Which coolant to use? (BMW)

[Stokstert]

Green coolant is for German cars IIRC.

Not necessarily, VW has blue/green and red antifreeze. Depends on model, older cars were blue/green while newer ones use red.

 

[boxerulez]

Good people, my coolant light came on just now.

Checked the coolant tank. And it seems to be dry....

2007 BMW 2.0.

Do I need to go to BMW and be charged what I presume will be an exorbitant amount for their BMW coolant, or can I use R70 coolant from Game?

I've Googled to no avail... People seem to be leaning towards the BMW variety from what I can tell...

Thanking you kindly

Coolant systems should be flushed and refilled yearly. The coolant acts as lubricant for the waterpump and anti corrosive agent for the entire cooling system.

You can safely use the Holts coolant 50/50 mix with distilled water in there.

I do not believe in mixing different coolants at all.

If you can drain and flush and just run some clean water for a few days to see if the level stays constant.

If that holds up just flush again and fill up with your 50/50 mix.

 

[ponder]

/shakes head, goes for a piss & climbs into bed...

 

[Wasabee!]

Oil gets used up, some cars slower than others. People put in pints fairly regularly.

Captain here. Only old rubbish cars burn oil, ie use oil. All my cars do not use oil (check every now and then) and only get replaced every 15 000 km.

Burning oil is a sign of a damaged engine.

 

[hj2k_x]

Coolant systems should be flushed and refilled yearly. The coolant acts as lubricant for the waterpump and anti corrosive agent for the entire cooling system.

You can safely use the Holts coolant 50/50 mix with distilled water in there.

I do not believe in mixing different coolants at all.

If you can drain and flush and just run some clean water for a few days to see if the level stays constant.

If that holds up just flush again and fill up with your 50/50 mix.

Busy googling to find out how to do the flush...

 

[PostmanPot]

Captain here. Only old rubbish cars burn oil, ie use oil. All my cars do not use oil (check every now and then) and only get replaced every 15 000 km.

Burning oil is a sign of a damaged engine.

Some cars use [much] more than others, and their engines are not damaged. I put 5W-40 in every 2,500 - 3,000km, and my engine is not damaged, nor in other cars that share the same engine.

 

[Sinbad]

Captain here. Only old rubbish cars burn oil, ie use oil. All my cars do not use oil (check every now and then) and only get replaced every 15 000 km.

Burning oil is a sign of a damaged engine.

Most manufacturers specify an acceptable oil usage rate. I've seen up to half a litre per thousand km bring within spec.

 

[P924]

It is best to use BMW coolant. Use of other coolants have been associated with cooling system problems later on - it is usually the plastic parts that go. Cars that have only had the OEM coolant have cooling systems that usually last much longer. That said, you should be able to buy OEM spec coolant from a place like goldwagen, but it might also be more expensive than the stealership.

 

[hj2k_x]

It is best to use BMW coolant. Use of other coolants have been associated with cooling system problems later on - it is usually the plastic parts that go. Cars that have only had the OEM coolant have cooling systems that usually last much longer. That said, you should be able to buy OEM spec coolant from a place like goldwagen, but it might also be more expensive than the stealership.

Thanks. Draining the coolant seems to be quite difficult, from what I could find via Google,though.

 

[AntiGanda]

I've added some normal water for now. Topped it up to the appropriate level. Maybe it wasn't as empty as it appeared. It took maybe 200ml to fill it up.

You are supposed to top it up now and again with normal water. After a while, you should add coolant because that's what does the job.

 

[hj2k_x]

You are supposed to top it up now and again with normal water. After a while, you should add coolant because that's what does the job.

Let's hope this does the job.

 

[Sinbad]

Coolant doesn't "do the job".

Coolant's function is to resist corrosion, increase the boiling point and decrease the freezing point of the water. The heat transfer is still performed by the water, and to a lesser degree by the coolant present.

 

[boxerulez]

You are supposed to top it up now and again with normal water. After a while, you should add coolant because that's what does the job.

NO YOU ARE NOT

Coolant level should not change. If it drops there is a leak.

Either external say a hose is perished or your heater matrix or radiator is leaking. Might also be internal. Headgasket or cylinders head or cylinder wall crack depending the severity of overheating in the past.

 

[hj2k_x]

NO YOU ARE NOT

Coolant level should not change. If it drops there is a leak.

That was my understanding. Seems people still change their coolant every few years. The same as an oil change I suppose.

 

[boxerulez]

That was my understanding. Seems people still change their coolant every few years. The same as an oil change I suppose.

You have to change it because the ethylene glycol in the antifreeze additive becomes redundant over time with corrosion inhibition and countless heat cycles. It starts crystallising on aluminium parts and blocking water jackets if not changed regularly.


I recommend 1. every 12 months and 2. that people here who really dont know rather not post opinions as their opinions might cost the op dearly a few months down the line.

 

[PostmanPot]

That was my understanding. Seems people still change their coolant every few years. The same as an oil change I suppose.

No, it's not, as discussed. Coolant does not get used up. It is a closed system where the level should not change. Oil is not a closed system; oil gets burned off and is used up in the process, albeit at different rates in different engines/cars. That your car takes a while to use oil, does not mean it's the same as your cooling system.

 

[PostmanPot]

I recommend 1. every 12 months and 2. that people here who really dont know rather not post opinions as their opinions might cost the op dearly a few months down the line.

The bottom line here is to get the car to a BMW specialist ASAP, who will then fix the problem and drain/fill up accordingly. No one knows the rate of water loss. If it needs topping up to make the trip to the specialist, then either water, or water + generic coolant, will IMO work for the short couple of km trip until the specialist tends to it properly.

I disagree with giving it time to test, as you do. It should not lose water, and therefore it's silly topping up now and carrying out tests. There is 100% a leak.

 

[hj2k_x]

The bottom line here is to get the car to a BMW specialist ASAP, who will then fix the problem and drain/fill up accordingly. No one knows the rate of water loss. If it needs topping up to make the trip to the specialist, then either water, or water + generic coolant, will IMO work for the short couple of km trip until the specialist tends to it properly.

I disagree with giving it time to test, as you do. It should not lose water, and therefore it's silly topping up now and carrying out tests. There is 100% a leak.

I hear you.

Just don't want to aft prematurely.

The car is 8 years old. Maybe it's a really really small leak...

 

[Sinbad]

I hear you.

Just don't want to aft prematurely.

The car is 8 years old. Maybe it's a really really small leak...

It's still a leak and must get fixed. Small ones have a habit of suddenly becoming big ones.

 

[boxerulez]

It's still a leak and must get fixed. Small ones have a habit of suddenly becoming big ones.

Small ones tend to be internal ones too. Cyl head gasket... cracked head...

I hope its not as serious.

What BMW do you have exactly op?