Red coolant is red coolant?

[Bohica]

Hello,
I have a Mercedes Benz Valente that is losing coolant very very slowly, can I add nulon red coolant? Or any red coolant? The coolant in the car is red, I am yet to take the car in, it is under warranty and I do not want to stuff things up.

THanks

Bo

[Blknight.aus]

generally yes, there are 3 primary colours of coolant and they are usually compatible with each other from different companies if the colour is the same however... some companies will mix and dye coolants to suit themselves.

Green, this is your old traditional "ethyl glycol"
Red, This is OAT
Orange This is HOAT

if you start with Ethyl glycol you can add HOAT but you cant then add OAT
if you start with OAT you can add HOAT but you then cant add ethyl glycol
If you Start with HOAT you can add either Ethyl glycol OR OAT but you then cant add the other but you can always add HOAT.

IF you have any doubt, just add demineralised, heavily filtered, rain water or bottled water from a supermarket. If you can get it demineralised or distilled water is the best option. and then go take it to the dealer/specialist/trusted shop/greaser of choice BUT dont work the vehicle too hard.

[bee utey]

Penrite do a top-up coolant that is supposedly safe with all coolant types and is not strongly coloured, so won't change the colour of the existing stuff up to 10% dilution.

UNIVERSAL TOP UP COOLANT PREMIX (http://www.penriteoil.com.au/products.php?id_products=602)

[Bohica]

I went to autobarn, they had red, green, blue and purple coolant. The Nulon red specified good for red, pink or orange, so I bought that.

Bo

[Davehoos]

looking into it today.
something about a phosphate free coolant for European made vehicles.
refered to as most likely to be orange but could be.....


same nulon product was ..... free for Japanese engines.