No matter what type of car you drive, whether it’s a BMW, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Mini, or Volkswagen, your car circulates a solution of water and coolant to dissipate the heat generated within the engine and prevent it from completely melting down (one notable exception are older Porsche models that are air and oil cooled and did not use water or coolant, but instead circulated a large amount of oil to dissipate the heat).
A Spectrum of Colors
Which coolant type is best for your BMW, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Audi, or Volkswagen out of the many available options? The answer is the kind that was initially installed in your car. Your coolant may be green, pink, blue, yellow, or even clear depending on the manufacturer. All coolants are naturally transparent, and dye is used to give them color. It has no impact on the coolant’s chemical properties that each producer adds their own colour blend. Because the water in Europe is substantially harder than the water in the United States, European manufacturers prefer coolant that is phosphate-free.
Inorganic Acid Technology (IAT), Organic Acid Technology (OAT), and Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT) are the three most common coolant types available today. A HOAT coolant is used by your BMW, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Audi, or Volkswagen.
In order to protect aluminum surfaces, silicate is added to OAT coolants to create HOAT coolants. The cylinder heads and radiators, as well as other parts of your BMW, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Audi, and Volkswagen engine and cooling systems, are constructed of aluminum.
Silicate and phosphate corrosion inhibitors are not used in OAT coolants. These coolants are made to last for 150,000 miles and have a long service life (or 5 years). It should be mentioned, nevertheless, that German Auto Center and the majority of manufacturers advise cleansing or replacing the coolant every two years.
The metal (Iron) components of the engine and cooling system are protected by traditional coolants, which are IAT coolants and use silicate and phosphate corrosion inhibitors. IAT coolants shouldn’t be utilized because the majority of the iron components in your BMW, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Mini, Audi, and Volkswagen have been replaced with aluminum and other lighter composites.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that modern German performance cars, whether you drive a Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Mini BMW, Volkswagen, or Audi, will last you for many miles and years if you maintain them properly. German Auto Center in Austin is the place to go for German auto repairs. We will be pleased to help you!
In This Article...
Need special antifreeze for BMWs?
In addition to controlling engine temperatures, the quality of your BMW coolant is essential for lubricating the water pump, guarding against corrosion and buildup, providing anti-freeze during the winter, and, in some models, assisting in cooling for engine and gearbox oil coolers. Not just any antifreeze will do; BMWs have special coolant needs (nitrite and phosphate free) to prevent build-up and corrosion of metal components. Along with BMW coolant, we also sell coolant additives like Red Line Water Wetter, which lower combustion chamber temperatures and elevate boiling points in order to prevent detonation and banging.
What is the price of BMW coolant?
A BMW 328i coolant change typically costs between $276 and $315. While materials are priced at $124, labor costs are projected to range from $151 to $191.
How long does antifreeze from a BMW last?
How frequently should a BMW have its coolant changed? Typically, every 30,000 miles or every two years, you should have a BMW coolant cleanse conducted. Your car may be able to go longer between flushes in specific circumstances.
How much does a BMW coolant replacement cost?
Coolant leak repairs can be very expensive. Fixing this is expensive because it is a laborious operation. The price of BMW coolant repairs varies depending on a number of factors, but it typically ranges from $750 to $1,000. Although the parts themselves are not very expensive, the labor required by mechanics means that they may charge more for this kind of repair. The type of damage and the specific fixes the mechanic needs to do determine the costs of these repairs. You can be given a few alternative solutions for resolving your BMW coolant leaks by them.
Every option has pros and cons, so you should consider them all carefully before selecting one. Prior to selecting a mechanic, you should always collect various bids. Every repair shop will impose a different fee. If it does, it’s critical to decide which solutions are best for you and your circumstances.
They will be able to assist you during the entire decision-making process because you are working with reputable automotive shops. Since this is a significant purchase, you want the greatest possible workout for the money you are spending, thus you want someone to assist you.
Can BMW use Prestone coolant?
Yes. OAT coolant/antifreeze Prestone also has anti-corrosion components to safeguard your cooling system. It works well in all vehicles, provides the same levels of security, and causes no harm.
Can I use water in my BMW instead of coolant?
Your radiator system becomes more contaminated when you use water. Although using water instead of low coolant is significantly better for the engine, you should switch the water out as soon as you can for the proper coolant for your car.
Any remaining coolant in the radiator is diluted when water is added to it. Preventing corrosion, raising the boiling point of water, and reducing the freezing point of water are just a few of the crucial jobs that coolant does. While using water in place of the coolant will allow you to drive the automobile for a brief period of time, your engine won’t be adequately protected.
This means that the radiator needs to be filled with a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water as soon as the issue that led to a low coolant level is resolved.
Can green coolant be used in a BMW?
It appears that they can coexist, with green being able to mix with blue-filled cars but not the other way around. from getbmwparts copied: G48 coolant (blue) should not be used in vehicles that were first filled with HT-12, although BMW HT-12 can be used in any vehicle that now uses G48.
