has no phosphates or nitrates, which prevents the creation of hazardous deposits.
The installed rates are based on the center’s labor rate and an estimated installation time, and they are subject to change.
Freight prices are estimated until an order is sent and final freight charges are determined due to the numerous factors that ultimately impact freight costs.
For complete information accuracy and product availability, see your local BMW center.
In This Article...
What sort of antifreeze is used in a BMW?
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!
Does BMW need unique antifreeze?
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.
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.
What occurs if the incorrect antifreeze is used in a BMW?
The performance of the specific additive packages can be hampered by mixing various engine coolants or by using the incorrect coolant, which can lead to increased corrosion of the radiator. The engine coolant needs to be changed more frequently as the cooling system’s protective layers gradually get thinner and more porous. Using the incorrect engine coolant can progressively cause corrosion and damage to the cylinder gasket, water pump, radiator, and radiator hoses. In the worst situation, this may result in engine damage.
What shade is the antifreeze in BMWs?
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
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.
Why is the coolant in my BMW low?
You should take your automobile to the automotive service shop as soon as possible for an inspection and maintenance if your coolant is low because it could be an indication of a larger issue. Some of the causes of a possible coolant shortage in your car include the following:
- reservoir leak or overflow tank
- a radiator leak
- radiator hose leak
- water pump leak
- cracked or compromised radiator seal
- defective head gasket
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.
Is water need to be added to BMW coolant?
To make the best coolant, they must be mixed. You can purchase antifreeze that is full strength and needs to be diluted with distilled water before being applied to the engine system, or you can purchase ready-made combinations of coolant that already have water added.
How can I determine if my antifreeze is still effective?
The coolant is in good condition if the value is.4 volts or less. If the value is greater than.4 volts, change the coolant.
If you believe that antifreeze’s (coolant’s) main function is to keep an engine cool in the summer and prevent freezing in the winter, keep reading. In addition to reducing corrosion brought on by electrolysis, coolant is crucial. When two dissimilar metals begin exchanging electrons, electrolysis takes place, which leads to metal corrosion. Electrolysis will gradually eat away at an engine’s internal components since it uses alloys made of aluminum, copper, cast iron, steel, and magnesium.
The chemicals in coolant stop all of that electron trading. However, as coolant ages, the additives get reduced and lose their effectiveness. In reality, deteriorated coolant turns into a very effective electrical conductor, hastening internal electrolysis. The good news is that a digital multimeter that also functions as a coolant tester makes it rather simple to verify the conductivity of your coolant. If the conductivity is excessive, a coolant flush and fill are necessary. Here is a fast method to verify it.
With a cold engine, start. Start the engine after taking off the radiator cap. Set the DC volts setting on your digital multimeter to 20 volts or less. Insert the positive probe into the coolant as soon as the engine achieves operational temperature. Put the negative probe on the negative battery terminal after revving the engine to 2,000 rpm. Your coolant is in good condition if the digital meter displays.4 volts or less. If it is higher than.4 volts, the electrolytic additives have been used up, and you might eventually need to buy a new radiator, water pump, or heater core. All of those cost much more than a straightforward coolant replacement.
Can you combine blue and green coolant 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.
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.
Can the incorrect antifreeze cause an overheat?
Your coolant has a problem. If the incorrect coolant was used in your vehicle or you have an unsuitable coolant-to-water ratio (50/50 is ideal), your engine may be more susceptible to overheating.
What happens if you use antifreeze that is the incorrect color?
The performance of the car can be hampered if the wrong coolant is used or if several types are mixed together. Additionally, the radiator’s corrosion may worsen. It’s crucial to remember that color alone cannot accurately identify the type of coolant you should use. The radiator, water pump, radiator hoses, cylinder gasket, and other components can suffer corrosion and other issues as a result of using the incorrect coolant. Having a qualified auto mechanic handle your vehicle’s maintenance is the greatest method to guarantee that you obtain the right coolant.
Is Prestone a coolant for heaters?
All cars, including all makes, models, years, and fluid colors, can use prime antifreeze+coolant (concentration). Including aluminum, the extended life formula is safe to use with all kinds of metals and rubbers. The consequences of rust, corrosion, and premature water pump failure will be protected from using Prestone Prime.
Can I substitute water for coolant?
Technically, you can put plain water in your cooling system, but it isn’t advised as a long-term fix and definitely not in severe weather conditions.
Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius, which is why utilizing water in your cooling system is problematic. Any untreated water you have put into your cooling system may start to freeze over in cold weather, causing major damage to your engine like cracks and warps.
Even at the height of summer, it can still be harmful to your car’s health to forget to add antifreeze to the coolant system. Engine running temperatures vary depending on the type, but it is not uncommon for an engine to operate at or above 100 degrees Celsius, which also happens to be the boiling point of the water in your cooling system.
You’ll encounter a wide range of issues if you boil water in your cooling system. Coolant’s primary purpose is to transfer heat away from the engine, which is a combustion process byproduct. The coolant will naturally heat up throughout this process, but if the water is boiling, it won’t be doing anything to cool down your engine. Additionally, due to its naturally high mineral content, tap water utilized in your cooling system that has been allowed to boil and evaporate increases the risk of corrosion and build-up in the engine.
There are several benefits to using antifreeze in your cooling system, as long as you dilute it according to the recommendations in the owner’s handbook of your car. As a result, it is significantly more effective at controlling the temperature of your engine than water alone because it both raises the boiling point and reduces the freezing point of the water in your cooling system. The extra benefit of additives that guard your engine against corrosion and buildup is another reason to use diluted antifreeze of the kind that is suggested for your engine.
If you are forced to use plain water in your cooling system due to no other option, use distilled water whenever possible because it has less mineral content than regular tap water and is less likely to cause buildup in your engine. You should also top off the system with antifreeze as soon as you can.