Shell Glycoshell - coolant alternative?
- Thread starter Ryandoc
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BigR
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I used Comma when I needed to top mine up (I think its an Exxon brand or something). I'll check the spec of it tonight. It does state in the handbook (I think) about mixing and not to use plain old water etc... just in case you were tempted!
For note, I discovered mine was down a similar amount and I then spotted the drops on the garage floor. Fortunately it was under warranty so although I'd topped it up (and the top up lasted about 4 weeks until it went in for a service anyway), its worth just checking that you haven't got a leak somewhere as ordinarily it shouldn't really lose a great deal of coolant otherwise.
For note, I discovered mine was down a similar amount and I then spotted the drops on the garage floor. Fortunately it was under warranty so although I'd topped it up (and the top up lasted about 4 weeks until it went in for a service anyway), its worth just checking that you haven't got a leak somewhere as ordinarily it shouldn't really lose a great deal of coolant otherwise.
StuartW
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Where was your leak from out of interest?
BigR
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Sorry, missed this... Not quite sure in the end as it was done a the dealership (Maserati in Solihull), other than on the bottom somewhere. It appeared to have been - and how I described it to them - as being roughly where the drivers feet would be. It was only a small drip - never more than a couple of drops on the garage floor.
StuartW
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Good to hear that it wasn't too serious
BigR
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A case of if I hadn't spotted it, I think it would've been expensive! It prompted me to look at the coolant level which had dropped quite a lot, but it must've been happening for a while as after i'd topped it up despite the drips appearing after each drive, the level was only shifting down slowly.
And all under warranty fortunately!
jluis
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The important thing, is not to mix different types of coolant (ie red/orange with green/blue)
They have different chemical properties and will cancel each other out.
For 10mm you probably can get away with just distilled water.
Dilluting a bit further from the 50% mix won't hurt you unless you live in the North Pole.
They have different chemical properties and will cancel each other out.
For 10mm you probably can get away with just distilled water.
Dilluting a bit further from the 50% mix won't hurt you unless you live in the North Pole.
BigR
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Worth bearing in mind that colours are not 'standardised'. That is different manufacturers will use different colours to hit different specs. I've heard people say "Don't use blue coolant as its agricultural" for example, but the truth is - as in my case - Comma's coolant is blue for this spec. So you have to look at the spec rather than be led by the colour.
drewf
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Under no circumstances put distilled water into the cooling system. It's extremely corrosive! Just use tap water to mix with antifreeze.
jluis
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You got me confused.
The instructions for diluting the concentrated paraflu state the opposite.
Is it different for other types of coolants?
drewf
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Nope - although I've just seen some Paraflu (which is like most antifreeze) instructions, and I suspect there's a translation issue.
Distilled water will extract as many minerals as it can from your cooling system, mostly obviously from the joints. If a radiator is filled with distilled water, and nothing else, it will fall to bits in short order!
Personally, there's no way I would put distilled water into my car. What you don't want though is hard water with lots of limescale forming properties.
Distilled water will extract as many minerals as it can from your cooling system, mostly obviously from the joints. If a radiator is filled with distilled water, and nothing else, it will fall to bits in short order!
Personally, there's no way I would put distilled water into my car. What you don't want though is hard water with lots of limescale forming properties.
jluis
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Well, where I live the tap water is very hard and full of calcium which will create scale deposits when heated.
I used demineralized water to dilute my paraflu to prevent this.
It's the same water the wife uses in the iron for the clothes so I assume it to be ok.
I have now read a bit on the subject and it only seems to be a problem when the water is very pure and even then its the subject of a debate.
I used demineralized water to dilute my paraflu to prevent this.
It's the same water the wife uses in the iron for the clothes so I assume it to be ok.
I have now read a bit on the subject and it only seems to be a problem when the water is very pure and even then its the subject of a debate.
BigR
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I can check tonight when I'm back home. It rings a bell, but I don't think that's quite good enough to be certain! Comma was the brand I used to top mine up and it was specified as an alternative to the Shell product - but as I say, I can't remember the number off hand...