BMW coolant is what color?
To maintain your cooling system operating at its peak, we advise using only German OEM BMW engine antifreeze, part number 83192468442. (83 19 2 468 442). Because they don’t include nitrites, amines, phosphates, or borates, BMW exclusively suggests specific coolants. It is not permitted to use store-bought coolant from a nearby parts retailer.
2018 saw the introduction of this new green coolant, which has replaced the previous blue coolant. Green can be used on automobiles before 2018 and is backwards compatible with blue. BMW advises against using the older blue formula on vehicles created after January 2018.
The silicates in the green coolant provide further protection for the cooling system’s internals, although the coolant needs to be changed every two years.
For increased corrosion resistance, anti-freeze defense, and water pump lubrication in street cars, we advise combining distilled water in a 1:1 ratio with the mixture. Reduce the amount of antifreeze in your coolant mixture if you want more cooling properties, but only in warmer climates where freezing is impossible (see chart below). We advise monitoring the freezing point of the coolant mixture if you want to use antifreeze and water ratios other than 1:1.
Red Line Water Wetter can also be added if high temperatures could lead to engine banging or pre-ignition.
- Original BMW HT12 antifreeze from Germany, part number 83192468442
- optimum cooling, freeze prevention, lubrication of the water pump, and corrosion resistance
What leads to BMW coolant leaks?
Your BMW might have one problem. Several issues, including a damaged radiator, a poor head gasket, or a frail radiator cap, might cause coolant leakage. You should contact a specialist as soon as you notice a coolant leak as this could cause very serious issues for your engine.
I have a coolant leak, can I still drive my BMW?
The radiator in an automobile aids in cooling the engine. A leak will cause coolant to be lost. Through the employment of a network of coils, coolant is used to carry heat away from the engine. After then, the cool air returns to the engine, keeping it from overheating. Because an overheating engine is an unsafe engine, it is advised to avoid operating your vehicle if you have a coolant leak!
Why is blue coolant used by BMW?
The majority of coolant manufacturers in East Texas, where we can experience a wide variety of temperature variations throughout the year, offer an engine coolant that is a 50/50 combination.
In order to receive the greatest cooling benefits for our Texas climate, BMW “Blue Coolant” must be mixed and added to your cooling system in the right manner. This calls for a coolant flush and refill procedure that removes air and old coolant from your system to improve engine safety.
Because it is silicate and phosphate free and has a far longer lifespan inside of your car’s cooling system, we advise using BMW “Blue” coolant in your vehicle.
Come in right away to pick up a gallon of fuel, or let us repair the cooling system in your car in time for the Texas heat.
What does it cost to refill an automobile’s coolant?
The kind and size of your car will determine how much a coolant or antifreeze change will cost. For a typical coolant change, you should budget between $100 and $200 on average.
How can I determine whether my automobile needs antifreeze?
1. When the engine is operating, the temperature gauge displays a higher temperature than usual. 2. Antifreeze puddles and spills under your car (orange or green fluid) 3. Your vehicle’s hood is making a grinding sound. 4. The antifreeze/coolant liquid starts to contain flecks or pieces of rust. 5. The engine is producing steam or an odor akin to maple syrup that is boiling.
Is antifreeze the same as coolant?
Antifreeze, commonly referred to as engine coolant, is combined with water to prevent the radiator from freezing in extremely cold weather and overheating in extremely hot weather. Knowing which coolant type is best for your automobile or truck is crucial because there are numerous varieties available.
Driving with low coolant is it acceptable?
Electric cars, hybrid cars, diesel engines, and gasoline engines all inherently produce heat. Some of this heat is directed into the interior of your automobile when you turn on the heater for comfort. However, there are other ways to control the majority of the heat.
Your car relies on a liquid known as antifreeze, sometimes known as engine coolant, to guarantee that the engine maintains an ideal working temperature. Driving with insufficient coolant could cause your engine to overheat, which is usually bad for your engine, your car, and your trip!
Can you self-refill coolant?
Step back as the pressure releases, then slightly loosen the reservoir cover. The cap should then be fully removed. Add the proper coolant to the reservoir if the coolant level is low (not the radiator itself). Use diluted coolant alone or combine concentrated coolant and distilled water 50/50.
Can I add more coolant on my own?
It’s easy to top off the coolant in your engine by opening the reservoir cap; just make sure the engine isn’t running too hot and open the cap with a cloth wrapped around it in case there’s any trapped pressure. What you use to do this, though, is crucial.
- Use a quality engine coolant that you can purchase at an autocenter or local dealer. Simply adding water is not advised since any minute organisms or impurities could accumulate inside your engine and cause the coolant pipes to ‘fur’ up, thereby obstructing the internal waterways. If that’s all you have, it’s still preferable to use ordinary water rather than letting your coolant level get too low.
- Using distilled water instead of store-bought coolant is an option. Since this has been cleaned, it is free of the impurities that can harm your pipes.