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[Darth Loo-knee]

Asked the parts bloke this morning at Vauxhall what anti freeze they would have put in my car when they did Cambelt,Tensioners and Water Pump about two months back? he said "Red" but i then said "well i have had to drain some water off and it is greenish not red!" he went on to say that you at one time you could not mix green anti freeze with red but Vauxhall now reckon you can..

Is this right??

Daz

[Kevin Wood]

I heard that green and red antifreeze formed a gel and started blocking things up if they were mixed. Then again there are different types of green / blue antifreeze.

I'd play it safe and try to find the same stuff that's already in there. If it was put in before you owned the car or so long ago that you can't remember what it was it's probably time to flush it through and fill it with red.

Kevin

[ians]

I think you can mix them but given that most of it is drained out with the water pump it sounds like they didn't use red.

Personally I flushed mine out with water , run it a bit and then refilled with the red stuff.

[omegalyn]

Found this on yahoo
http://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061127160528AAUe0S7

 Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Silicates are one of the components that cause problems
once the antifreeze "wears out". It must be replaced every 2 years to provide proper corosion protection and not eat out the seals etc. Silicates are only in green anti-freeze.

Silicate free does not have the same problems and can be used for up to 5 years without replacing. This is the red anti-freeze, or in your case, GM Dex-Cool. Toyotas version is called Toyota Red, but its all the same.

yah, don't mix 'em. But use what the manufacturer reccomends, as some coolant may actually corrode your seals.

[ians]

To add some confusion (you wanted that didn't you )  I seem to remember that Americans have (or used to have) green antifreeze which is not the same as our blue.  I think the link you found may be referring to that.

Given that a can of red stuff is about a tenner on TC I think its best not to mess around and thoroughly drain, flush and refill with the long life red stuff. IMHO

Cheers

Ian

[Darth Loo-knee]

To add some confusion (you wanted that didn't you )  I seem to remember that Americans have (or used to have) green antifreeze which is not the same as our blue.  I think the link you found may be referring to that.

Given that a can of red stuff is about a tenner on TC I think its best not to mess around and thoroughly drain, flush and refill with the long life red stuff. IMHO

Cheers

Ian

I have topped up with just water, i will do like you have done and drop the lot out re filling with red
 
Thanks Lads

[Chopsdad]

To add some confusion (you wanted that didn't you )  I seem to remember that Americans have (or used to have) green antifreeze which is not the same as our blue.  I think the link you found may be referring to that.

Given that a can of red stuff is about a tenner on TC I think its best not to mess around and thoroughly drain, flush and refill with the long life red stuff. IMHO

Cheers

Ian

£7.23 + vat.  Cheap enough not to take a risk Daz.  

It sounds like they filled you up with red but never flushed the blue stuff out of the water pump, thermostat etc.  The red stuff is actually an orange/pink colour and mixed with blue would give the the green colour you describe.  Best start again.  

[Darth Loo-knee]

To add some confusion (you wanted that didn't you )  I seem to remember that Americans have (or used to have) green antifreeze which is not the same as our blue.  I think the link you found may be referring to that.

Given that a can of red stuff is about a tenner on TC I think its best not to mess around and thoroughly drain, flush and refill with the long life red stuff. IMHO

Cheers

Ian

£7.23 + vat.  Cheap enough not to take a risk Daz.  

It sounds like they filled you up with red but never flushed the blue stuff out of the water pump, thermostat etc.  The red stuff is actually an orange/pink colour and mixed with blue would give the the green colour you describe.  Best start again.  

I will fill up with Red at weekend but apparently i wont be able to drop the whole lot as most will be stuck in the system, so what if i drop the bottom hose off the Rad then hold a garden hose in the reservoir until what comes out is clear then just pour 50/50 red in??

Also Mark i have always got a 50/50 green anti-freeze from work (free) so that why i thought Vauxhall had put green in never gave it a thought that the two coloured anti freezes would turn green

Daz

[ians]

I think you may still get some left in the block.

If you've got the patience  , I would
- drain it all out from the red tap
- refill with plain water
- run it a good bit - up to temperature , heaters on etc
- drain off again
- repeat until it runs clear (say 3 times?)  (I'm not sure about putting cold water in a warm engine so you may want to let it cool down in between)
- then add enough antifreeze to make 50/50 according to the stated capacity
(I think 9.5/2 = 4.75 litres)
- then top up with water
- then you know you've got 4.75 litres antifreeze and the rest is water - so should be 50/50.

[Dave-C]

I heard that green and red antifreeze formed a gel and started blocking things up if they were mixed. Then again there are different types of green / blue antifreeze.

I'd play it safe and try to find the same stuff that's already in there. If it was put in before you owned the car or so long ago that you can't remember what it was it's probably time to flush it through and fill it with red.

Kevin

Wasn't the green Etheleyne Glycol many years ago... However you spell it!!!

[Auto Addict]

In Vx TC little red book, it says you can mix the red antifreeze with others, but you are better flushing the old out and useing just the red.

[Chopsdad]

No need to drop off the hose Daz, there is a bleed valve ready made for the job.

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1167917774

I've just done mine today and there is no blue left - just pretty pink

[Darth Loo-knee]

No need to drop off the hose Daz, there is a bleed valve ready made for the job.

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1167917774

I've just done mine today and there is no blue left - just pretty pink

Cheers Mark you really are a Topman

Vauxhall almost thought of evrything

[Chopsdad]

No need to drop off the hose Daz, there is a bleed valve ready made for the job.

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1167917774

I've just done mine today and there is no blue left - just pretty pink

Cheers Mark you really are a Topman

Vauxhall almost thought of evrything

If you didn't have so many cylinders and had skinny arms, you can get to the valve from the top on a 2.2 - so you'd better wear a mac for your MV6  

[Darth Loo-knee]

No need to drop off the hose Daz, there is a bleed valve ready made for the job.

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1167917774

I've just done mine today and there is no blue left - just pretty pink

Cheers Mark you really are a Topman

Vauxhall almost thought of evrything

If you didn't have so many cylinders and had skinny arms, you can get to the valve from the top on a 2.2 - so you'd better wear a mac for your MV6  

Got a better idea, tell the girls they can earn their pocket money this week