The coolant is running low on my STI V. On the cap it says "refer to owners handbook" As my Japanese isn't what it used to be could any one tell me any do's and dont's and recommend a particular coolant.

Cheers

Leon,

Check either the SIDC FAQ on

SIDC don't cover the rules on coolant.
Anyone else got any ideas.

L

The handbook for my UK turbo specifies a 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water and yours should be the same.

Anti-freeze bottles always warn not to mix different types of coolant. Assuming yours contains the standard ethlyene-glycol stuff then any decent stuff will do. However, what type they fill the car with in Japan you need to check first.

If you can't wait then a bit of straight water won't weaken the mixture much but it depends on how low it is. Example: half a litre of straight water will weaken your mixture to 53/47 - no big deal, just won't quite protect you to -36 degrees C.

Ive been going through the same thing on my STI2.
'I think' it is the newer tipe of 'ready mixed' coolant & antifreeze(cant remember the proper name) but it is made by Blucol and Comma, amoungst others and has a 4 year life aposed to 2 years of normal.
It is also suplied as standard to MR2s and new Citreons and is supposed to be a lot higher performance (higher boiling point) than normal types. But is not supossed to be topped up with water!
...JAMES.
P.S. Have you tried an anti-freeze tester they are very cheap (about £1.50) and would tell you what type, and the strength mix is in there. If it is in the middle (same as straight water) then it is probably as above.

What colour is your coolant ?
Mine (WRX MY94) is green, but is getting a bit low.

I tested a sample in the freezer for 10-15 minutes last autumn, to check it was ok, and it didn't freeze (same as a 30% Bluecol sample from my other car as a comparison).

Need to top mine up at some point.
Don't really want to mix types (have blue and pink antifreeze left over from previous cars)
Also the recent post about not using water to top it up is a concern.

Anyone got the green type of antifreeze ?

Yeah mine is green, and i 'think' its as above.
BTW i have been told told by the makers that you can mix water as a last resort,with the ready mixed type, it just wont be as efective.
Stephen if the pink a/freeze you have says on the back that it is Methanol(or Ethanol cant remember which one)based, chuck it away NOW, its horrible cheap stuff and shoudnt be put anywhere near a car with an alloy head.
Cheers...JAMES

checked the jap service handbook - it says

30% solution - ok down to minus 8 degrees
50% solution - ok down to minus 28 degrees

30% solution NOT recommended for sti/ra that have smaller water jacket in the engine block and thus get hotter quicker.

a cheap tester kit will show you what your current mixture strength is.

NB
beware system pressure when opening the cooling system for topping up etc. - WAIT until the engine has cooled down.

cheers,

Paul W

What about using radiator flush when changing the coolant ?

Is it worth doing ?

Any brand known to work ?

I'd be trying to find out where the coolant's going. You shouldn't really lose much at all so make sure you haven't got any leaks (not unless you haven't checked it for years of course http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/wink.gif )

Anyone know the best way of draining the system to replace it all. IS there are drian plug anywhere ?

Thanks for your help people.
I've had the 7,500 mile service today.
SGT in Taplow use / reccommend "Castrol anti-freeze / coolant for aluminium engines".
They're a UK dealer and seem happy enough to service imports.

Freindly efficient enough service if anyone's interested. They picked up on a few small things that I hadn't told them about.

Leon