Please help - May have added wrong coolant to my BRZ - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

R42o · 07-06-2015, 07:25 PM

Hey Guys,

I just bought my certified pre owned BRZ (20k miles) from the dealership on Friday. When I got home I noticed that the coolant was at the low mark in the reservoir. Not thinking anything of it, I filled it with some coolant that I used in my other car that I traded in.

After doing a bit of reading I saw that Subaru uses its own brand of coolant for the BRZ. The manual Says to use Ethylene Glycol based, non silicate, non-anime, non-nitrite, and non-borate. From what I can tell the coolant I added is ethylene glycol based but I don't know about the other chemicals in it (see pictures below).

I'm a bit paranoid because I also read somewhere that if you mix 2 different types of coolant bad things could happen. Do you think I will be ok with the coolant I added, or should I have it flushed and replaced with the genuine Subaru coolant?

subaru manual
http://www.joomag.com/magazine/subar...10946?page=302

upload pic

Lelantas · 07-06-2015, 07:56 PM

Generally speaking you should avoid mixing different coolant formulations (usually indicated by different colors), as that decreases the overall lifetime of the coolant.

Seeing as you've already added it though, I wouldn't worry about it. I doubt there'd be any seriously harmful effects (ie precipitates, etc).

For the future, get yourself a jug of Subaru Super Coolant (blue in color). Best price when I bought it was on Amazon.

mhughett · 07-06-2015, 09:20 PM

I have read that there are basically 3 types of coolant on the market:
1. Inorganic Acid Technology (IAT) which is the "old school" prestone type
2. Organic Acid Technology (OAT) which is the DexCool/VW style
3. Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT)--this is used by most Asian and European cars, including Subaru

The following was from Popular Mechanics as to whether you can add DexCool to other types of coolant.

Can you mix DEX-COOL™ with other antifreeze products?

Improper mixing of coolants has the potential to cause corrosion issues. Valvoline recommends using the correct antifreeze/coolant for your particular application.

- See more at: http://www.valvoline.com/faq#sthash.soU7pPm6.dpuf

You should never mix DexCool with a HOAT or IAT type coolant.

nocwage · 07-06-2015, 09:25 PM

Mostly what I have read is that if you mix regular coolant with the super blue you should not expect it to last the 100,000km of the blue and need to change it at regular coolant interval until you go back 100% to super blue.

stevesnj · 07-06-2015, 09:36 PM

Drain and flush with distilled water ASAP

raven1231 · 07-06-2015, 09:43 PM

Nobody knows! So far you learned- its okay, flush it, just change it sooner, it will corrode your engine and I'm sure many more contradicting answers are on the way!

R42o · 07-06-2015, 09:51 PM

I guess I'd better play it safe and just get it flushed. Being that I bought this car "certified pre owned" from the dealership, you would think they would check all fluid levels for me before it left the lot. Oh well, live and learn I guess

humfrz · 07-06-2015, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R42o

I guess I'd better play it safe and just get it flushed. Being that I bought this car "certified pre owned" from the dealership, you would think they would check all fluid levels for me before it left the lot. Oh well, live and learn I guess

I suggest you drain, flush and re fill with the recommended coolant.

Why?

So you won't worry about it anymore ........

Humfrz

Bobblehead · 07-07-2015, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humfrz

I suggest you drain, flush and re fill with the recommended coolant.

Why?

So you won't worry about it anymore ........

Humfrz

Humfrz has got it.

Being cautious type, I'd recommend you heed his advice. Besides, you've just mixed chemicals together, no one really knows exactly what's going to happen.

OmarYasin · 07-07-2015, 10:50 PM

Yeah dexcool is orange stuff normally used in General Motors. I would highly suggest having a shop do a full coolant and engine flush. Once u mix coolants that dont mix they dent to gel or solidify.

Sent from my LGMS323 using Tapatalk

OmarYasin · 07-07-2015, 10:51 PM

There is certain coolants u can mix. Like g05 and the red/violet color but not sure on orange and blue

Sent from my LGMS323 using Tapatalk

mhughett · 07-09-2015, 09:56 AM

Despite being a different color (yellow), the Zerex G05 coolant is actually very similar to the BMW and Subaru coolants. Both use HOAT technology and have nearly identical spec's. They are very different from the orange Dex-Cool coolants used by GM and VW.

