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johnnymarrsbarres

Member Since: 03 Oct 2024
Location: UK
Posts: 5

Mixing coolant brands?

Hi all.

My 2.4 Tdci is low on coolant - I'm fairly sure (hoping anyway) it's the expansion tank cap as there is some wet residue around it and there are no other symptoms - car drives fine, no smoke, no overheating, heater works fine, no mayonnaise in oil filler cap. Coolant is just low.

I've ordered a new OEM filler cap but I need to top up the coolant. Will Halfords standard OAT coolant do the job? And is it ok mixing and matching with whatever's currently in there? The expansion tank is a couple of cm's below the 'cold level' fill line so there is existing coolant in the system, it's just a bit low.

Thanks!

21st Nov 2024 10:10am

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20342

Provided it’s the same colour:
https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-903-motul-aut...o-use.aspx

Meets LR specs, this is what I have in the entire system, pour and go. $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🇺🇸⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪

21st Nov 2024 10:15am

MK

Member Since: 28 Aug 2008
Location: Santiago
Posts: 2414

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Chawton White

Those caps fail. It is better to replace it with an Iveco cap (p/n 99489567).

Just the other day I was comparing the cooant composition between a Ford orange jug and a Valvoline zerex? Both are specific for Ford/LR spec but they are not identical. So at this point I am not sure if I would mix them. Puma 110" SW

.............................................................
Earth first. Other planets later

21st Nov 2024 11:10am

Ianh

Member Since: 17 Sep 2018
Location: Essex
Posts: 1997

Don’t go on the colour of the coolant, nowadays the colour of the coolant is a very rough guide. Go on the specification of the coolant.

So If the coolants to be mixed are of the exact same specification, I.e WSS-M97B44-D then yes it’s ok to mix.

21st Nov 2024 11:23am

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20342

OAT Coolant I believe, and spec that meets the above code.

IIRC the original colour always was orange, it was on mine for an earlier 2.4.

Was it changed at all?
Texaco XLC is in the manual from the factory. $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🇺🇸⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪

21st Nov 2024 11:43am

johnnymarrsbarres

Member Since: 03 Oct 2024
Location: UK
Posts: 5

Thanks all.

On closer inspection I reckon it's leaking from both the cap and the white plastic heater control valve thingamajig - see photo, looks like it's dripping a bit of coolant.

I've thrown some Halfrauds OAT juice in it and ordered a new cap so will keep an eye on it and see how I go. If it's still losing coolant I'll replace the heater thing, looks easy enough.

Click image to enlarge

21st Nov 2024 1:48pm

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20342

Yes that’s a leak, I think you’ve found your problem there.

Beware of driving it anywhere far because it can become a big leak when up to temperature and pressure, so a good thing you have noticed it.

$W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🇺🇸⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪

21st Nov 2024 4:21pm

johnnymarrsbarres

Member Since: 03 Oct 2024
Location: UK
Posts: 5

Well I've got a 200 mile drive to do on Saturday morning so I guess we're going on hopes and prayers for now!

I'll get one of these valve thingies ordered.

21st Nov 2024 4:26pm

jst

Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8021

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey

Well rightly or wrongly I have mixed coolants of same colour on my own 110. I personally don't think it makes much odds. I have only done 110k in it so time will tell. Cheers

James
110 2012 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop

21st Nov 2024 7:42pm

HardCharger

Member Since: 03 Mar 2013
Location: Manila
Posts: 735

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Stornoway Grey

I find it weird that two coolants can have the Ford approval but one is orange and the other, pink. If this is the case, how now? Technically the same, yet different.

No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy

25th Nov 2024 7:44am

TexasRover

Member Since: 24 Nov 2022
Location: Paris
Posts: 1046

2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Chawton White

Colour means nothing at all. Its the active ingredients OAT HOAT, IOAT, IAT, Ethylene glycol, Propylene glycol etc. There was a moment (a long time ago) where mixing two types could lead to gel forming, but I understand that is very much in the past now.

Topping up with some universal or even distilled water till you have time to sort out a leak is just fine I think, but once the system is good it's worth to drain, flush and refill with one system. Most of the types will work (dissimilar metals and not all that dissimilar between cars!) life expectancy of the fluid is the big differentiator - and brand revenue. If you find you opening up and draining your engine occasionally (as I end up doing) you might as well factor in a fresh fluid refill with whatever suitable Halfords (or Norauto/Carrefour/etc) has on offer every 3 years or so.

Where to dispose of the wasted fluid in France I find the bigger challenge, same with waste oil. France recycling efforts have not moved much beyond the 90s.

25th Nov 2024 8:34am

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