Rookie Coolant move

[X5Cali]

I know there are a million coolant threads but I looked and I couldn't find an answer to this one. My check coolant light came on yesterday while I was driving so I pulled over to the local gas station and picked up some Peak 50/50 antifreeze ($10). I waited to get home to put it in and after I put about a quart in I noticed on the jug it said for GM models 2000 and earlier. As you can tell I'm the exact opposite of a mechanic and always bring my X5 to the dealership. Can anyone tell me how big of a problem this is? I haven't turned my car on yet so its all fixable, hopefully.

[03BamaX5]

The GM dexcool coolant is the orange stuff. It's total junk (eats up intake gaskets in GM vehicles)... The claim is that it is to offer a longer life coolant. It **WILL NOT MIX** with other coolants. It turns in to some orangery booger goo. Since you have not started the vehicle it has not made it fully in to the system. Water jackets, heater core etc..

On left side of the radiator (vehicle left, your right from the front) down toward the bottom will be a drain plug. You need to open this and collect what comes out. You will then need to fill it up with water and drain it again a couple of times.

Fill it up with water again and drive it with the heater on till it gets up to operating temp and heat is coming out. Let it cool off and then open the drain plug again.

At this time fill it up with the good stuff 50 coolant/50 distilled water. Two of the BMW gallon jugs will be MORE than enough.

Don't forget** Don't do this hot. You will get burned. Also, when opening the cooling system always open the bleeder valve on the expansion tank when filling.

You made a mistake but you have not caused any damage. Just get that junk out of there.

Brandon

[X5Cali]

Brandon - Thanks for the help!

The Peak coolant that I put in was actually green. Does it still pose the same problems?

[sasquatch]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe BMW (and other European car makers) require phosphate-free coolant. Ironically, I just bought a gallon of BMW coolant today and read the ingredients. Phosphate-type chemicals are not listed. I'm pretty sure the metal alloys used in the cooling system are not compatible with phosphates.....they attack and damage the metal and seals.

I avoid the normal store bought coolants whenever I deal with a European vehicle. Always buy the OE coolant or an equivalent European brand.

[X5Cali]

I agree and this is the last time I'll ever put anything besides BMW coolant in. I'm just interested to know how much damage I can do if I put less than a quart in.

[ECS Tuning]

Sasquatch would be correct. It is not recommended to blend different types of coolant/antifreeze.

The correct coolant/antifreeze for your x5 is the BMW Coolant Mixed 50/50 with distilled water.




Will it damage anything, that's not 100% cretin but I would recommended having the system flushed and replacing with the proper coolant.

ECS Tuning

[X5Cali]

Well it looks like i might be screwed now. My wife needed to pick up something big a Pottery Barn so she took the X5. Hopefully the little amount that I put in won't do any damage.