coolant question
 

Hi,

I got the "check coolant level" message and I plan to top it off myself. Do you think it's safe to use non-BMW coolant just to top it off? I heard that using non-BMW coolant will damage the system.

Thanks

I would use the BMW coolant just to make sure. It's only money ;)

Just make sure you use the green stuff. Preferably a major brand (prestone for example) but any brand will do. The premix 50/50 is very conveinent.

Or if you prefer you can send me a check for $95 and I'll get a label made that says BMW antifreeze put it on a bottle and send it to you. Shipping and handling is extra, of course.

I won't be able to buy BMW coolant on the weekend. I think I'll use the non_BMW stuff then.

Don't Do It!!
 

ABSOLUTELY DO NOT USE THE "GREEN STUFF"!!!! It is OLD TECHNOLOGY and contains disolved solids which coat the inside of the coolant system compromising heat transfer AND erode the water pump seals.

Use only the BMW coolant (blue if memory serves me correctly) or the ORANGE DEXCOOL coolant which uses organic chemistry to prevent corrosion without coating the inside of the coolant system thereby enhancing heat transfer; and because there are no disolved solids the water pump seals have a much longer life.

If you top off the coolant with the "green stuff" you will only dumb the blue or orange stuff down!!

I was in the same situation and I decided it was better to run Prestone/non-BMW coolant rather than none at all. The coolant measuring stick was bone dry and was just rattling around and I didn't want to risk frying anything. This situation was discovered at about midnight so the only thing open was Wal-Mart. Strangely, no BMW dealers are open 24 hours. :D

The Orange Dexcool Stuff is the worst thing that can be put into an engine. It is worse than straight tap water.

Over time it begins to gel in the system. It evetually plugs every opening it goes through. Great if you have a leak. Bad if you want to keep you vehcle running. If you do use it you should flush your system every six months. Most Manufacturers are moving away from Dexcool because of it's plroblems.

What "withidle" is talking about is silicates. The only thing old is his information. Most green stuff is now silicate free. It is only the very cheap stuff that still has the silicates in it. It will also say it on the label.

If you're marginally low on coolant, wait till Monday to get coolant from BMW. Better not to contaminate the sytem. If you absolutely need some, use distilled water till you can get BMW coolant.

I have a botle of bot the Dexcool 50/50 and Peak 50/50.

The contents are list as:
Peak
Distilled water, Ethylene glycol and Diethylene glycol

Dexcool
Water, Ethylene glycol, Diethylene gycol, Sodium 2-ethyl hexonate and Sodium neodecanoate.

You can mix the green in any system. You cannot put orange in any system unless it calls for it. The two sodium based (salt) chemicals are whats forms the gel in your system.

I'm willing to place a wager on what is in (or not in) BMW's blend. Anyone have a bottle of BMW antifreeze?

I already put in about 10oz of the Prestone 50/50. It said it's safe to mix with any coolant with all make and all color. I figure I only put in 10oz and it's only a small fraction of the total. It's not going to hurt anything. Anyway, I plan to do a coolant flush in a month.

Thanks for all the replies.