Coolant

BackintheFold · 07-10-19, 09:39 AM

Just a heads up...

I bought some AFG13 coolant from ebay, on the basis it was G13 specification. The bottle has NO information on it as to the specification.
The liquid inside is green.

Apparently it is not G13 spec....

Now I found that extraordinary, but maybe I'm an idiot...

Yes, I know green antifreeze is not G13.
I think green is G11

(EDIT: as per MikeS, G11 is normally blue, and I now read several sites saying "green-blue")

, but then again I can add colourant to petrol and make it green, it still isn't G11. My point is that it is HUGELY misleading to market AntiFreeze as AFG13 that is not G13 spec.

(G13 spec mixes with all previous antifreeze specs. If you mix the wrong types together they form a gel in the engine. I bought this stuff to refill a flushed out system, so I am ok, but I wanted tot use the extra to top up some other systems....now I can not!)

EDIT bottom line, don't mix G12 with G11. For the cost, its probably safest to drain the lot, flush and refill with whatever you want.
Don't leave Antifreeze lying around, it is poisonous to cats but they like the taste.

mikes2 · 07-10-19, 10:57 AM

G11 is normally blue. It's what I've been using in both 90s.

G13 is a pink colour.

You can mix G13 with G12+, G12++ and G11.

Don't mix with G12 (red)

BackintheFold · 09-10-19, 10:58 AM

by extraordinary co-incidence, I stripped a bike down yesterday to replace the water pump, and found a whole heap of gunge formed in the cooling system from mixing antifreeze types, so I can confirm that this is a "real thing"
Yuck. Hose pipe flushing on the way!

mikes2 · 10-10-19, 09:46 PM

you normally get brown sand like sludge when G11 and G12 are mixed

Gaz · 01-03-20, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikes2

you normally get brown sand like sludge when G11 and G12 are mixed

I cringe in winter when customers come in buying engine coolant.

I try to explain to them the importance of knowing what is already in their cars and what will happen if they mix the wrong types.

Some of them take on an "it'll be alright" or "its an old car it doesn't matter" attitude.

07-10-19, 10:57 AM	#2
mikes2 4 ring whore! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Polmont Posts: 2,617	G11 is normally blue. It's what I've been using in both 90s. G13 is a pink colour. You can mix G13 with G12+, G12++ and G11. Don't mix with G12 (red) __________________ 1991 90 quattro 20v sport 1991 90 quattro

10-10-19, 09:46 PM	#4
mikes2 4 ring whore! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Polmont Posts: 2,617	you normally get brown sand like sludge when G11 and G12 are mixed __________________ 1991 90 quattro 20v sport 1991 90 quattro

09-10-19, 10:58 AM	#3
BackintheFold Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Near an MB ur Quattro Posts: 1,171	by extraordinary co-incidence, I stripped a bike down yesterday to replace the water pump, and found a whole heap of gunge formed in the cooling system from mixing antifreeze types, so I can confirm that this is a "real thing" Yuck. Hose pipe flushing on the way!