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...
Antifreeze for BMW Coolant (A+ Recommendation)
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This coolant/antifreeze is only compatible with BMW vehicles. It is the most popular vehicle engine coolant on the market today.
The antifreeze in your BWM coolant is crucial for controlling engine temperatures. It lubricates the water pump in the car, preventing corrosion.
This coolant aids in keeping your engine from freezing throughout the winter. It also aids in cooling the coolers for the transmission oil.
The color of this coolant is blue. Since it is authentic BMW factory antifreeze, it functions for all BMW vehicles.
Because it affects your engine, it is advised against using this coolant antifreeze concentrate. The best option would be to combine it 50/50 with distilled water.
For your BMW, it’s a wise investment. When it comes to value for money, it is far superior.
Antifreeze and coolant
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.
Full Strength Zerex G-48 Formula Coolant
For BMW vehicles, the ZEREX G-48 coolant is perfect. The coolant, which is made for both diesel and gasoline engines, contains low-silicate, pH, anti-phosphate technology that guards against corrosion in all metals, including aluminum.
It is diluted at a 1:1 ratio to protect the modern engine’s components from freezing in the winter and boiling over in the summer. Additionally, the combination is prepared in 5:7 ratios for maximum protection. It also includes a high-quality defoamer system and contains less silicon than the vehicle’s mandated 250 parts per million.
Can BMW use Prestone coolant?
Yes, you may use Prestone coolant in any BMW model or series. Prestone coolants and antifreeze are specially formulated with a blend of excellent, long-lasting inhibitors.
These ensure that the coolant tank won’t need to be topped off for up to 750,000 miles or more than 15,000 hours.
The prestone coolants guarantee all-around protection against high temperatures, icing, rusting, corrosion, scaling, and early water pump failure, just like the other BMW-specific coolants on the market.
The heavy-duty BMW vehicles, where performance is vital, work well with prestone coolants.
You must recognize that distilled water and normal tap water are two different things in this situation. Therefore, while you can and must dilute the coolant concentration with “distilled water,” plain tap water cannot be used in its place.
Regardless matter who provides your regular tap water, it undoubtedly contains inorganic minerals, metals, etc. All of this contaminates the coolant or antifreeze when combined with it, which then has an impact on the car’s engine.
Conversely, distilled water is the result of a distillation procedure that includes boiling all of the impurities out of ordinary water.
As a result, you can only dilute the coolant concentrate with distilled water in a specific ratio, usually 50:50. Specifically, 50% coolant or antifreeze and 50% distilled water.
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
The best formula for every BMW (r), every Mini (r), every Volvo (r), every Mercedes (r) older than 2014, every Volkswagen (r), every Audi (r), every Jaguar (r), and every Porsche (r) older than 1996. This technology controls the temperature of your engine, prevents it from freezing, and shields it from corrosion.
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?
BMW coolant is not pre-mixed when purchased. Simply purchase a gallon of coolant and a gallon of distilled water, then prepare the mixture as necessary. I would just add a cup of distilled water if it only needs, say, a cup of coolant or water. At the dealer, they appear to only do that.
How frequently should a BMW refresh its coolant?
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.
Can you combine BMW coolant in green and blue?
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.
What occurs if the incorrect antifreeze is used in a BMW?
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.
How can I determine whether my automobile needs coolant?
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?
Is coolant antifreeze? Engine coolant and antifreeze, however, are not the same. Before usage, antifreeze, a concentrated liquid with a glycol basis that must be diluted with water, is known as coolant. As an alternative, you can buy ready-to-use pre-mixed engine coolant, which is a mixture of antifreeze and water.
Antifreeze, which is mostly made of ethylene glycol, is used in a car’s cooling system to ensure that the engine can run without issue even in the coldest, subzero conditions. By reducing the freezing point of the coolant liquid inside your radiator, ethylene glycol also helps to lubricate the water pump and prevent corrosion.
Antifreeze and water are often blended in an engine coolant at a 50:50 ratio. This is due to the fact that antifreeze performs best when used as a diluted liquid (as a coolant) to battle extremely hot temperatures. All year long, the engine of your car may be successfully controlled to operate at the ideal temperature thanks to coolant in the cooling system.
Although antifreeze never goes bad, the chemicals that stop engine rust do. Therefore, it is advised that you replace your antifreeze in accordance with the manufacturer’s expiration recommendations.
Additionally, ethylene glycol is poisonous to both people and animals, so be sure to carefully heed the manufacturer’s safety recommendations and disposal guidelines.
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 blue coolant for green?
There really isn’t much of a difference in terms of performance benefits because both coolants will function equally well in your Nissan. Nissan Green is likely what we would choose because it is concentrated (making it slightly less expensive) and because we believe that changing the coolant more frequently is preferable for preventative maintenance.
How frequently should coolant be topped off?
Ideally, you should check your engine coolant twice a year, before summer and winter. However, the advise may differ depending on the car brand.
Manufacturers’ recommendations differ when it comes to emptying and replacing the coolant completely, though depending on how old your automobile is, this might be after a minimum of 30,000 miles.
Your coolant must be changed immediately if you observe any corrosion or discoloration.