antifreeze type?

OK, just to make sure I don't do something stupid........ I need to top off my coolant in the 550 and am assuming that I can use any good quality antifreeze (at the usual 50:50 mixture with distilled H20). Is this correct or do I need to worry about getting something special?

Thanks in advance.

 

Use any G-05 as Zerex or the coolant that is sold by Mercedes Benz. Avoid Dex-Cool, it is different. The color is irrelevant.

aehaas

 

Make sure the mix ratio is 50:50 or just a bit more rich in glycol. This will give you freeze protection down to -50 to -60 F.

 

A note from those of us who live where its hot, not cold. The more antifreeze you add, the lower the heat carying capacity of the coolant. Antifreeze is a much poorer coolant than water. Stick with the 50:50 mixture. That is what the manufacturers of the car expect and the manufactures of the antifreeze make their concentration to match. Personally, I use distilled water with antifreeze because of dissolved minerals in tap water. ...probably unimportant, but this is a hobby. -rick

 

Distilled or softened water is the best. If you have hard water in your house, the calcium and magnesium will precipitate out of the water when the water gets hot. This is why home water heaters scale up in areas with hard water.

So spend the money and get distilled water from the store if you don't have softened water at home.

 

The 50:50 is good. Too much and you have a lower heat capacity, Too little and you do not have the protection for metals and to lubricate the bearing in the water pump. People often wonder why their pump dies prematurely. One reason is that they are not running the appropriate level of anti freeze / coolant / lubricant. Too high a concentration of anti freeze is also bad for the bearing.

aehaas
Experiment - pay no attention to this:
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Ya showoff!!

 

Any body knowes about porsche antifreeze, spouse to be good for the life of the car.

 

I've been using BMW antifreeze in my Ferrari's for years and have been well pleased...

 

VW, BMW and G-05 are what we use in 50/50. No problems.

Looks like the test worked!