Share this post. If this is not observed, the engine could be damaged. Which is 4.55 litres, while we're about it. However, if it is down a lot (mine was WAY below the minimum level) I'd recommend you get some proper coolant. 24/01/2021 8:37 pm. Coolant is a chemical fluid that is required for your car’s cooling system or radiator to work. I had this recently with my 911. If ... Refill only with distilled water. premix coolant. Topping up your car with coolant is easy. (-37°C) and up to 265°F (129°C) Concentrated or Prediluted • Prediluted coolants are ready-to-use, no need to add water • Concentrated coolants need to be diluted with 50% distilled water to provide maximum protection The Right Stuff • Always use the correct antifreeze/ coolant when topping off a cooling I forgot those distilled water at WallMart--way,way cheaper! Posted on: Apr 26 2018 By: Hy-per Web Crew View all 2 responses; We get this question all the time when talking to customers on our tech line: What is the best type of water to use in my cooling system?”In this post, we would like to address this topic, as the plethora of misinformation regarding this topic has easily made … Only top up coolant if there is coolant residue in the expansion tank. This can also lead to engine failure. Only refill your engine coolant when the engine is cold. Refill the engine coolant up to the maximum marker. Unscrew the filler cap slowly, allowing the pressure to escape before removing completely. Mix the coolant: If you are not using pre-mixed coolant, mix the correct antifreeze with distilled water as per the manufacturer’s instructions – 50-50 is a common measure, with 70-30 for extremely cold climates. I'll top it up with some distilled water today. 1 - 15 of 15 Posts. If you let your engine coolant run low, your engine will be at risk of internal rust build-up and overheating. A 1/16 of an inch of hard water scale will make your cooling system 40% less effective. You won’t even need any equipment. Its always been serviced there. Reply. Thx guys- kind of what I thought, I'll check the service records for what last went in and get some from BMW. TOPPING UP THE COOLANT. Shop Car Service Parts Now. Topping up Car Coolant with Water. When your radiator gets mineral buildup or hard water scale it becomes less effective at cooling off those hot engine parts. Noticed the coolant level is a little down on my motor - E39 M5. 2,104 posts. DIY Car Service Parts isn’t just about accessing car parts from the best brands at the lowest prices. There are a few things you should do before starting step 1: Check the owner’s manual to find your vehicle’s correct engine coolant—different engine types require different coolants. Anyone know if there's a particular BMW spec, or is it just the same as some off the shelf stuff ? My whole cooling system has pretty much all been replaced in the last couple of years. Pour the … To view all EcoSport tutorial videos, click here. And if you ever need to add coolant, here’s how to do it. Just follow these simple steps: Make sure the engine is cool before you start. Topping up coolant - what with ? Mix the two in a 50/50 ratio by filling an empty radiator fluid bottle halfway with water and topping it up with radiator fluid. You should check your vehicle’s coolant level every time you fill up the fuel tank. User #642008 101 posts. gilesm89. Save Share. Our specialist team is on hand to answer any of your queries and offer valuable advice so that you can understand more about the ways that your car works and get savvy under the bonnet. Note that coolant that is sold as antifreeze needs to be diluted with distilled water. Topping up coolant. Followers 1. If the coolant is not already pre-mixed, use an empty container to mix equal parts coolant and distilled water to create the 50/50 coolant and water mix that’s usually recommended. Make up the coolant solution with the right ratio of anti-freeze to pure, distilled water beforehand (if you don’t have distilled water you could boil a kettle and let it cool, as this has a similar affect) and begin pouring it into the coolant header tank reservoir. WARNING. Whitean3. Using water to top up your radiator fluid is a common misconception that occurs because many do not understand the way a radiator functions in an engine and the reason that coolant and antifreeze is required. Apart from distilled or otherwise purified water, proprietary topping-up fluids are available from garages, accessory shops and sometimes chemists. 