1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
"...I'm not sure why coolant has to be made this complicated"
So,....
Generally speaking:
The coolant specifications for MOST European automotive manufactures are primarily to fulfill the requirements of protecting the {excessive amount} of plastic materials used in the engine cooling system.
This is actually becoming a very seriously over-looked and under-estimated point to be made for most all modern automotive vehicles these days.
...I'll save a rather wordy explanation and elaboration at this point and suffice to say;
Mixing coolant types or using an inappropriate spec coolant can ultimately shorten the life-span of the {porous} plastic materials incorporated into the engine cooling system components (I.E; radiator end-tanks, hose-couplings, hose-fittings, hose-flange assemblies, thermostat-housings, Rubber O-ring seals, etc, etc....)
The mixture concentration of said spec coolants also plays a factor here too.
Even if you are not mixing coolant types and using coolant that meets manufacture specifications, A Diluted mixture or too concentrated mixture can have adverse {long-term} side effects too.
Primarily speaking for SAAB 9-5 and 9-3 models: the DEX-Cool (Orange) type coolant is used to meet and maintain metal-material specific requirements (hard engine components). In order to prevent internal cooling system deposit accumulation, contamination, and corrosion (AKA surface pitting).
The blue (Mercedes/BMW/SAAB specific) type coolants are formulated to be PLASTIC SAFE. As well as provide protection to the engine's metal materials, while ALSO providing the requisite thermal-dynamic cooling properties and cooling-system component lubrication needs.
There is really a science to this stuff when you stop an realize it. Anti-freeze/coolant isn't "...just there to cool the radiator" anymore.
As a professional European-specialist automotive technician, I spend a good amount of time every month/year trying to re-educate owners about the importance of coolant-SPECIFICATION requirements.
It's essentially a long-term battle too.
Because pouring "universal" clear, yellow, or green coolant into your engine's cooling system isn't necessarily going to damage it right away...
Whether you are mixing it to "top-it-off", or refilling it with an entirely different coolant type,
There are eventually going to be some adverse side effects. As in: engine-coolant leaks due to compromised cooling system materials.
The OTHER reality of modern engine cooling systems is that those plastic components were never meant to last forever anyway. They are failure prone from the start, with an "expected life-span" under "the most ideal operating conditions".
So you are merely shorting those expectations by mixing or switching coolant specifications.
TLDR;
Short answer: DONT MIX COOLANT TYPES/COLORS. and only fill engine cooling system with manufacture approved-specification specific coolant/anti-freeze.
posted by 24.22.51...
, Tue, 28 Jul 2015 21:00:41
, Tue, 28 Jul 2015 15:28:34
, Wed, 29 Jul 2015 05:14:47
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
