What Anti-Freeze?

[Joe]

I'm running low on anti-freeze in my 1995 SL. Now... The big question is
why... But the immediate question is what type to use... Anything special
I need to know before I run off to the auto parts store?

Joe in Northern, NJ - V#8013-R

Ride a motorcycle in or near NJ?
http://tinyurl.com/4zkw8
http://www.youthelate.com

 

[p_vouers]

look what is in it first.. green or orange and put the same back in DO
NOT MIX green and orange.

 

[Oppie]

What does the car spec out? is it the green or amber stuff? Don't switch or
mix types.

If you don't see any leaks, it may be leaking into the engine. Check your
oil cap for signs of water in the oil. Also check the exhaust for white
smoke or a sweet smell (antifreeze). Depending on where the leak is, you
might get by with a can of stop leak. This can sometimes cause more problems
than it fixes so be advised...

 

[Joe]

What does the car spec out? is it the green or amber stuff? Don't switch
or mix types.

It has green... But I thought there were different grades of green for
aluminum and non-aluminum heads, etc.

If you don't see any leaks, it may be leaking into the engine. Check your
oil cap for signs of water in the oil.

Ah... Clean as a whistle... I always look for the "Froth" befoer buying a
used car or motorcycle.

Also check the exhaust for white smoke or a sweet smell (antifreeze).

None. But it could be a very small leak that takes a year or more to
accumulate into a loss. I lose a 1/2 quart of oil every 2nd or 3rd tank of
gas - but that is supposed to be attributed to sticking rings. No treatment
found online or in the stores (including ehre) has ever fixed that for me.

Depending on where the leak is, you might get by with a can of stop leak.
This can sometimes cause more problems than it fixes so be advised...

....Or I can just keep adding fluid.
--


Joe in Northern, NJ - V#8013-R

Ride a motorcycle in or near NJ?
http://tinyurl.com/4zkw8
http://www.youthelate.com

 

[Bob Shuman]

Buy a gallon at a local Saturn dealer to make sure you are correct since
Saturn is funny about specifying a Phosphate free "green" (regular Ethylene
Glycol) mix.

Bob

 

[Gary]

You may just have a bad radiator pressure cap.
The spring in mine wore out and it would let the coolant out at very low
pressures. They are mechanical and the springs get weak, and it is at least
cheap to try.

Warning! I had a truck with a 4 LB pressure cap on it. I put the right one
on and found out why. Two days later the radiator blew out. Now I know to
look for that anyway.

 

[Oppie]

Warning! I had a truck with a 4 LB pressure cap on it. I put the right
one on and found out why. Two days later the radiator blew out. Now I
know to look for that anyway.

Radiator may be expensive to repair but not nearly as bad as replacing the
heater core. did a few myself and took all day to rip out the dash and
remove heater box.
Oppie