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.

You'll be just fine.

How old is your x5 and do you plan to keep it?

Might be a good idea to flush the system and start fresh.

Titz Post, SS...
We've beat this to a pulp, with never a resolve on what is
really in "BMW's" goop.

I would love to see an analysis of their P/L stuff.

Fwiw, I top up, (and, that topping up has been fairly
regular, though it's slowed, in the 5+ years and 57K
miles), with Dexcool.

This BMW coolant is akin to the BMW oil, imo.
A P/L promo and a gross margin deal for the dealer
and for all the soccer dads to buy BMW brand oil and coolant.

Rant over...I've beefed about this a dozen freakin times
here. Good points you have.
BR,mD

http://www.xoutpost.com/lounge/3938-n...t+brand+orange

Remember this one?

Thanks David.

I agree that people are paying for BMW to relabel other companies products. I don't think they have a chemical plant to make antifreeze and they certainly don't have an oil refinery.

One place that I feel caution should be exercised is the auto transmision. BMW hasn't used the same brand across the years. There are too many aditives to mix brands for my liking and you'll never get all of it out.

You simply don't know of what you speak! I've run the orange DEXCOOL in my 2001 4.4i for 86,000 miles and my coolant system is absolutely pristine; no deposites whatsoever.

Additionally, when I worked for Texaco Lubricants Company I officed several doors down from Rich Armstrong, the nuclear chemist greatly responsible for the development of Havoline Extended Life Anti-Freeze/Coolant. GM thought enough of it to put their DEX-COOL trademark on it and use it as OEM fill in ALL of their vehicles.

I'll address your subsequent reply below.

Again, you simply do not know of what you speak! As I type I'm looking at a bottle of neat Havoline Extended Life Anti-Freeze/Coolant. The only formulation references on the bottle are deliberately vague because, unlike food, all formulations are propritary (seceret) for competitive reasons. My bottle referencess "carboxylate inhibitors" (organic chemicals), the "ethylene glycol" base used in ALL coolants and "CPS#227994" (propritary formulation); no other additives are referenced. The disolved solids you referenced above are not in Havoline Extended Life Anti-Freeze/Coolant/DEX-COOL; General Motors simply would not allow it!

How can you say I know not what I speak of, if you can't tell us what's in your bottle?

Honestly, several doors from the nuclear chemist Rich Armstrong. Big deal and so what? What does that have to do with Dexcool it'self. Your proximity to his office makes it a good product? No.

It took several of the worlds most intelligent (and Original) nuclear scientists, with unlimited resourches, several years to make the Atom bomb go boom. Did you have an office in New Mexico also?

I can speak from experience. @ 56,000 miles my Toyota Tacoma 3.4 V6 had sludge coming out of the lower radiator hose. A nice Orange color sludge. Needless to say, it was flushed and went green after that. I kept it for another 40,000 miles on the green without a problem.

Whats in your radiator?

withidl send me your email address to [email protected]

I'll send you pictures of the prestone Dex-cool GM approved contents label.

Its states what I said it does, two sodium based chemicals.

We can discuss White Sands some other time
.

Withidl,

The MSDS sheet for Texaco and AC-Delco Dexcool lists the following:
Ethylene glycol
Diethylene glycol
Potasium 2-ethylhexanoate
Water

They use Potasium 2-ethylhexanoate Vs. Sodium 2-ethylhexanoate which is stated on the Prestone label. Apparently not all dexcool is created equal. Suprizing? Not really.

In either case the supposed benifit to Dexcool is that it forms a "protective barrier" to prevent corrosion. I suspect that "protective barrier" is what is causing the the gelling that I and so many others have found in their coolant systems. The PH of Dexcool is acutaully more acidic than that of the green stuff. Go Figure.

As far as the original question of this thread. You cannot mix Dexcool type antifreezes with other types (says so on the label). You can; however, mix the green stuff with all types (again, says so on the labels).

In all seriousness, I respect your brand loyaty; however, I personally don't think Dexcool is a better mouse trap.

http://www2.itap.purdue.edu/MSDS/docs/3272.pdf

This MSDS from Purdue University actually lists every single thing in Texaco made, GM brand Dexcool. They use sodium based chemicals also.

This page lists Phillips 76 antifreeze.
http://www2.itap.purdue.edu/MSDS/docs/12487.pdf
Nothing but:
Ethylene glycol
Diethylene glycol

How much does "BMW" coolant cost?

My guess is that BMW cares about quality and its good stuff.
Lets assume your paying $100 more it really does not mean much.

The one thing that is certain is that after 4 or 5 years new coolant is a good idea.

If your coolant level is down it may mean that you have a leak and it might be a good idea to check the hoses. It might be a good time to change the hoses.

Mixing coolant is not a good idea, yes its fine to get you home but its probably a good idea to put new coolant in the system.

The BMW coolant cost $18 an bottle.

BTW Zerex says we are all wrong and should be using Yellow.

I think we can all agree on is that it is a good idea to replace your antifreeze on a regular basis and you must be careful with mixing types. A complete flush, including the heater core, is a requirement if your changing fluids.

If your level is dropping and you have no leaks, chances are the water in the mixure is boiling off. The most important factor for the life of you cooling system is the pH. Straight water is 7. The best range I have been able to find for all cooling systems is between 8 and 9. Topping off with Deionized water and keeping an eye on the pH is the safest way to go until the next change.

Would you agree?

http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/pdf/BM...20-%202006.pdf
No help.

Well everybody, if your interested go to the following two web addresses and decide for yourselves whether I or "Supersteve" are giving you the correct information:

http://www.havoline.com/products/na/antifreeze_01.html

http://www.havoline.com/products/na/...e_01_tech.html

withidl,

I don't think anything I have stated as fact is untrue. You, on the other hand, have only listed opinon and advertising.

The info I listed above (MSDS) is from the web pages you are posting.

If you look at the webpages I listed from Prudue University you'll notice something different. They list the salts that are used in the proprietry formula. The ingredients add up to = 100%.

If you want to be as safe as you can, stick to BMW products for all your needs. If you want to be a little more prudent do your research. The only person you have satisfy is yourself.

We can go back and forth over this, I choose not to.


Peace, Out,

SS