This will be absolutely obvious to most on here, but I have a question re antifreeze. I don't think that I've ever had the need to buy any before, but I noted today that the level had dropped by about an inch in the Astra's coolant reservoir. I couldn't see any obvious signs of leakage/seepage, so I'm wondering if, when the car was serviced a month ago, some trapped air was introduced which has subsequently been dislodged.
Anyway, I need to top it up and was wondering what the rules are regarding antifreeze suitability ...... is it all the same? There seems to be blue types and pink types - is that of any significance? The fluid in the Astra is pink, so does that mean that it has to be topped up with pink stuff?
Any guidance will be appreciated.
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Have you checked the level when hot? You may well find it's gone up. If the level's between max and min then there's absolutely nothing to worry about.
If you want to top it up, then use water. The dilution won't be enough to make any difference to its properties. Use de-ionised water if you must, but the amount of tap water in the system shouldn't be enough to cause any problems.
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>>Anyway, I need to top it up and was wondering what the rules are regarding antifreeze suitability
See what your owners handbook specifies.
The coolant reservoir level in my Subaru was much more than an inch lower than it should have been for years.
It never got topped up, even after a pain dealer service.
Keep dogeye on it, Justin Case, to make sure it doesn't get any lower.
www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/general-advice/antifreeze-faqs.html
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Asda were selling off Bluecol universal top up anti freeze for a pound for a litre bottle recently. It is clear coloured and claimed to mix with any existing antifreeze.
bluecol.co.uk/nevonproducts/bluecol-u-anti-freeze/
Otherwise any of the above. :-)
Last edited by: Old Navy on Sun 26 Mar 17 at 08:35
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As Tom suggests! - use water this time to top up, as it's only an inch low, if it is a leak no point in wasting good stuff till it's fixed! - I made that mistake recently, bought 5lts VAG coolant, used a third of it before I was told the pump was leaking (found at cam belt change), had it fixed at same time, now I've got two-thirds of 5lts that i'll probably never use! and it cost 18 squid!! ;-(
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Thanks for the replies.
It seems that since my childhood, engine coolants have, like politics, become a great deal more complicated. I remember my father pouring various concoctions into the radiator of his Ford Thingy or Vauxhall Whatsit, and only knowing that he'd got it right if the frost-pennies didn't blow at some stage of the winter (istr that he usually got it wrong - much cussing!).
I had already consulted the manual for the Astra but, as usual, there was insufficient detail and the advice was to go and introduce myself to the Vauxhall dealer.
I like the idea of just topping up with water and seeing what happens but I should admit that, before having the sense to post on here, I had put my reg into Eurocarparts, been offered a range of suitable (?) products, and ordered a litre of this - it cost £2.49 with their promo code ...
tinyurl.com/kmt5cz5
Do you think that would be compatible, or should I stick with water for now? I have saved gallons of the de-ionised variety from my dehumidifier.
Last edited by: Haywain on Sun 26 Mar 17 at 16:57
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I would have thought that topping up with water at this time of year is the right idea. Surely the worst of the cold weather is past and so any [very] limited dilution will be irrelevant.
The time to worry will be next Autumn, and who knows what will have happened by then, and by then a full fluid change might be in order.
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Its the potential corrosion, of various types, you need to worry about.
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The antifreeze in your Astra is OAT (Organic Acid Technology). Do not mix mineral antifreeze with it.
OAT is long life and has many corrosion inhibiters in it. Generally it is pink, but it can be any colour too. The manufacturer can dye the product any colour they want, so it's not always safe to go by colour alone.
See here for more info
www.opieoils.co.uk/pdfs/tech-articles/coolant-antifreeze.pdf
Personally I wouldn't be mixing the Bluecol stuff with it.
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>> This is what you need and probably cheaper than the universal stuff;www.ebay.co.uk etc. 308 characters.
Does that take the longest for the longest URL?
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If you're worried about the water allowing the coolant to freeze next Winter, do what I did with old motors. Syphon some out (I used a yoghurt pot) and put it in the freezer overnight. If that doesn't freeze (should be -20), then it's OK.
As for de-ionised water, I'm currently looking at a couple of 100-year-old cylinder blocks with studs seized where they pass through the water jacket. I'm led to believe (by aircraft engine experts) using de-ionised water would have prevented electrolytic reaction between dissimilar metals and reduced the problem. Anyone seen the use of inductive heating for removing such fixings?
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You could use bonding leads if that's possible, i remember in the dim and distant past, bonding helps stop dissimilar metal corrosion.
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>>put it in the freezer
Now that's a good tip. My car has to deal with extremes when I go up into the mountains.
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>> >>put it in the freezer
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>> Now that's a good tip.
Remember to take the elephant out first though.
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>> Generally it is pink,
I missed out it can also be orange too. Generally the GM stuff is. Last lot of antifreeze I bought was from a company called Autovaux.
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Vauxhall Astra H estate - Anti-freeze/coolant ..... - bathtub tom
