G13 coolant is a long-life coolant that contains organic acids, which help to prevent corrosion and scale buildup in the cooling system. Step-3: Filling the system with the new coolant Companies like Prestone, Pentafrost, Peak, and others provide variations that they claim are effective for particular brands or nations in general. The majority of the time, these aftermarket choices are less expensive than OE, but it’s always recommended to use actual OE coolant made specifically for your automobile. VW Coolant For further healing aluminum protection, G13 has certain silicate additions. This is unlike certain earlier standards that make advantage of OAT technology (Organic Acid Technology). Modern automotive cooling systems contain components made of steel, magnesium, aluminum, nylon, silicon, copper, and silicon alloys. Your car’s cooling system needs can now differ depending on the year, make, model, engine, and even the country where it was built.

The wrong coolant should not be topped off or refilled in your car’s cooling system, as it could lead to needing expensive repairs. Older cars’ engine cooling systems were primarily made of brass, rubber, and cast iron. Hence, all of the engine coolants were essentially the same at the time. Glycerin has a substantially lower environmental impact than glycol. While the other is made from mineral oil, the first is a byproduct of the manufacture of biodiesel. According to estimates, the production of G13 results in 11% fewer CO2 emissions than antifreeze containing glycol. On the other hand, G13 is not the best choice for older cooling systems with copper/brass radiators and heater cores. It doesn’t work well with the lead solder. Use antifreeze with G11 or G12 specification instead.Due to G12 no longer being made, if the system needs a top-off, it is not recommended to mix antifreeze types. A drain, flush, and re-fill are suggested with the latest fluid. All other coolant forms are still in production and can be found with ease. With that said, updating to the most modern coolant isn't a bad idea. It's the best blend of corrosion-inhibiting organic additives and lubricating silicates.

Antifreeze is the hidden hero of our car’s engines. If you don’t know how antifreeze works, it’s pretty simple. Antifreeze is added to the water in your engine’s cooling system that lowers its freezing point (and raises its boiling point too). It’s why the liquid in your radiator doesn’t freeze when everything else seems to be! You can choose a concentrated coolant that needs to be mixed with water or a ready-mixed one that can be used immediately. About our Antifreeze and Engine Coolant As a result, ethylene glycol, an antifreeze, is typically added (if you’re unsure about the process, head over to our write-up on how to put coolant in your car) to water to reduce its freezing point to a safe level. The antifreeze shouldn’t be drained every summer as it often lasts for two to three years. Engine CoolantAlways make the decision to utilize the recommended products for your car. If you do need to mix a little bit of coolant, though, here are a few pointers. G05andG48 are compatible with each other, regardless of color. However, we advise a switch to G48 after performing a full cooling system drain, flush, and re-fill, due to current availability. Once you have chosen the correct coolant, you can fill the cooling system with the new coolant. You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the correct ratio of coolant to water, which is usually 50/50.

You can also choose between fully concentrated coolant or pre-mixed in addition to buying the proper kind. Concentrated coolant is the most cost-effective option unless you’re in a pressing hurry. Simply combine it with the right amount of distilled water to obtain more product for your money. OATs, HOATs, and Si-OATs, am I right? I know that sounds confusing, but you don't need to know the chemical makeup of every fluid in your car; that's an engineer's job. What you do need to know is which coolants can be used together. Carrying around spare fluids is a nice thought, but not everyone has the space for them, so knowing which coolant types that can top off your system in a pinch can save your cooling system.I'm wondering if anyone is up to speed on this new generation of the ongoing G11 G12 G12+ G12++ G13, now G12E progression? G11 coolant is used in early Volkswagen and Audi vehicles from the model years 1980 to 1996. G12 and G12+ are used in cars from 1996 to 2008, while G12++ and G13 coolants can be used in vehicles produced from 2008 onward. G13 coolant is pink in color, while G40 coolant is yellow. The color of the coolant does not affect its performance but can help identify the type of coolant used in the engine. Freeze Point Avoid mixing the coolant unless you are absolutely certain that it is safe for your car. You run the risk of harming the cooling system and radiator by deviating from the manufacturer’s recommendations. The worst that can happen is that you break the water pump or engine. BMW is pretty simple when it comes to its coolants. For what seems like forever, BMW has used either an IAT or HOAT coolant formula for all of their vehicles. Up until recently, a blue G48-spec coolant was the only type required. However, beginning a few years ago, BMW switched to a Si-OAT formula called HT12. For whatever reason, this newest formula doesn't follow BASF's Glysantin specification naming scheme, but that might just make it easier to remember and differentiate from other formulas. G48 Coolant