159 months. Jump to Latest Follow 1 - 15 of 15 Posts. Is that normal? A mixture containing up to 70% coolant will still work, but a fifty-fifty mix is more efficient. Always use high-quality coolants for the best result for your engine. Avoid spilling antifreeze onto a hot engine - a fire may result. TOPPING UP THE COOLANT. Typically BMW blue seems to be fairly universal, part number is 82-14-1-467-704 , it is referred to as G48 from a company called Glysantin. Continue with Facebook. Ensure that there are no leaks before driving. This is a general guide. But my understanding is that 'antfreeze' extends the boiling point depending on the coolant/water ratio. E ... Get the distilled water. Topping up coolant ... Notifications Clear all Topping up coolant with TAP water instead of deminerinalized water Last Post RSS. Top off the radiator 2. I was amazed that the Porsche dealer gave me 2 litres gratis because they had run out of the small bottles to sell me. 3. All other types of water can cause corrosion in the engine due to the chemical components contained therein. Don’t forget that the coolant is just one part of the total cooling-system “team.” You can raise water’s effective vapor point by using a higher-pressure radiator cap. As others say, if it's only down a little bit, distilled water should be fine. Why You Should Never Use Distilled Water in Your Cooling System. Being an E39 it has a rubbish cooling system, my radiator went. but the main issues arise when people top up their coolant with just tap water, diluting the coolant mixture and leading to higher freezing temperatures. The cooling system is responsible for transferring the heat created within the engine during combustion to the atmosphere. Will have coolant refreshed coming Tuesday. The usual ratio is 50:50, but it’s worth checking on the container’s instructions. Antifreeze is highly flammable. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it: Choose the right coolant/antifreeze — Most coolant/antifreeze will say that it can only be mixed with the same type/colour of coolant, but Prestone can be added to any another colour, make or type of coolant/antifreeze. Most brands recommend a 50/50 mix, though some suggest a blend of 70% coolant and 30% distilled water – especially for use in cold weather. Unscrew the cap. Never remove the coolant reservoir filler cap when the engine is hot. A specially-formulated ethylene glycol based antifreeze, with a 60/40 ratio coolant/water mixture. WARNING. What's the best thing to top it up with, I assume the same mix that was last put in at service. I noticed the other day it was close to or on the minimum mark. Never remove the filler cap when the engine is hot - escaping steam or scalding water could cause serious personal injury. Top up to the MAX indicator mark on the side of the coolant reservoir. This build-up is also referred to as hard water scale and you’ve likely seen it on your household appliances. posted 2015-Sep-28, 4:48 pm AEST I'm having the same dilemma. Participant reference: whrl.pl/RepHLT. Yet even with its lower vapor point, water still carries more heat per unit. I've used distilled water in car coolant systems where I've expected to have to remove/refill the coolant in the short term and I've run those cars up to about 85C. BMW sell 1.5 litres for about 10quid and it's good stuff, dilute to 50 percent and away you go. Shop our engine coolant range below. Thanks Bruce. Escaping steam or scalding water could cause serious personal injury. You'll need a funnel and enough premixed coolant, or pure coolant and distilled water. Whether you’re changing your own car parts or saving costs by providing them to your local garage, DIY Car Service Parts is the ultimate site for easily identifying the vehicle parts that you need. My coolant … If your engine coolant level drops suddenly, take your car to a garage. Continue with Google . Your local dealer's spares department should have 1l and 5 l bottles; you may find they give you some coolant for free! Nate Ortiz from TGT: The Guys Tech gives some really good reasons why distilled water is the best choice for cooling your system. He said the coolant is a "little down", why's he gonna need a gallon! Park your vehicle on a flat surface before checking engine coolant level. You can buy pre-mixed engine coolant or mix it yourself with distilled water. Distilled water (which is pure water) is used to prevent any possible contamination. I heard that for new cars, the coolant stays on for a year( No need to top up) I picked up one of those bottles of Yamacool for peace of mind, plus for under 10 bucks, you can't go wrong. Disclaimer: Every vehicle is different. If it’s below minimum, top it up. If it's only down a bit, just use (distilled) water. Join the discussion. With over 35 years’ experience in the automotive industry, we are experts in the car parts field. By Osi_NL, November 18, 2009 in E39 1996 ... (cold) marked on the side. If you look at the description, it is a 60/40 blend, so a little distilled water shouldn't hurt. Not just E39s, all M52 and M54 engined cars. Coolant mixed with water in typically a 50/50 mix, circulates through the engine, absorbs heat, and flows to the radiator via the water pump and cooling passages to … Topping up your car’s coolant reservoir is a straightforward process. To top up the coolant: Rotate the coolant reservoir filler cap counter-clockwise and remove. Topping up is quite simple to do and takes only a few minutes. A tray for collecting the old coolant and some rags for any spillages are also necessary. Retighten the cap. Mix coolant with distilled water. Check your vehicle handbook to identify where your engine coolant is located. 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