Engine: D5: Coolant Replacement

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

Depends if you're only draining enough coolant to replace the radiator or doing a complete flush and replacement of all the coolant.

Coolant is fine, so the former

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Bonefishblues

If I may resurrect an old thread to ask how much coolant in litres would be needed to refill an E3 XC70 whose radiator is being replaced?

4 litres should do it to 50 % bearing in mind there will be some old trapped in there .

[Bonefishblues]

Humour the hard of thinking a moment if you would. Is that 4litres of 50% concentrate or 4ltrs of fluid total?

Also, is it worth buying genuine Volvo fluid or will ECP blue do fine (as an example)?

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by Bonefishblues

Coolant is fine, so the former

If the coolant is indeed fine, why not just pour back in what you have drained?
No measuring, no guesswork, no need to buy new.

[Dancake]

Genuine Volvo fluid is probably cheaper than aftermarket alternatives, and it's the right fluid. You can buy it ready mixed in 4ltr bottles or concentrate in the same quantity. If you buy concentrate than you'll also have to factor in the purchase / procurement of distilled water. You can use tap water, bottled water or deionised water, but distilled water is the best water to mix with coolant.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Bonefishblues

Humour the hard of thinking a moment if you would. Is that 4litres of 50% concentrate or 4ltrs of fluid total?

Also, is it worth buying genuine Volvo fluid or will ECP blue do fine (as an example)?

volvo coolant you buy from the dealer is concentrated , dilute 50% with water , freezing point then - 37 C ..
Is it worth it ? It's certainly the best coolant you can buy , lasts indefinitely and costs towards the cheapest end of the range available in Halfords Etc .

[oragex]

One may find out 1 gallon of genuine coolant concentrate is actually less expensive when mixed with distilled water, that buying two gallons of pre-mixed 50-50 aftermarket coolant. While there, always use only Distilled water, no tap water in there. If you need to flush the system, use the Prestone flush with distilled water for a few days, then drain and refill with 2 gallons of distilled water for a few days, then drain all again and refill with genuine coolant mixed with distilled water. Price wise, I'm in Canada and the dealer sells 1 gallon of concentrate for $30 CAD (about $24 USD) plus 1 gallon of distilled water for $2.

To fully drain everything I prefer releasing the radiator peacock, the block peacock, then the two wall heater core rubber hoses and blow some air into the core to drain it as well.

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

If the coolant is indeed fine, why not just pour back in what you have drained?
No measuring, no guesswork, no need to buy new.

That's an admirably sensible approach! I know the coolant's good because most of it has been replaced in the last 18 months via consistent topping up of a small leak, now traced and about to be fixed

[petey]

Originally Posted by Clan

Is it worth it ? It's certainly the best coolant you can buy , lasts indefinitely and costs towards the cheapest end......

Coolant does NOT last indefinitely. It will always prevent freezing but it’s abilty to control corrosion is very much limited by time.

[davebb]

you can use a volt meter to see if it is ok, look at Simon's youtube videos,
Dave