Advise Sought On Coolant Change - C5 Hdi

[Guest S&M Inc]

Greetings to all,

I'm planing on replacing the coolant in my 2003 2.0 HDi (110 bhp) SX. My local motor factors have supplied blue antifreeze based on the year and model.

 

I was planing on a 50/50 mix with tap water but have read that de-ionised water should be used.

 

Your advice please?

 

Thanks

[myglaren]

I'm sure you would be fine with boiled tap water, all you need to do is set the calcium salts and remove as much air as possible.

 

Check that the antifreeze is OAT based as Citroen stipulate as you may end up fitting a new heater matrix in the future.

 

Forte do a cooling system additive that is helpful in preventing corrosion and silting, it also claims to lubricate the pump.

[Guest Peter07]

I'm sure you would be fine with boiled tap water, all you need to do is set the calcium salts and remove as much air as possible.

 

Check that the antifreeze is OAT based as Citroen stipulate as you may end up fitting a new heater matrix in the future.

 

Forte do a cooling system additive that is helpful in preventing corrosion and silting, it also claims to lubricate the pump.

 

Hello there Myglaren. I have been posting on the problems and fixes forum about antifreeze etc.

My car is 2005 2.2 VTR C5 estate

Regarding the use of OAT based antifreeze there seemed to be conflicting views both in these forums and elsewhere. I suffered a complete loss of coolant (story on probs forum) and so went to my main dealer who didn't know the cooling system capacity (not in hadbook/service book) and said we use 3 litres of ANTIGEL for a complete top up from an empty system. A bit of googling suggested ANTIGEL was NOT OAT type - the container wording is not helpful. So I emailed Citroen who said:-

"There is no requirement to use OAT type Anti-Freeze for your vehicles engine.

If you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me via our Citroën Contact Centre on 0844 463 3500."

 

So I am more confused than ever and wonder if you or anyone else could shed some light on this for me. To sum up what I still don't know :-

1 The capacity of the cooling system - suggestion from probs forum suggests 10 litres

2 Whether it needs an OAT type antifreeze and if so at what dilution

3 Whether Antigel is the right stuff

 

Peter

[mlkey]

Hello there Myglaren. I have been posting on the problems and fixes forum about antifreeze etc.

My car is 2005 2.2 VTR C5 estate

Regarding the use of OAT based antifreeze there seemed to be conflicting views both in these forums and elsewhere. I suffered a complete loss of coolant (story on probs forum) and so went to my main dealer who didn't know the cooling system capacity (not in hadbook/service book) and said we use 3 litres of ANTIGEL for a complete top up from an empty system. A bit of googling suggested ANTIGEL was NOT OAT type - the container wording is not helpful. So I emailed Citroen who said:-

"There is no requirement to use OAT type Anti-Freeze for your vehicles engine.

If you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me via our Citroën Contact Centre on 0844 463 3500."

 

So I am more confused than ever and wonder if you or anyone else could shed some light on this for me. To sum up what I still don't know :-

1 The capacity of the cooling system - suggestion from probs forum suggests 10 litres

2 Whether it needs an OAT type antifreeze and if so at what dilution

3 Whether Antigel is the right stuff

 

Peter

 

While distilled water is better than tap water, one of the functions of the coolant is to inhibit corrosion etc. By using tap water, it will be perfectly ok, providing you use the correct mix, which I believe to be 50/50 or 1:1. At worst, using tap water may shorten the life of the coolant, but providing you put the correct mix in, and check it yearly for its effectiveness, you will not have an issue.

 

In terms of the quantity, the DW10 and the DW12 engines are basically the same, except for a few mm on bore and stroke. Given the DW10 (2.0L) coolant capacity is 10.7 litres, I would suggest you add 5 or 6 litres of coolant. Be sure to flush the system through with a hose pipe before refilling to ensure all old coolant is gone, paying particular attention to the heater matrix.

[myglaren]

Thanks Mikey. You seem to have better info than me, I was unaware of the precise capacity of the cooling system.

 

There do appear to be conflicting opinions on the particular antifreeze that is best suited but I imagine that the dealer supplied stuff ( I still have mine in the boot :lol:* would be the most appropriate one.

 

 

 

*Had the timing belt/tensioners/water pump renewed before I got around to using it so the garage put fresh antifreeze in - I had neglected to mention the stuff was already in the car.

[Guest Peter07]

Thanks Mikey. You seem to have better info than me, I was unaware of the precise capacity of the cooling system.

 

There do appear to be conflicting opinions on the particular antifreeze that is best suited but I imagine that the dealer supplied stuff ( I still have mine in the boot :lol:* would be the most appropriate one.

*Had the timing belt/tensioners/water pump renewed before I got around to using it so the garage put fresh antifreeze in - I had neglected to mention the stuff was already in the car.

 

Unfortunate that, motoring costs enough without buying things twice! Incidentally is there a good way of checking the %age of antifreeze in the system when you have the job done by a dealer? As I said earlier my dealer says they only use 3 litres which wouldn't be enough anyway.

[mlkey]

Unfortunate that, motoring costs enough without buying things twice! Incidentally is there a good way of checking the %age of antifreeze in the system when you have the job done by a dealer? As I said earlier my dealer says they only use 3 litres which wouldn't be enough anyway.

 

Sure is, you can purchase a coolant tester. It will tell you how much protection the coolant has and when it should be replaced. I am sure there is a fancy name for them (maybe Propylene Glycol Tester/Hydrometer), but a quick search on ebay for "coolant tester" shows many from about £4.00 + postage - money well spent.

 

All coolants are ethylene glycol based, it is the corrosion inhibitor that is different. In the long life stuff, they use organic acids to protect from corrosion rather than silicates, phosphates and borates in the shorter life alternatives.

[Guest Peter07]

Sure is, you can purchase a coolant tester. It will tell you how much protection the coolant has and when it should be replaced. I am sure there is a fancy name for them (maybe Propylene Glycol Tester/Hydrometer), but a quick search on ebay for "coolant tester" shows many from about £4.00 + postage - money well spent.

 

All coolants are ethylene glycol based, it is the corrosion inhibitor that is different. In the long life stuff, they use organic acids to protect from corrosion rather than silicates, phosphates and borates in the shorter life alternatives.

Thanks, will get one but to be honest I am still not sure whether conventional (Antigel sold by agents) or a long life OAT type.

Is Antigel still a 'long life' product to be added in high concentration (50:50) and left in the system for several years? Or is it just a conventional antifreeze, albeit a very pricey one?

 

Peter