Is G12 antifreeze for a 1997 Golf mark3 VR6 blue OR pink?

[matth76 1]

Hi

I had my water pump changed yesterday by a reputable garage and they replaced my pink G12 antifreeze with a blue colour antifreeze. I did ask if it was correct and they said yes. My question is G12 also blue as well as the pink colour? I have a load of pink G12 antifreeze left in my old bottle... can I mix this with the blue antifreeze that they put in?

Thanks

Matt

[stockers 1]

it should be the pink stuff, the blue one is for older odb1 engine, i would ask them 'to kindly replace the coolant with the same as what was in there'

[matth76 1]

Is the blue (earlier one) one bad for the engine?

[stockers 1]

it has a tendancy to corrode the cooling system including heater matrex and coolant pipes

[matth76 1]

Blimey... I've really having a lot of luck this weekend. First I'm told my timing chains are apparently one their way out and now they've put in the wrong anti-freeze. I specifically asked them why they were not putting in the same colour/type and they said it was fine. How easy is it to empty and replace the antifreeze and where is the plug hole to empty it all? I could ask them to replace it but to be honest they are an hour's drive away. Is the blue anti-freeze really going to cause damage / corrosion to my cooling system?!!

[andy 0]

My advice, get it out, they should have used G12+, I'm not even sure if you can actually still get G12. G12+ is pink and yes using the wrong coolant can in time damage your engine, my original VR6, a golf had a leaking/blown head gasket caused by corrosion on the block and head from incorrect coolant use, the problem with using other coolant is that it reacts with previous types of coolant and then sits in the gaskets as a corrosive residue, slowly corroding your metal work. G12+ was developed to be compatable with the previous VAG coolants like G11 and G12. To drain the system, ideally take the bottom hose off the radiator and give the whole lot a good flush through before refilling. From what you have said in this thread and the other one about your chains I wouldn't go back to the garage you mentioned, they sound clueless to me.

[Seademon 0]

Might be a silly question but is all 'G12' coolant pink? Mines had blue coolant in it for a year and has been fine - not even had to top the coolant up all year!

[stockers 1]

pretty much every garage i've gone to have put blue anti-freeze in my vr's, i now take ten litres of coolant with the car and tell them to use the coolant i provide!!!

[andy 0]

Other coolant will be fine, .....as coolant. It doesn't mean it won't lurk in your gaskets and eat your head away.

[matth76 1]

Thanks for your replies. Will my gaskets etc be fine if I leave the blue (G12) coolant in till next weekend? How many litres would I need of G12+ to completely fill the system up to the maximum level if I drain the system and do a refill.. what cost am I looking at? I'm a bit p*ssed off that they have done this if the blue G12 coolant is such a damaging coolant. The company has been recommended by a few members on here and also PerformanceVW take all their cars there. Is the blue anti-freeze really very bad, or can it wait until my next service in a few months?

[stockers 1]

bently manual says its 10 litre's to refill after a total drain. so you'll need 3 bottles of coolant and 6 ltres of distilled water, they are

[matth76 1]

Ok for the time being I will leave it in if it is not going to actually cause in damage for 3-4 months (3k miles). And come my next service in around 3k miles I'll get them to do a complete drain and 'flush' and use the correct G12+.

[stockers 1]

ah, when you said 'a couple of months' i thought you would do my miles (about 200 per month), might be worth pm'ing Vinesh (mk1dubzter) on e38 mk3 forum aswell

http://www.edition38.com

[Matt W 4]

VAG coolants are as follows;

G11 is Blue older cars, i think 95 and earlier

G12 is Pink new cars, again i think 95 onwards

G12+ is Pink and can be used in all cars 'andy' said.

Also as Andy said mixing coolants is not usually advised unless a good flush has been done. There is a yellow/green one out there but i have no idea how it conforms to VAG standards

But here in Germany all VAG garages only use G12+ and it will be pink in colour just like G12, only G11 is blue!

[matth76 1]

VAG coolants are as follows;

G11 is Blue older cars' date=' i think 95 and earlier

G12 is Pink new cars, again i think 95 onwards

G12+ is Pink and can be used in all cars 'andy' said.

Also as Andy said mixing coolants is not usually advised unless a good flush has been done. There is a yellow/green one out there but i have no idea how it conforms to VAG standards

But here in Germany all VAG garages only use G12+ and it will be pink in colour just like G12, only G11 is blue!

[/quote']

Thanks for all your replies. So it seems as though I have G11 in my car. Is this going to be harmful leaving in for approx 3k miles or should it be drained asap? I may be seeing The Phirm in a couple of weeks to do my hydraulic tensioner so could ask them to put in the correct G12+ ...although I'm not sure they will agree to do it for free but I'm definitely asking them.

[stockers 1]

personally i'd have it removed asap, it depends how much business you give them.

i've had alot of refunds for kicking up a fuss

inform them the coolant was pink when it went in and is now blue,if you supply the coolant i would expect them to do it for free.

but its tricky if you don't specify things before any work is carried out,now i assume the garage wil do it wrong so i check and specify everything beforehand.

[antera309 3]

VAG coolants are as follows;

G11 is Blue older cars' date=' i think 95 and earlier

G12 is Pink new cars, again i think 95 onwards

G12+ is Pink and can be used in all cars 'andy' said.

Also as Andy said mixing coolants is not usually advised unless a good flush has been done. There is a yellow/green one out there but i have no idea how it conforms to VAG standards

But here in Germany all VAG garages only use G12+ and it will be pink in colour just like G12, only G11 is blue!

[/quote']

All VW dealers I've come across only sell G12+ now. This mixes OK with G11, so if you drain your coolant system normally, then refill with a 50/50 mix of G12+ and water then you should be fine. If you were to take your car into a VW dealer then this is all they'd do anyway.

[uber-tub 0]

blue will be old G11 at best. G12 is pink and G12+ is purple. One problem is that most other cheaper coolant is blue so you may well have some Halford's best in your motor. The issue is that G11 will be okay with G12 but other non-VW coolants should not be mixed.

Unless the garage had an old stock of G11 it would seem likely that you've got some non-VW coolant. Get yourself back down for it changing free-of-charge now that you know more than them.

Good luck

[Matt W 4]

G12+ is purple????

Is that because its G11 and G12 mixed!!! !lol