Antifreeze - MINI Cooper Forum

An_S_4_Me · #1 (**permalink**) Dec 9th, 2002, 02:27 PM

Hi all,

Do i need to put antifreeze in my MCS now it's getting cold?

Thanks

Andy

GMINI · #2 (**permalink**) Dec 9th, 2002, 07:45 PM

I'm looking at a small leak in the res.

Will get fixed of course. Will get larger.

Right now it's near minimum. Wanna filler/ Been through coolant wars with saab. I know better than to use the green stuff lest it already is used.

What are we dealing with? If you know.

BruceK · #3 (**permalink**) Dec 9th, 2002, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GMINI
I'm looking at a small leak in the res.

Will get fixed of course. Will get larger.

Right now it's near minimum. Wanna filler/ Been through coolant wars with saab. I know better than to use the green stuff lest it already is used.

What are we dealing with? If you know.

I think you are 100% right to be sure not to add the wrong coolant.

But based upon my experience with a leaky coolant tank on my Cooper S, my recommendation is that if you're only down at the minimum level, you might be able to avoid adding anything. The 'leak' on my MINI never seemed to get below the minimum level even for the 6 weeks before I got the tank replaced.

GMINI · #4 (**permalink**) Dec 9th, 2002, 10:14 PM

I'm sure what happened with yours will happen with mine.

But I'd like to have some coolant in the house or car as insurance. Or at least have the name of the right kind. Guess i'll call the dealer tomorrow.

elmadi · #5 (**permalink**) Dec 10th, 2002, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GMINI
I'm sure what happened with yours will happen with mine.

But I'd like to have some coolant in the house or car as insurance. Or at least have the name of the right kind. Guess i'll call the dealer tomorrow.

I did the same thing about 2 wks. ago on my MC CVT.
The service manager told me tog et the BMW anti-freeze to be safe.

Hope this help.

GMINI · #6 (**permalink**) Dec 10th, 2002, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by elmadi

I did the same thing about 2 wks. ago on my MC CVT.
The service manager told me tog et the BMW anti-freeze to be safe.

Hope this help.

And the non-MINI-servicing BMW dealership is just down the road a bit.

Splicer65 · #7 (**permalink**) Dec 10th, 2002, 04:27 PM

The MINi owners manual should have done a better job in this area. Ford, GM, Mazda, in my experience have done well taking the mystery out of this subject. I'll add this to the mix.

Antifreeze FAQ

olddad · #8 (**permalink**) Dec 13th, 2002, 01:12 AM

I'm changing to this product.

www.evanscooling.com

GMINI · #9 (**permalink**) Dec 13th, 2002, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by olddad
I'm changing to this product.

www.evanscooling.com

If yer talkin bout this stuff, I'm game as well!

http://www.evanscooling.com/main31.htm

$25/gal

GMINI · #10 (**permalink**) Dec 13th, 2002, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by obehave

Looks good but... they seem to want it to be used in a low pressure system. How you going to do that on the MINI?
Or is the low pressure not a necessity?
The price is a poke in the eye but if it does work as advertised spresading that over a typical 5 year ownership it's not that bad. Especially since a flush and fill isn't in our maintenance agreement, at least I don't remember seeing one.

From my take low pressure is a byproduct. I don't think this stuff expands much. I think it'll run great in any pressurized system.

How could MINI possibly NOT flush? Unless they're using waterless... They must.

GMINI · #11 (**permalink**) Dec 13th, 2002, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by obehave

I agree 100%. That's why it bothered me.

Now I have to check again when I get home from work but I don't remember seeing a flush on our schedule.

Then again at my age remembering where I put my cars keys 20 minutes later is cause for celebration

I would think MINI2 would have a posting of maintenance schedules for various nations. Heck. I would think MINIUSA would have one for US models.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

zgokart · #12 (**permalink**) Jan 30th, 2003, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by elmadi
I did the same thing about 2 wks. ago on my MC CVT.
The service manager told me tog et the BMW anti-freeze to be safe.

Hope this help.

__________________
BMW and MINI antifreeze are not the same. They even have different colors. BMW antifreeze is almost orange in color, while MINI's antifreeze is blue/green. Now, I've heard that the MCS comes with the orange type antifreeze. If that's the case, then maybe the one used for the MCS is the same as that for BMW.

When I called my service dealer about topping up on the reservoir "minimum" level, he said to get the MINI coolant and not the BMW coolant. I can understand that you shouldn't mix the two if they have slightly different formulations. Has anyone with a MC (not MCS) used BMW coolant to top up his/her reservoir?

GMINI · #13 (**permalink**) Jan 30th, 2003, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by zgokart
__________________
BMW and MINI antifreeze are not the same. They even have different colors. BMW antifreeze is almost orange in color, while MINI's antifreeze is blue/green. Now, I've heard that the MCS comes with the orange type antifreeze. If that's the case, then maybe the one used for the MCS is the same as that for BMW. Has anyone with a MC (not MCS) used BMW coolant to top up his/her reservoir?

Dig. Thanks. MCS I got still has factory coolant (WOW!!

) and it is BLUE GREEN. So I guess it is NOT BMW's coolant then... aye zgo?

elmadi · #14 (**permalink**) Jan 30th, 2003, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GMINI
Dig. Thanks. MCS I got still has factory coolant (WOW!! ) and it is BLUE GREEN. So I guess it is NOT BMW's coolant then... aye zgo?

When I decided to buy the coolant---I ask the MINI Service Advisor if I can get other "brand" of coolant. He told it's much better to get the BMW coolant which he believes the same thing being used on the MINI.

I followed his advise & it seems no problem so far after 2 months since I top-it.

GordonD · #15 (**permalink**) Jan 30th, 2003, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by olddad
I'm changing to this product.

www.evanscooling.com

I had a quick read of this site and didn't see any discussion about this being an ANTIFREEZE - everything is about its value as a coolant but at what temp will it freeze? It might be there and i just missed it

I know that 100% Glycol is not as good an antifreeze as 50/50 water/glycol so i would want to have that answered bfore making any choices.

Typically one would want to change antifreeze every 2 years and i would probably stick to that personally even if I was using their product.

I have deep personal suspision of all long life products which claim to keep working for hundreds of thousands of miles. they may still be viscous or whatever but surely they are pretty dirty by then and I am just as worried about solid particulates (sp?) in any fluid as the fluid itself - just an old guy's opinion