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Non-Volvo Coolant? V70-XC70

I need coolant. My car is a 2003 V70 2.4T The current stuff is off orange color. I'm doing timing belt and water pump but I need to know what coolant that is in there? I don't have a Volvo dealer nearby at all...165 miles away is the nearest so...Looking to top it off with the orange stuff then go from there on whether to use the orange stuff or flush the system and start using the green stuff?








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    Orange is usually Dexcool, which is not good for your engine and cannot be mixed with any other antifreeze.

    I suggest ordering a gallon of Volvo AF or buying a gallon of Zerex G05. Then get 3 gallons of distilled water at your supermarket and save a couple of gallon milk jugs for recycling.

    Remove the splash pan under the car to make things easy. Empty the radiator and then loosen the bottom radiator hose to drain the rest.

    Because a pint or so remains in the heater core, add two gallons of water through the overflow bottle, burp the large hose a couple of times, start the engine and run it for a few minutes. Flush again

    Then pour in the antifreeze and top off with water. Burp the hose. Top to max. Start and run engine until the radiator fan kicks in. Let the engine cool and check the level.

    Of course, you are also doing the Tbelt and pump. So I suggest you drain and flush before removing the pump. Makes things cleaner when taking out the old pump.

    --
    Keeping it running is better than buying new



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      sorry to respectfully disagree, but my fleet has over 900,000 and all Ive ever used is whatever name brand pre-diluted 50/50 silicate-free coolant is on sale. I have never, never had any issues with the purported mixing coolant stories. If someone can show me some proof with some real chemistry behind the argument, I am happy to listen. Until then I stand by my odometers. Never had a problem with my thermos, sensors or radiators based on this coolant or that. There is no logical reason why a Volvo block would be allergic to one brand or another.
      --
      The Family Fleet: 90 745; 96 855T; 99 XC. nearing 900,000, thanks BB and M1



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    The orange stuff sounds like GM's Dexcool or what ever it was called. IIRC it does not always play well with other formulations. Not knowing what is currently in there, it is probably be best to flush the cooling system and use what ever long life antifreeze is common in your area.

    How cold is it likely to get before you change the water pump ? If the temps won't go much below freezing you could safely add a little distilled water to get by until you do the work. A 2:1 mix of water:antifreeze won't freeze until 0°F.

    Greg



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      Zillions of cars use Dex-Cool and many more run Dex-Cool clones.
      As mentioned above, the stuff doesn't like to be mixed. There's no telling what has been thrown into your cooling system.

      I'd just buy some Volvo coolant on Amazon. With or without "Prime" it'll be cheaper than driving that distance.
      Flush the mystery mix with hose water. Get excess distilled water (5-6 gallons) at the grocery store.
      Mix one quart of distilled with the concentrated coolant and keep it aside.

      Finish your flush with distilled. Drain the radiator and add the 3 quarts of concentrate. Top off with the 2 quarts of coolant you premixed.

      You'll be a tad over 50% mix and be in coolant heaven.



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