changing coolant | FerrariChat

changing coolant

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by stevepaa, Mar 17, 2020.

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  1. stevepaa

    stevepaa Formula Junior
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    Apr 5, 2006
    762
    san jose, ca
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    steve
    So I have been using the blue BMW coolant the past 3 changes and having heard from a respected mechanic that it is not the recommended coolant. I decided to flush the system with distilled water to remove it before I changed to the shell rotella ultra ELC.
    Here are the containers of the four flushes. Sometimes I spilled some of the flush pouring it into the containers so that is why they are not the same volume.
    Can anyone tell me why the last is yellowish?
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  2. stevepaa

    stevepaa Formula Junior
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    #2 stevepaa, Mar 17, 2020
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2020
    I guess the third one is greenish as the blue + yellow = green. As there is no green tint to the last, I suspect nearly all the blue coolant has been removed.

    I did this in a space of five days. Empty in the morning, fill with water, run with heater on until warm by driving the car a few miles, then come back to garage and let sit to cool down overnight.
     
  3. flash32

    flash32 F1 Veteran

    Aug 22, 2008
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    Dominick
    How long did you leave in ?

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  4. stevepaa

    stevepaa Formula Junior
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    Apr 5, 2006
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    san jose, ca
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    steve
    So after 6 flushes of 2.5.gallons of distilled water, the color is a very light yellow. Coolant is at less than 1%. Now to add rotella ultra to get to 50/50 .
    again. I added a premixed 50/50 mixture, 2.5 gallons , then I will drain and add correct mixture to bring proportion back to 50%.
     
  5. flash32

    flash32 F1 Veteran

    Aug 22, 2008
    6,687
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    Dominick
    The reason I ask is if you are leaving in too long maybe that is iron is rusting .. not sure what would be iron in the coolant system but that would make the most sense ..when I do what you do .. I try to do in the course of a day .. glad you are done

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  6. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,032
    Clarksville, Tennessee
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    Terry H Phillips
    That Rotella should last around 5 years before the additives start going. None of them last longer than that according to the manufacturers.
     
  7. Clyde Romero

    Clyde Romero Formula Junior

    Sep 6, 2019
    730
    Atlanta Georgia
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    Clarence Romero
    where do you get the shell coolant from ?
     
  8. flash32

    flash32 F1 Veteran

    Aug 22, 2008
    6,687
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    Dominick
    Napa , Walmart.com , Amazon .. I believe some advance Auto or AutoZone may carry it depending location

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    Clyde Romero likes this.
  9. Clyde Romero

    Clyde Romero Formula Junior

    Sep 6, 2019
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    Clarence Romero
    thanks
     
  10. stevepaa

    stevepaa Formula Junior
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    be sure you tell them which color you want
     
  11. Clyde Romero

    Clyde Romero Formula Junior

    Sep 6, 2019
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    Atlanta Georgia
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    Clarence Romero
    thanks for that tip didn't know it came in different colors
     
  12. stevepaa

    stevepaa Formula Junior
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    yellow for original, red for replacement for shell ultra ELC
     
  13. Steen Jensen

    Steen Jensen Formula Junior

    Mar 29, 2009
    290
    Some interesting "edumacation" on coolant from Rock Auto...

    Coolant/Antifreeze for Your Specific Vehicle
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    Engines built during the previous century almost universally used inorganic acid technology (IAT) coolant/antifreeze. Most newer vehicles use either longer lasting organic-acid inhibitor (OAT) coolant or hybrid organic acid technology (HOAT) coolant that offers both the corrosion resistance of IAT and the long life of OAT. To reduce gunk formation and maximize coolant life, it is best to not mix IAT, OAT and/or HOAT coolants together.

    IAT, OAT and HOAT coolants are all usually ethylene glycol-based, but they contain different additives. Coolant manufacturers' bottle labeling can be confusing if it includes a "Does NOT contain..." statement that could make it appear a traditional IAT coolant additive is inherently bad rather than just not the right additive (or quantity of additive) for that particular OAT or HOAT coolant. Reading "Does NOT contain..." could actually mean you should find a different coolant that "Does contain..." for your particular engine.

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    Coolant that does not contain...
    Here are the benefits and/or drawbacks for some of the most common coolant additives mentioned on the coolant/antifreeze bottle labels:

    Amine: Amine was used to help prevent ferrous (iron) corrosion. In the '70s, it was found to react with nitrite, forming a carcinogenic substance, nitrosamine. Amine is no longer used in automotive coolant and "Does NOT contain Amine" is true even when unsaid.

    Borate: Borates have long been used to reduce acidity (pH) in IAT coolants. It is not compatible with some OAT and HOAT coolants that must maintain a different pH.

    Nitrite: Nitrite is used in coolant for heavy duty diesel and other engines to help prevent corrosion and pitting caused by cavitation (foaming bubbles). Nitrites oxidize aluminum and are generally not compatible with aluminum engines and cooling systems. Some coolants include both nitrites and additional additives that protect aluminum from oxidation.

    Phosphate: Phosphate is used to prevent corrosion in many IAT coolants. It coats metal preventing corrosion, but that coating can eventually flake off or form layers of scale, clogging the cooling system passages. Therefore, IAT coolants must typically be changed more frequently. Scale formation is a bigger problem if hard-water rather than distilled water is mixed with the coolant. Europe has lots of hard-water (and apparently little distilled water) so phosphate containing coolants are not used in most European brand vehicles. On the other hand, Asian vehicle manufacturers actually prefer coolant with phosphates and HOAT coolants designed for Asian brand vehicles usually include some phosphate.

    Silicate: Silicate is used in IAT coolants for corrosion protection, especially for aluminum. Asian vehicle manufacturers decided silicates are bad for water pump seals and reduce heat transfer. Therefore, coolants for most newer Asian brand vehicles do not contain silicates. On the other hand, European vehicle manufacturers think silicates are great for protecting aluminum from corrosion and HOAT coolants for European brand vehicles usually include silicates.

    So, in summary, HOAT coolants may contain nitrate, phosphate and/or silicate depending on what engines the coolant was designed for (Asian brand engines get phosphate, European brand engines get silicate). OAT coolants, such as Dex-Cool for GM vehicles, and coolants claiming they work in "all makes, all models, all colors" might not use any of the above additives, but instead rely on acid salt molecule coating and/or proprietary additives to prevent corrosion.
     
  14. JohnnyRay

    JohnnyRay F1 Rookie
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    Nov 2, 2014
    3,509
    Central FL/NW WI
    After all the Dex-Cool warnings and the similar issues with (orange) OAT in Astons, we switched them over to GO5 (HOAT). Put this in the 550 last time as well. GO5 has been used by Mercedes for years with no issues; however a two year change cycle is recommended by my former independent. Readily available everywhere. We think the 550 came with Audi spec antifreeze from the previous owner...
     
  15. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
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    Terry H Phillips
    Mercedes switched to G48 several years ago, but their engines do not have wet liners. G05 was only recently switched over from nitrited IATs to nitrited HOATs. I used a two year cycle on the old G05 and will continue to do so on the new formulation.
     

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