The Antifreeze Question

[June]

are dealers really using distilled water on the thousands of cars run thru the shop? and indys? Of course they do! its in the distilled water closet, or perhaps next to the coffee maker.

My dealer does. They have a huge tank I mean HUGE behind a bay door at detail which makes and stores the deionized water used in service and as spot free water to wash down the lot cars everyday. I asked that question years ago and I have seen the bay door open and a employee filling the spray truck. I can't say what other dealers do or even if Volvo requires it or just tap water. June

[Rattnalle]

In Vida there is a detailed specification of water requirements. The text pretty much says that tap water can be used if clean enough but that distilled water is preferable where water quality is uncertain or not good enough.

[abscate]

I did the swag on this once and calculated the hardest of hard water consumes about 1% of the capacity of coolant to neutralize it. If using distilled water brings you happiness, you should do it. I promise I will do it next time, too (as long as I can find it for free)

[Penhallow]

In the local spares shop (the only one ) the man told me that all antifreeze is compatible, and as Rattnalle posted the brands nowadays will be way up to spec from earlier years ! Nice country Sweden if we ever sell in Spain we will most likely buy there 4hours up from Stockholm, a town called Torsas,(shame about the alcohol Prohibition !!)

[RickHaleParker]

the man told me that all antifreeze is compatible

Bull!,

If you mix Inorganic Additive Technology (IAT) with Organic Acid Technologies (OAT). The chemical reaction between the two can create a thick gel, which can clog the cooling system, coat the inside of the coolant passages, lowering the thermal conductivity. Resulting in a condition where the engine cannot dissipate heat quick enough. Sometimes a flush will get the gel coating out, sometimes it will not, depends on the specific chemistry of the IAT and OAT antifreeze.

[Rattnalle]

In the local spares shop (the only one ) the man told me that all antifreeze is compatible, and as Rattnalle posted the brands nowadays will be way up to spec from earlier years ! Nice country Sweden if we ever sell in Spain we will most likely buy there 4hours up from Stockholm, a town called Torsas,(shame about the alcohol Prohibition !!)

*sidetrack* The alcohol monopoly actually means that there's a much more diverse supply in every corner of the country compared to what would be available in rural areas from demand alone in a pure market economy. The high-ish prices are due to taxes and have little with the monopoly itself to do. I'm a fan of it. You just need to shop before five on a friday or two on a saturday. *end sidetrack*

As for the primary question as far as I know the biggest no-no is mixing ethylene and and propylene glycol. The different kinds of corrosion inhibitors isn't something that usually comes up on Swedish forums but I guess that could be an issue too. Thus no, not all kinds are mixable. But many are.

None of this matters if you flush the system though. It's only an issue when you're topping up and don't know whats in the from before.

[Penhallow]

Looks like I will have to flush the system and just buy local (Moonshine) antifreeze, I only wanted to top up after changing a hose !!!!

[oragex]

Looks like I will have to flush the system and just buy local (Moonshine) antifreeze, I only wanted to top up after changing a hose !!!!

If it's just a small amount, perhaps less than 1L just top it up with distillate water. You don't have cold temperatures in Spain any way.. unless something really went wrong with the weather (you never know these days)

[jtp]

In the local spares shop (the only one ) the man told me that all antifreeze is compatible, and as Rattnalle posted the brands nowadays will be way up to spec from earlier years ! Nice country Sweden if we ever sell in Spain we will most likely buy there 4hours up from Stockholm, a town called Torsas,(shame about the alcohol Prohibition !!)

That’s definitely not the case. I work at a VW dealership and we see coolant leaks regularly from people/other shops not using the correct coolant. On those cars it swells o-ring like gaskets on the water pump and creates leaks.

Never worked at a Volvo dealership and I stick to OE coolant in my wagon so I don’t know if there are similar issues with these cars are not.

But all coolants are definitely not compatible as that guy told you.

[Georgeandkira]

Sorry I don't have the chemical family names of the differing coolants handy.

Our blue coolant (G-46 or G-48, I THINK) is said to be compatible with G-05 (the "new universal") which is gold. It's what many have used to replace aging Volvo coolant with success. I used it in two of the Saabs with years of no-problem service.

My car ('07 V70) came with a pale green fluid. It made me think it was original blue into which G-05 had been added.
The Volvo mechanic who threw the battery into my car the day I test drove it said, "They're going to green now". Since I didn't have a line of questioning (due to lack of intel) I didn't ask if it was "good old American green" or some new formula.
My green is pretty pale...not a settling color.

As part of my timing belt change I'll flush the entire system and use Volvo blue (since I have it in hand) or buy OEM Volvo green (as mentioned by the dealership guy). There's the rub. Do I really want to go and ask some easily annoyed parts counter guy what color current Volvo coolant is? They can be so helpful.
For a $2 to $4 difference you can keep it to the time honored color or go with whatever new stuff has been concocted.

The real benefit is not having to flush out the old stuff 110% IF YOU MATCH COOLANTS. A little leftover is OK.

If your coolant is mixed the battle cry is "Get it all out".

I just gotta learn if "Green is the new blue".
Remember, it's easier to say to a prospective buyer, "There's Genuine Volvo coolant in there".

ANOTHER EXAMPLE:
Dex-Cool is a type of "modern" anti-freeze made by GM. It's a bright orange-red color especially when mixed using DISTILLED WATER.
It'll react badly with some coolants by gelling up.
Many of today's coolants are "Dex-Clones". That means they're similar chemically, I'M TOLD.
So what happens when some monkey throws Dex-Cool or a Dex-Clone into our Volvos to either top-off or after surgery where half the coolant has been lost?

I'm also told the Dex-Cool type coolants are designed with sealed systems in mind.
Using Dex-Cool in a vehicle with an open-to-the-atmosphere reservoir is a HUGE NO-NO. You get gel.

So what do you want to do?