07-06-2015, 07:25 PM	#1
R42o Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Drives: Subaru BRZ Location: CT Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Please help - May have added wrong coolant to my BRZ Hey Guys, I just bought my certified pre owned BRZ (20k miles) from the dealership on Friday. When I got home I noticed that the coolant was at the low mark in the reservoir. Not thinking anything of it, I filled it with some coolant that I used in my other car that I traded in. After doing a bit of reading I saw that Subaru uses its own brand of coolant for the BRZ. The manual Says to use Ethylene Glycol based, non silicate, non-anime, non-nitrite, and non-borate. From what I can tell the coolant I added is ethylene glycol based but I don't know about the other chemicals in it (see pictures below). I'm a bit paranoid because I also read somewhere that if you mix 2 different types of coolant bad things could happen. Do you think I will be ok with the coolant I added, or should I have it flushed and replaced with the genuine Subaru coolant? subaru manual http://www.joomag.com/magazine/subar...10946?page=302 upload pic Last edited by R42o; 07-06-2015 at 07:45 PM.

07-06-2015, 09:36 PM	#5
stevesnj Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: 2016 FR-S Oceanic Blue Location: Southern NJ Posts: 2,958 Thanks: 2,158 Thanked 1,601 Times in 923 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Drain and flush with distilled water ASAP __________________ My 2016 Build thread TRD Exhaust with custom quad tips, TRD Lowering Springs,TRD Quick shifter,LED;DRL, Projectors, and turn signals. Re-badge, 86 Nanny, WinmaxW2 Pads, K&N Drop In, Antenna delete

07-06-2015, 09:43 PM	#6
raven1231 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: 2013 Firestorm FR-S, 2016 DGM WRX Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 4,580 Thanks: 8,264 Thanked 3,118 Times in 1,667 Posts Mentioned: 24 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Nobody knows! So far you learned- its okay, flush it, just change it sooner, it will corrode your engine and I'm sure many more contradicting answers are on the way! __________________ http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59870

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07-06-2015, 07:56 PM	#2
Lelantas Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Drives: '15 BRZ ISM Location: CA Bay Area / San Diego Posts: 63 Thanks: 31 Thanked 22 Times in 19 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Generally speaking you should avoid mixing different coolant formulations (usually indicated by different colors), as that decreases the overall lifetime of the coolant. Seeing as you've already added it though, I wouldn't worry about it. I doubt there'd be any seriously harmful effects (ie precipitates, etc). For the future, get yourself a jug of Subaru Super Coolant (blue in color). Best price when I bought it was on Amazon.

07-06-2015, 09:20 PM	#3
mhughett Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Drives: 2015 Crystal White BRZ Limited Location: Tulsa Posts: 86 Thanks: 0 Thanked 56 Times in 23 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I have read that there are basically 3 types of coolant on the market: 1. Inorganic Acid Technology (IAT) which is the "old school" prestone type 2. Organic Acid Technology (OAT) which is the DexCool/VW style 3. Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT)--this is used by most Asian and European cars, including Subaru The following was from Popular Mechanics as to whether you can add DexCool to other types of coolant. Can you mix DEX-COOL™ with other antifreeze products? Improper mixing of coolants has the potential to cause corrosion issues. Valvoline recommends using the correct antifreeze/coolant for your particular application. - See more at: http://www.valvoline.com/faq#sthash.soU7pPm6.dpuf You should never mix DexCool with a HOAT or IAT type coolant.

07-06-2015, 09:25 PM	#4
nocwage MMTT Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: 2019 Subaru BRZ Location: Ontario Posts: 130 Thanks: 7 Thanked 44 Times in 30 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Mostly what I have read is that if you mix regular coolant with the super blue you should not expect it to last the 100,000km of the blue and need to change it at regular coolant interval until you go back 100% to super blue.

07-06-2015, 09:51 PM	#7
R42o Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Drives: Subaru BRZ Location: CT Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I guess I'd better play it safe and just get it flushed. Being that I bought this car "certified pre owned" from the dealership, you would think they would check all fluid levels for me before it left the lot. Oh well, live and learn I guess

07-07-2015, 10:50 PM	#10
OmarYasin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Drives: 2013 Scion FR-S Location: Hayward Hills, CA Posts: 759 Thanks: 110 Thanked 154 Times in 110 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Yeah dexcool is orange stuff normally used in General Motors. I would highly suggest having a shop do a full coolant and engine flush. Once u mix coolants that dont mix they dent to gel or solidify. Sent from my LGMS323 using Tapatalk

07-07-2015, 10:51 PM	#11
OmarYasin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Drives: 2013 Scion FR-S Location: Hayward Hills, CA Posts: 759 Thanks: 110 Thanked 154 Times in 110 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	There is certain coolants u can mix. Like g05 and the red/violet color but not sure on orange and blue Sent from my LGMS323 using Tapatalk

07-09-2015, 09:56 AM	#12
mhughett Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Drives: 2015 Crystal White BRZ Limited Location: Tulsa Posts: 86 Thanks: 0 Thanked 56 Times in 23 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Despite being a different color (yellow), the Zerex G05 coolant is actually very similar to the BMW and Subaru coolants. Both use HOAT technology and have nearly identical spec's. They are very different from the orange Dex-Cool coolants used by GM and VW.

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