What colour coolant?

[bighed]

Do you mk1 boys use? I was told green for my mk 1 astra as it's got a metal impeller. But I have just took my water pump off and it seems very rusty. Not sure if the wrong coolant has been used in the past. Anyone link me to some id appreciate it.

[Iain]

I thought blue was short life and red was long life, didn't get it got any more technical than that. I use the red GM stuff from the dealers.

[dgbnova#1]

Think it's blue as standard and you changing the pump then if it's off

have once worked on a car with screen wash pored in b4 why ? Because she spoted it needed topping up and blue liquid is what she used lol

[Benn]

Blue, is ok for alloy heads.
Red is meant for new cars that have a different metal in the case heads.

Green can be used in both.

I'd stick to blue.


Ref what Iain said, they all last the same in time. THey will ll break down the same over time.

[7ova]

Don't mix them stick with what's in it, ones mineral based ones alcohol based
If mixed can turn to a jelly and block up your water pipes, rad etc

[Stuart]

Red oats stuff ftw, 10years life and protects like a charm

[Benn]

Not in a Nova (or older engine tho) as it can eat the HG and the alloy in the head... Well so they say..

[Stuart]

its used in alloy block/headed and iron block/headed engines all the time

Infact Mr Dan runs the red stuff in his XE too.....
I will happily be corrected with real info (nothing from oilman) though.

[bighed]

I'm going to do a full flush and go for the blue then I think. This is what my water pump looks like.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r116/bighed123/20140506_121932_zps8705c004.jpg

and my head gasket.....

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r116/bighed123/20140506_191801_zps2ff520b5.jpg

[bighed]

Those bits looked blocked but they ain't. Where would the brown stuff come from?

[brainsnova]

Probs from not having antifreeze for a long time

[Stuart]

that does look like a water only issue.

[Kev Turbo]

Infact Mr Dan runs the red stuff in his XE too.....
I will happily be corrected with real info (nothing from oilman) though.

Bad experience from oilman Stu?

[Stuart]

Bad experience from oilman Stu?

I never take engineering 'advice' from someone with a massively vested interest in selling something lol

[bighed]

Well that's answered my question of whether or not I replaced my water pump on the rebuild 2 years ago then as I've always used coolant

[Andy]

The colour is a dye to detect leaks and make sure its easier to see when filling diahroea coloured expansion tanks.
Yes theres a difference in protectivity life.2 and 5 years.
Iv used blue iv used pink and iv never had a gasket or head "eaten" by antifreeze in any of my dozens of cars owned.

[bighed]

I got told about 4 years ago that the green stuff had something it it to stop whats happened to my water pump.

[Andy]

They ALL do to a certain extent.Just like oils have detergents in etc

[Stuart]

You could imagine that the various 'stuff' in the coolant would seperate out over years of no use, and could cause the corrosion...

[conza123]

I just use qauntums long life pink stuff as it kinda makes it's way into my car at work free of charge :)

[novalew]

Could you use water wetter alone? Also isnt there some sort of non water option I saw on wheeler dealers once. I may be wrong.