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360 What coolant is in my 360? I need to top it off...

Discussion in '360/430' started by Gabe O, Oct 27, 2023.

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  1. Gabe O

    Gabe O Rookie

    Apr 1, 2020
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    #1 Gabe O, Oct 27, 2023
    I need to top off my coolant, but I don't know what's currently in there. Unfortunately the shop that did the flush cannot tell me either. The shop did say they used blue coolant, but hard to tell if blue or green from my picture attached. What can I safely put in to top it off?

    As for why it's low, there are two signs, but I welcome other ideas. First, the reservoir cap is hissing after drives, indicating a bad seal, so I have a new one on order. Second, at the bottom of the overflow hose under the engine, there is a spot with dust/dirt, which probably formed after puddling of overflowed coolant. Otherwise no signs or smells of coolant. Car holds temps just fine.
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  2. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #2 Rifledriver, Oct 27, 2023
    Color of coolant doesn't really have any meaning.

    Why have a shop service it if they are so unprofessional that its not on the invoice?
     
  3. clean512

    clean512 Formula 3

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    #3 clean512, Oct 27, 2023
    To me that looks green which I stay away from. But if they said they used blue that could be G-48 but I have for the longest been using G-05
     
  4. GogglesPisano

    GogglesPisano F1 Rookie
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    #4 GogglesPisano, Oct 27, 2023
    Never a good idea to mix two different kinds if you don't know what they are as they can get sludgy. If it's not a lot, just top it off with distilled water.
     
  5. flash32

    flash32 F1 Veteran

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    #5 flash32, Oct 27, 2023
    G48 zerex Walmart

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  6. flash32

    flash32 F1 Veteran

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    #6 flash32, Oct 27, 2023
    G48 zerex Walmart

    If I had to guess that is what is in there ..or even the shell equivalent

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  7. Jaymac

    Jaymac Formula Junior
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    #7 Jaymac, Oct 27, 2023
    That was my guess; G48. I’ve read through the G05 vs G48 debate ad nauseum, and I ended up with G48, which I believe is the same stuff that Competizione put in there 2 years in a row before I bought the car.

    Clean 512, is G05 usually yellow?

    I also think it’s frustrating that the last shop can only say “blue”. Seems weird to me. But given the common options, I also suspect it to be G48.
     
  8. Gabe O

    Gabe O Rookie

    Apr 1, 2020
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    #8 Gabe O, Oct 27, 2023
    Thanks guys, I’m hearing it’s most likely G48, but I’m also hearing we shouldn’t be mixing different coolants. So I’m thinking that topping off with distilled water is a zero risk way to get by through end of year before flushing next spring? Or would you say there are risks to distilled water that outweigh (small) risk of using wrong coolant? I also have water wetter I could use, but again, just trying not to put anything in there that I’ll regret!

    As for the shop @Rifledriver, unfortunately I bought the car after this place had serviced it, but it is frustrating they can’t tell me what they used. All they could tell me was it’s blue.
     
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  9. GogglesPisano

    GogglesPisano F1 Rookie
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    #9 GogglesPisano, Oct 27, 2023
    Where are you located? If your car isn’t going to have a chance of freezing, just throw distilled in there and don’t give it a second thought.
     
  10. Gabe O

    Gabe O Rookie

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    #10 Gabe O, Oct 27, 2023
    New Hampshire, but my garage shouldn’t go below 50.
     
  11. flash32

    flash32 F1 Veteran

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    #11 flash32, Oct 27, 2023
    I wouldn't really worry about incompatible fluids ..g48 mixes.with a number of othr coolants ..only one formula I known of that doesn't mix well

    If that formula was in there it would have been mixed with the factory one which is similar to g48 and caused it to be cloudy /jell (no one would have flushed every oz of fluid out)

    If you are putting a pint or so then distilled is ok ..more than that I would buy 50/50 zerex g48 and pour away

    Any reputable shop is using something that is either g48 or mixes well with it

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  12. clean512

    clean512 Formula 3

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    #12 clean512, Oct 27, 2023
    Go5 is a yellow color your correct
     
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  13. Gabe O

    Gabe O Rookie

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    #13 Gabe O, Nov 9, 2023
    Ok, the shop got back to me after I topped off my reservoir with no more than a half gallon of 50/50 Zerex G48. Turns out they used Rowe G11 blue.

    So now I definitively have two coolant types in my system. Not ideal, but want to know how detrimental this could be until my next flush. Last flush (with G11) was 1 year ago prior to me owning the car.

    Did a few quick searches and see possible compatibility but I honestly can’t tell as I’m not well versed in the coolant discussion.

    Where do you all stand on the spectrum? Stop everything and flush before driving again? Drive through end of season then flush? Or don’t worry at all as they are compatible?

    G11 blue: https://www.rowe-oil.com/en/distributors/coolant-winter-products~cwq8gbyBJez/hightec-antifreeze-coolant~paj82936JXb?vehicle=fb4fd3a530108b5b

    Top-off G48: https://www.valvolineglobal.com/en/zerex-g-48/
     
  14. flash32

    flash32 F1 Veteran

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    #14 flash32, Nov 9, 2023
    Don't worry about it


    Effectively same manufacturer spec VW ..

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  15. anotherred360

    anotherred360 Formula Junior

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    #15 anotherred360, Nov 9, 2023
    It's probably nothing but you could mix a small amount of G48 with G11 and water in a clear disposable container. Stir and heat and see if anything precipitates from the solution over the course of a week or so. Not a perfect experiment but easy to do and would give me some peace of mind if I was worried.
     
  16. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #16 tazandjan, Nov 9, 2023
    Any time you do not know what type of coolant and need to top off, just use distilled water like Joe said. The dilution will not affect anything unless you leave her outside in Nome, Alaska.

    Owners with 360s should be changing out coolant every 12 months, at any rate, to check and make sure their heat exchanger is not leaking.
     

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