22 replies to this topic

[joel93]

my heater has been leaking fluid (need a new heater matrix)
i went to halfords today to buy some replacment coolant (ready mixed) and they asked me if i needed blue or pink but i was'nt sure
i went for the pink but as i disconected the heater matrix both blue and orangey fluids come out which coolant should i use blue or pink
thanks.

[joel93]

also iv been trying to remove my heater iv removed thr 2 screws at the top which conect to the dash so now it moves up and down
but now im stuck dont know what to do next. HELP
thanks

[Dan]

Pink / orange coolants tend to be the modern type designed for all alloy engines. If so it will say on it somewhere that it's not for enginges from before a certain date or for diesels. These coolants must not be used in a cast iron engine like the A series.

At the back of th heater case there is a threaded rod running from each side. It is hooked into a plate on the bulkhead and clamped up with nuts, you just need to loosen the nut at one side a bit and lift it out of the hooks.

[joel93]

thanks dan iv seen that bolted thred ur talking about it runs along engine wall ye?

well the pink coolant iv boght says sutibal for cars made 1998 on but mines 1996

Edited by joel93, 04 March 2011 - 08:12 PM.

[joel93]

this one any one else used it
halfords coolant

[glyn]

if it says 1998 and yours is a 1996 i wouldn't use it! use the blue

[Stevee]

My coolant was Green when i draied my system

if you use the wrong coolant it can clog up the water pump, heater, and other cooling componts

Haynes manuel or Auto Data to find out

[ShoutforJoy]

I wouldn't use it either. They don't put the instructions on the can for no reason. Take it back and get them to change it.

[Dan]

Don't use it. The date on it is just a figure after which most cars had all alloy engines, it doesn't mean that much. It's for alloy engines, it contains nothing to protect iron and will actually damage iron parts.

Please type properly on our forum. TXT typing isn't permitted.

[joel93]

ill swap it and mix it using hayene instructions
thanks

[glyn]

don't forget your engine is basically the same from 1959 when it was first designed so although your car is a 1996 the engine design and components are much older

[Stevee]

don't forget your engine is basically the same from 1959 when it was first designed so although your car is a 1996 the engine design and components are much older

i do believe the a series engine made its apperence in 1951 in the Austin a30

[almarsh132]

I work in halfords, the coolant you need is the pre 1998 concentrate in the blue bottle. The red colour coolant you have picked up is for newer cars. If you look on the back of the bottle is shows all the manufacturers specs that it meets. They are modern audi/bmw/vauxhall corresponding codes. Have different additives as modern cooling sytems are more demanding.
Dan Is right!

[wolfie]

Dont assume that blue is for cast iron engines and red is for alloy engines, my audi is all cast iron and uses a red anti freeze a different red antifreeze to the other red antifreeze! You acnt always go on years either as early 90's audi 80's use the same antifreeze as a late 90's A4 ( used as an example as ive owned them )

Read the instructions carefully IIRC theres 3 or 4 types

Edited by wolfie, 04 March 2011 - 10:22 PM.

[Carlos W]

Please type properly on our forum. TXT typing isn't permitted.

And I'm old and struggle to understand it

Stick to blue, especially if it's had blue in before, apparently they don't mix