Antifreeze for C15 Green, Red or Blue what to use.

[jawjaw]

I have been investigating the workings of the cooling system and decided to top up the Antifreeze.

I had been topping up the radiator with water it would be a good idea to add some antifreeze. So off to the shops.
I told the guy in the shop that i wanted it for a Citroen C15. He said what color antifreeze do i want. RED or BLUE. i said that when i looked into the radiator it was GREEN

He looked puzzled and asked his colleague who said that they cold not get it any more as they only supplied the RED or BLUE[/b

Question. Can the GREEN still be obtained.

Is it OK to mix the colors. i.e top up the green with RED or BLUE.

Do i have to drain out the cooling system ad fill it with water and RED or BLUE anti freeze.

Roll on the warm summer season.

Have any of the other members solved this puzzle. I expect it must have cropped up before. I was informed that the various colors give varying degrees of protection from engine corrosion and sludge formation and some are made specifically for various manufactures and the wrong combination can damage seals in the engine.

Any advice would be very much appreciated


Thanks again for your help.

John

[marc4242]

Hi John

I don't know the answer I'm afraid, but I have 2.5 vehicles with 2 different colours and I'd like to know the answer too! Try re-posting your message on the Car Mechanics magazine website?

IBBICBW that mixing colours will still give you anti-freezing protection, but that what may be or is lost is the anti-corrosion capability, and that's important ...

Marc

[karenw]

This might be of interest: www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=19701

[jawjaw]

hi all

Ant was good enough to explain. see below

Hi John.
The colour is not normally important. The only thing that matters is that you don't mix Methanol based coolant with Glycol based coolant. The bottle will always say Methanol on it if it contains it, the Glycol based stuff ( now the most commonly used) has all sorts of slightly different names like Ethylglycol and Ethylamine, it all does the same thing and can be mixed. A 33% mixture is about right for all year round protection from freezing and engine corrosion.
Ant