Volvo coolant Type C

  • Thread starter Thread starter blurp
  • Start date Start date
B

blurp

Hi all,

Here's a quick one: my coolant is low but the stuff already in there
is yellow-brown Type C coolant. Does it really matter? I was told that
most manufacturers try to do this sort of thing eventually to gain a
"fluids market" but is there really any difference? My dad's Mercedes
also uses this brown coolant but it comes from the Mercedes
dealership.

I came across this post and reply on www.brickboard.com:

B23F coolant flush & fill & thermostat[ALL/1998] posted by Tom Graham
on Monday, 17 November 1997, at 11:25 p.m.

I plan to install a new thermostat, and replace the coolant in my '84
245DL this weekend. Do I really need to use Volvo type C coolant or is
the regular stuff just as good? Are any of the flushing products worth
using or is it just as good to run a bunch water through the passages?
Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Tom
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Re: B23F coolant flush & fill & thermostat[ALL/1998] posted by Norm
Lizotte on
Wednesday, 19 November 1997, at 10:00 p.m.

I've used Prestone to replace the Volvo coolant since my first Volvo,
a 1971 142S. Use Prestone in each of my three present Volvo sedans,
87' & '93 240DL's, and a '92 940GL, without any problems whatsoever.

So what do you think? Ignore the Type C requirement? If so, can I just
add green coolant to what's already there or do I need to do a
flush'n'fill?

Thanks,
blurp
 
blurp said:
Hi all,

Here's a quick one: my coolant is low but the stuff already in there
is yellow-brown Type C coolant. Does it really matter? I was told that
most manufacturers try to do this sort of thing eventually to gain a
"fluids market" but is there really any difference? My dad's Mercedes
also uses this brown coolant but it comes from the Mercedes
dealership.

I came across this post and reply on www.brickboard.com:

B23F coolant flush & fill & thermostat[ALL/1998] posted by Tom Graham
on Monday, 17 November 1997, at 11:25 p.m.

I plan to install a new thermostat, and replace the coolant in my '84
245DL this weekend. Do I really need to use Volvo type C coolant or is
the regular stuff just as good? Are any of the flushing products worth
using or is it just as good to run a bunch water through the passages?
Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Tom
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Re: B23F coolant flush & fill & thermostat[ALL/1998] posted by Norm
Lizotte on
Wednesday, 19 November 1997, at 10:00 p.m.

I've used Prestone to replace the Volvo coolant since my first Volvo,
a 1971 142S. Use Prestone in each of my three present Volvo sedans,
87' & '93 240DL's, and a '92 940GL, without any problems whatsoever.

So what do you think? Ignore the Type C requirement? If so, can I just
add green coolant to what's already there or do I need to do a
flush'n'fill?

Thanks,
blurp
Click to expand...
In olden days there was only one type of coolant, and it was green, and it
was good. (Sorry - I got carried away.) Now there is a bewildering variety
of coolants, some incompatible with others, for a variety of uses.

I recommend going with the real stuff. Some engines require low silicate to
prevent pitting (of what I don't know), and many require all-metal
compatibility. There may also be additives for the water pump seals and
probably some that are just to see what we are gullible enough to pay for.
For the low price differential and the hassle of getting the specified
coolant, at least you will have this small piece of mind.

Mike
 
blurp said:
Hi all,

Here's a quick one: my coolant is low but the stuff already in there
is yellow-brown Type C coolant. Does it really matter? I was told that
most manufacturers try to do this sort of thing eventually to gain a
"fluids market" but is there really any difference? My dad's Mercedes
also uses this brown coolant but it comes from the Mercedes
dealership.
Click to expand...


I've always used normal green coolant available at any autoparts store,
never had a problem with it. I can't speak for the newer (post-1992) cars
but the older ones aren't picky.
 
blurp said:
Hi all,

Here's a quick one: my coolant is low but the stuff already in there
is yellow-brown Type C coolant. Does it really matter? I was told that
most manufacturers try to do this sort of thing eventually to gain a
"fluids market" but is there really any difference? My dad's Mercedes
also uses this brown coolant but it comes from the Mercedes
dealership.
Click to expand...
I don't really know what's best but my mechanic is rabid about not mixing
different types, even different brands.
Can anyone advise me if it's normal for some coolants to smell like 4 day
old fish heads? I think it's castrol (1980 265GLE).
 
Well I was at the local CanTire and they were selling pretty much only
one brand of coolant (besides the house brand) and that was Prestone.

On the jug it said in bold letters: "Good for ALL cars and light
trucks, replaces ALL manufacturers' Anti-Freeze regardless of colour".

So based on this and posts here and on the brickboard saying they've
been using green coolant with no ill effects, I'm going to use the
balance of the brown Mercedes coolant and then switch to regular green
Prestone.

If my rad turns into a pumpkin I'll let you know.

Thanks,
blurp
 
Draining the old stuff first should give it the best chance. The ill-effects
only come at the end...
 
There is an substance called a bittering agent put in most glycol
coolants.Its smells too.
Its there to stop animals from drinking the kidney damaging glycol .Now if
they could only put his stuff in alcohol maybe our roads would be safer .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top