1997 850 what kind of coolant used? Do I have coolant light?

[abscate]

If you change it every 2-3 years it's fine.

[phils94850]

You all do realize there is only two major antifreeze manufacturers as far as the basic green stuff, and everyone just sticks there name on it ? Ive always used the basic green coolant in my volvo's, mixed 50/50 and never had a problem.

[rspi]

Hi! Yes when I turn the key all the lights turn on, one of them looks like a radiator with a fan on it im assuming that is probally the radiator light.

No, that is the low coolant light. You can check it by emptying the bottle and starting the car.

[Ozark Lee]

I have had trouble with plastic tank / aluminum radiators with both the green Prestone stuff and the Zerex G05. The owners manual wants a phosphate free coolant so that is what I feed it. I buy all of the cars well used (120k + miles) and even when I get the service records with the car it usually doesn't spell out what kind of coolant they used. On all of them they have come to me with the green coolant and I flush it out and change it to G05. Would they have held up better if they always had G05? I don't know - and it is impossible to tell without a control car that only had used a phosphate free coolant to compare with.

I think the short answer to the question is that you are OK at least in the sense that using the green stuff won't cause an immediate failure.

...Lee