Thread: Coolant- Topped up with wrong stuff.

Maybe ask Penrite. Not being facetious as it’s definitely a question I couldn’t answer and I’d want advice from the experts.

(My cars have all used glycol based (green) coolant.)

Originally Posted by Dagilmo

Hi All,

Ive topped up with 500ml of Penrite Red coolant. Then I though I should think about a flush so I started searching about that and have found that I should be using Penrite's Blue coolant. Mental note to self: do the research before hand in future....

Is the 500mls of red a problem?

If it was red OAT already in it then no problem.

Originally Posted by p38arover

Maybe ask Penrite. Not being facetious as it’s definitely a question I couldn’t answer and I’d want advice from the experts.

(My cars have all used glycol based (green) coolant.)

Good idea. Thanks!

Originally Posted by loanrangie

If it was red OAT already in it then no problem.

I'm second owner and have had it two years, I doubt it's been changed. With the handbook saying Havolene XLC which is silicate free and the Penrite blue silicate free but the red not silicate free, I'm guessing he red is not compatible with the current coolant. Just not sure if 500mls in 10 odd ltrs is an issue.

If it makes you feel any better, factory intervals for coolant change is every 10 years/260,000Km. So yours would still be on factory coolant providing there has not been a major coolant system failure. Penrite also do not make a coolant that meets the required WSS M97B44-D spec. Nulon do though WSS-M97B44-D - Nulon Products Australia which is readily available at SCA. I actually replaced my coolant at 5 years along with the top coolant manifold which is prone to sudden failure.

Originally Posted by kelvo

If it makes you feel any better, factory intervals for coolant change is every 10 years/260,000Km. So yours would still be on factory coolant providing there has not been a major coolant system failure. Penrite also do not make a coolant that meets the required WSS M97B44-D spec. Nulon do though WSS-M97B44-D - Nulon Products Australia which is readily available at SCA. I actually replaced my coolant at 5 years along with the top coolant manifold which is prone to sudden failure.

For the record - It’s just Dexcool

And yes Penrite do - their blue coolant meets it.

2 years on penrite red 500,000km coolant, no issues. At the time of my research, this met the spec. Full flush with demin. water beforehand.

I dont think 500mls matters, all youve done is upped the concentration by 5%. If its still original coolant, a system flush and new fluid is not a bad idea, esp. If youre thinking of changing out the coolant outlet.

Mixing coolant types can possibly cause issues. The majority of coolants are glycol based anyway, its just the additive pack that's different between the different types. Best bet if your unsure what's in there is to top up with distilled water.