitch to clean up.

[American Cincinnatus]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

I use Amsoil coolant with a coolant booster. It's red. I've done so for about 130,000 miles with no issues.

Ask the garage what coolant they put in.

Great tip. I'll call them and see if I can get an idea of what they use and then see if it is a satisfactory type

[whyzee125]

Originally Posted by Luis561

Am I wrong for only using distilled water and a bottle of water wetter

Not in Florida. I wouldn't do it anywhere else though

[Luis561]

Originally Posted by whyzee125

Not in Florida. I wouldn't do it anywhere else though

Yea it's been working fine for the past two years, the car stays here in south Florida I have another one that I use when I go north

[Wolf 335]

Originally Posted by American Cincinnatus

Hey guys. A while back I had a coolant flush from a local generic mechanic. Only when doing my OFHG, mickey mouse flange etc did I realize my coolant is a strange reddish burgundy color. I would really like to replace it with the real blue stuff, but the flush will be a pain and I'll always be worried I didn't get all the red stuff out. I can't find much info on red coolant. Do you guys have any opinions? I'd imagine I'll have to drain at the radiator and behind the thermostat, fill with distilled, bleed, run engine briefly to circulate, and repeat a couple times to ensure I'm not mixing coolant types. Just thinking about it stresses me out! Anyways is this the best way to ensure that the old (but really, new) coolant is removed? How long can I leave it before it contributes to any wear? I'm not even sure that it's phosphate free.

In future, as long as you use a low silicate antifreeze you will be ok.

[mainbearing]

Ask what the shop put in. Color is not as important as the formulation.

Mine looks pink, but then again I flushed the BMW blue out and put in Audi G13 (so I can stock one type of coolant). BTW, BMW is now using the Green HT-12 (2-year coolant? WTF is with BMW).

BMW HT-12 can be used in any vehicle that currently contains G48 coolant (blue), but G48 should not continue to be used in vehicles that were originally filled with HT-12. (see compatibility image) This HT-12 Antifreeze/Coolant is exclusively formulated and produced for BMW to protect your engine year-round when used as directed. It fulfills the very high standards and requirements set by BMW to help protect the engine against freezing, boil over, corrosion, and excessive silicate gel precipitation. This ethylene glycol-based antifreeze contains no nitrites or phosphate, greatly reducing the possibility of harmful deposit formation. BMW antifreeze provides protection for metals such as cast iron, steel and aluminum.

https://www.getbmwparts.com/oem-part...on-83192468442

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by mainbearing

Ask what the shop put in. Color is not as important as the formulation.

Mine looks pink, but then again I flushed the BMW blue out and put in Audi G13 (so I can stock one type of coolant). BTW, BMW is now using the Green HT-2 (2-year coolant? WTF is with BMW).

I hope BMW isn't calling their green coolant a "lifetime" fluid 😂

[American Cincinnatus]

I called them today. They want me to come in and get it tested to see if it's rust residue or not. The main guy who works there knows that BMW coolant is blue (but according to you guys it's green now?), so we'll see what happens next Friday.

[American Cincinnatus]

Update: I went in, the coolant is clean and purple by nature. They used Beck Arnley Euro SF coolant, which I checked and yes it is phosphate free. So I guess that's a good result. I think someone used the purple one instead of the blue one, but inl don't see it being an issue. I will replace it with the genuine blue stuff when the time comes

[mainbearing]

Thanks for the update. That is an older version of Audi's coolant, I think you will be fine.

https://www.beckarnley.com/content/d...eet_032618.pdf