Coolant Conundrum

[Yatz]

Hi, all; here's a curious little query. I am wanting to buy some coolant for my recently acquired Chimaera. When I bought the car I was given a list of the various fluids it would need and what types to buy. When it came to coolant, I was told: "blue or pink but not OAT". A quick look at what is currently in the radiator shows that it is pink and so, not wishing to mix coolants, that is what I would want to get, except for one little problem. As far as everyone seems to know, all pink coolant is OAT. This leaves me wondering, a) what to buy and b) what the hell is in the car at the moment if it s pink but not OAT? All helpful suggestions and advice gratefully received.

[Hedgehopper]

I contacted Comma to see if I could use the same A/F in my Griff and X-Trail...the answer was no.

The recommended A/F for the Griff is Comma Xstream G48 silicate based inhibitor.

The G30 OAT (organic) based A/F seems to be for more modern engines.

[Loubaruch]

The Anti freeze recommended for TVRs with the Rover V8 lump is Ethylene Glycol it always used to be blue in colour but currently it now comes in all shades.

Ethylene Glycol is very sweet so a quick check ( at your own risk) is to taste 1 drop and promptly spit it out, as it is very toxic. I did this recently on a Land Rover with pink AF and proved it was Ethylene Glycol based. I am assuming that OAT based AF is not sweet in taste but does anyone know otherwise?

[Yatz]

The stuff that's in the radiator at present certainly smells like ethylene glycol but excuse me if I don't taste it. It is more than a little lethal. There's a stuff called "Rock Oil Kool Guard" which is red and I suspect that this is what is in the machine at present. If anyone can think of any reason not to use this, please let me know.

[Belle427]

If in doubt flush it out.
It's not worth risking mixing different types but if you can be sure it's a certain brand then that's ok.
Most tend to stick to the old fashioned blue stuff in the UK but I know some have used the pink oat G12 vag stuff without issue.