coolant colors - what is blue?

[Ameer Antar]

Although it won't explode if mixed w/ your blue antifreeze, using cheapo green coolant is a bad idea to use on an Audi. Basically the reason why Audi specifies their own type of coolant is b/c of all the reactive metals in the coolant system... ie. iron block, steel lines, aluminum head/radiator, plastic end tanks, and brass fittings on some models. The last car I bought was very well maintained, but the coolant was green and there were several aluminum and steel cooling system items that were totally destroyed. The fluid looked reasonable, but it seems that the coolant allowed too much interaction between the metals. This isn't like Pentosin hydraulic fluid vs. steering fluid...and I'm sure you could get away w/ it for a few weeks, but if it were my car, I'd go out and get the right stuff first. Luckily, I can get a good deal on the stuff from the TPC, but I'm not sure if you can order that from where you are. good luck.


---Original Message---
Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2004 18:56:05 -0600
From: "Livolsi, Stephane" <Stephane.Livolsi at investorsgroup.com>
Subject: RE: coolant colors - what is blue?
To: "Audi Quattro List" <quattro at audifans.com>
Message-ID: <A9CCC2FEA3353D4B9BB3D1DC8939777002168069 at igamail3.iga.bz>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Thanks for the answers. General consensus is that it is Pentosin brand
from the dealer, which makes sense as the car received most of it's
service at a dealer before I got my grubby hands on it.

Step 2.  It was -35C this morning, expected to be about the same
tonight.  I want to boost the mixture a bit (seemed a bit slushy this
morning)  Can I add some green stuff, or not?  I really, REALLY do not
want to do a drain and fill at -35C as I don't have a garage so I'd like
to just take a bit out and add some but I don't think I can get the blue
stuff around here.
Any comments on compatibility of blue stuff with green stuff?

Regarding the weather, it has been in the -30s for the last couple days
and expected to continue for a couple more.  The long term forecast
calls for rain in about a week. Go figure!



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