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 Post subject: Another Coolant Question
PostPosted: Sat Sep 14, 2019 2:36 pm 
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Hi All,
I'm new here so go easy.
First time Porsche owner, I've had my 1989 944 2.7 for a couple of weeks now and starting to work through some jobs.
I know there's lots of info and posts on this, but I'm still a bit confused.
My 944 has pinkish coolant which, from invoices, looks like it was put in in 2014 - the invoice states 'Red Antifreeze 5 year' - so I assume it is the OAT stuff you can get from the likes of Halfords?
I assume it now needs changing, so I plan to empty, and flush out, then re-fill.
But I read conflicting opinions on what I should use. I would prefer to (continue) to use '5 year' stuff if that's okay, but I read that some people say it should be G48? - blue? stuff, which I think needs changing every 3 years.
Also, the coolant only dribbles out slowly when I take out the plastic radiator drain plug - does that automatically mean I should take the radiator out and back flush it? It appears to have had a new radiator in 2005, but only 9,000 miles ago.
Thanks for any help.
Alistair.


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 Post subject: Re: Another Coolant Question
PostPosted: Sun Sep 15, 2019 8:08 pm 
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Coolant colour in the UK doesn't mean much, it's not standardised. The main thing is that the coolant is for aluminium engines. Opie Oils are good for advising on any fluids.

For draining the system best to use the rad bottom hose and not the plug. The plastic thread in the rad has a habit of stripping. The debris in the rad tends to collect at the plug location, hence the blockage.

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 Post subject: Re: Another Coolant Question
PostPosted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 10:07 am 
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Thanks Prophead.

Sounds like draining through bottom hose is best.
I've also read that it will be a good idea to do it hot - just after fan has gone off in order to drain the block - I understand that my 2.7 block does not have a drain plug.

I'm still confused about antifreeze - I can't find anything anywhere that tells me which is suitable/unsuitable for aluminium it's doesn't even say on their data sheets.

So, at the moment it would appear to me to be choice between, say:

Comma G48 - 3years, more expensive.
OAT - 5 years, less expensive.

I have no clue as to the advantage/disadvantage of above save the longevity!

None of them say anything about aluminium.
I must be missing something here?


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 Post subject: Re: Another Coolant Question
PostPosted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 8:43 am 
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Location: Cheshire
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I went through this descision a couple of years back when I was changing all the fluids in my car. From the research I did at that point, OAT was the way to go for an aluminium engine. I've seen it in either pink or blue colour. The only precaution I've seen is for cars with yellow metal in the radiator which I'm pretty sure mine doesn't have. On the 2.5 NA there is a drain plug on the block at the back of the engine under the exhaust manifold, but as I found when I changed the head gasket, this does not completely drain the coolant. If you're really concerned to get all traces of the old stuff out of the engine you could just flush it with water and then refil with the new coolant. I guess it depends how hard the water is in your area.

Being a bit fussy I tend to mix the concentrate with Carplan ionised water from Tesco at 50p per litre.

I've been running OAT for 4 years without any issues so far.

Good luck with it.

Matt

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 Post subject: Re: Another Coolant Question
PostPosted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 2:34 pm 
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Comma G48 coolant is recommended for the 944 engines, it is made by BASF.


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 Post subject: Re: Another Coolant Question
PostPosted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 11:37 am 
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Thanks for your responses.
In general I think there are some challenges when technology moves on and there may be better fluids (or anything) after 30 odd years but obviously the original specifications in the manual can't keep up with this, so we are left with incomplete info as to whether the new improved thing is better for our cars or not.


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 Post subject: Re: Another Coolant Question
PostPosted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 1:16 pm 
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you have to take into consideration that these blocks are pure Alusil not alloy with liners, nothing like that is still made today.

I will stick with G48 for as long as I can get it

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 Post subject: Re: Another Coolant Question
PostPosted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 10:16 am 
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Right, thanks all, I think I'll go with G48 too then.
I'll be flushing the system anyway, but is there a danger that if there is any of the red (OAT?) stuff left in it will be a problem?
I suppose I drain, then fill and run a bit with ordinary tap water (though it is hard in my neck of the woods), then drain again and fill with G48.


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 Post subject: Re: Another Coolant Question
PostPosted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 2:27 pm 
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filtered rain water is the best, as it has nothing in it

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2013 A4 177 TDI Quattro Ibis White
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