Is this a problem? Prestone coolant...

[crazybug]

This issue never occurred to me until I started reading some old threads.

About 2 weeks before I took my 99 NB in for service, the coolant light came on flashing red. The coolant tank level was slightly below the minimum. I have never had to add any before.

Went to auto parts store and they assured me that the Prestone Universal would be fine. I topped off with it.

The dealer checked the system for leaks (none) and just confirmed that I had topped off. They didn't ask what I used.

Now, I am very worried that I put bad stuff in. I will call teh dealer tomorrow and ask them. But after just dropping over $600 at the dealer for service, I hate to have a coolant flush for no good reason.

What do you all think? The tank still looks pink... I am going to go get a gallon of the G12 to have on hand in the future.

To flush or not to flush...

[iScott]

I've never dealt with mixed coolants, but I am pretty sure it's not good. I would recommend a flush. And def get some G12. There has to be a reason they put "G12" on the coolant bottle.
One time I helped a woman at a gas station who had done this sort of thing with her Passat. It wouldn't stay cool and the coolant turned a strange color.

Good luck!

[warren]

don't know if the Prestone Universal is the same as the Prestone Any Color Coolant, but here's a discussion thread on the Any Color Coolant. I've used it, no issues.

Prestone's Any Color Coolant

[crazybug]

What I bought is in the trunk, but I do remember the phrase "any color" repeated on the container.

There seems to be alot of very contrasting opinions. For someone like me, who has no experience with this, it just confuses me more. It seems that mixing coolants will either be perfectly fine or should never ever be done.

I guess I will ask the dealer's opinion, but they're not exactly impartial.

To those who feel I should flush, what kind of timeframe are we talking about? a month? a week? right now?

[vdubbugman53]

i recall talk of a boyfriend in your last thread

Have him flush the system. Drain what is in there now from bottom of radiator then fill again with nothing but water let it run and get hot

let cool drain again

fill with water again get hot

let cool drain again

then fill with 50/50 G12 and water. dont forget to run your heater to get the stuff out of your heater core.

they system does not NEED g12 infact i dont use G12 at all anymore. i dont even use a pressurized system so i think you will be fine for a bit

and next time it gets low.....just add water

[crazybug]

No, no boyfriend, so I think it will have to be drained by the pros.
This morning I spoke with 3 different local VW service depts. While all said that I should have topped off with the G12, none of them felt this was an emergency. All advised that I could safely wait until my next service to flush the system.
I assume that they will follow all the steps you outlined.
It was time for a flush anyway...

Thanks for the advice. Guess I will have to check here before I do anything on my own again.

[HudsonValleyVDub]

How much did you put in? I can't see this G12 stuff being so different that it's going to matter. Just another way for VW to bang you for a buck. I'd leave it alone.

[SMG]

Umm, wrong. G12 is very different. If you mix it they gel up. I'd say it was done to my car before I owned it. The coolant orb and rad are nice and clean, but my coolant lines had this gross goo in them when I installed the supercharger last winter, they all needed to be replaced.

[crazybug]

Are we sure what I used was G12? It did say that it worked with "ANY color coolant, ANY make of car." The actual coolant was clear and came premixed 50/50. Not going to use it again. I didn't even put that much in - the engine was hot and just slightly below minimum, I topped off to maximum.

I am going to get the flush at my next visit. Do you really think I should go earlier? Please let me know.

[vdubbugman53]

you will be ok....if you get the red light then you need to get it in