New Volvo coolant/anti-freeze

[scot850]

Bought some of the 'new' style Volvo coolant today for the radiator replacement job. I recall someone asking before what the difference is and are the compatible. By chance the workshop foreman was there and so I asked him what the difference is.

He said that Volvo researchers have modified the mix to allow for better aluminum corrosion resistance/protection. He also assured me that they have been told the product is backward compatible so can be mixed with the old blue coolant.

Neil.

[dyn blin]

Thanks for the update- is the "new" color blue too?

I'd expect nothing less from our mothership.

[AKJeeper]

Not to hijack the thread, but I recently found out that Zerex G-48 coolant (available from NAPA) is compatible with Volvo's blue coolant. It is theoretically more ideal for our cars than G-05 because it does not have nitrates (no nitrates in Volvo coolant), and has lower silicate content.

I thought the 'new' Volvo coolant is blue, and the older formulation was yellow (and even older formula was green)? I could be getting the yellow and green formulas mixed up from my days working on Volvo heavy equipment, though. I do know that the most recent bottle of automotive Volvo coolant I bought was blue, though.

[pkc303]

Hope it is blue too.

[101]

Nope. The new coolant is green in color. I had the same concerns as Neil when I saw the color had changed.

[cn90]

The color is just the dye coolant mfg's put in to distinguish Type A from Tupe B from Type C antifreeze and that is all.
In order to know the exact composition, one needs to look at the MSDS sheet.

All academic aside, I have used Prestone Green Coolant (mix with distilled water), in 10's of my BMWs and Volvos (1998 V70, 1998 Volvo S70 GLT, 2005 XC90 etc.) with zero issues.
Green Prestone is about $12 at local Walmart, Target, autoparts store. IMHO, I don't buy Volvo coolant to keep Volvo rich.
Just my $0.02.