Volvo Coolant ?

[V70IIT5]

Well having got my T5 V70 II back together after the PCV system service, I drove about 2 km and the low coolant warning came on, I thought nothing of it as I had just checked the level before setting off, and it was fine. I thought the level in the expansion tank had dropped a bit maybe after having drained and refilled the system. I drove another 3 km and when I got back I turned off and discovered it had lost all its coolant from the bottom hose. I can only think I hadn't tightened it up enough, I have never had that before!

I had thought about replacing the coolant, now I had no choice. I had to use what I had already, universal monoethylene glycol antifreeze, JCB brand. 50/50 mix with water. I am not sure what the Volvo brand stuff is. I have always used monoethylene glycol on my cars and change it at 3 years normally. I started worrying if I had blown the headgasket but the engine never overheated, or the gauge didn't anyway, and the engine wasn't making any funny noises. When I filled the expansion vessel it was not blowing exhaust bubbles out. The exhaust was steamy and dripping a bit but the weather is wet and cold, my BMW exhaust is wet and steamy and that car is fine. So maybe I will have been lucky?

What's the importance of using Volvo antifreeze?

[abscate]

The cooling properties of eg 50/50 mix are fine but these engines (and most modern engines today) like a certain mix of additives to curtail corrosion.

if you want a few years service from the car, EG is fine. If you want long life, look up the recommended antifreeze type in the manual and use that. i refrain from making recommendations as model years across markets can vary, so check the right document for uk model year.

[vtl]

Why risk? 1 gallon jug of original concentrate is about $20.

[jbeebo]

You can't beat the Volvo OEM coolant. It's high quality "OAT" type ethylene glycol and should last at least 150k miles.

I understand, in a pinch, you gotta do what you gotta do.

"generic" or "universal" coolant is not compatible with OAT type, mixing them can create problems. It sounds as if you ended up with a mix, as you replaced what was lost through the lower rad hose, and a good amount was trapped in the engine block. Now that you're back to home base, take the time to drain the system (radiator, overflow and engine block) of that mixed coolant and fill with proper 50/50 OEM coolant, which has the correct additives, salts, etc for the mix of materials in your engine. Use Distilled water to achieve 50/50.

[V70IIT5]

Thanks for the advice. I had to put in about 7 litres though so I think it was empty.