Which Coolant for 2015 Citroen C3 1.0 Puretech VTR ?

[jamesc3purple]

Dear All,

Thanks for all the help I've already had on this forum.

Just wondered what the Citroen recommended Coolant is for the above.

VIN number: VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]

Many thanks

[kantica]

This would probably be the same as for every other Citroen in last 20+ years, Glysantin G33 or the equivalent. Call your local dealer and just buy ready mix for your car.

[GiveMeABreak]

Citroen use Freecor DSC Fluid either as a concentrated antifreeze or a ready-mixed fluid ready for use.

[moizeau]

Just one other thing to mention. Is this for a top up of complete change? If for a top up, unless you're sure what's in there (don't go by colour) here is no answer as a previous owner could have put any type in. If this is the case do a complete change.

[jamesc3purple]

Thanks for the reply's. We've only bought the car a few months ago, so wouldn't know what's in there. Colour is a browny yellow/orange.

Wasn't planning doing a complete change but topping up. As I don't know how.

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes, as said, ignore colours as they are irrelevant. It's the content that's important as different manufacturers use different colours and they are meaningless.

[jamesc3purple]

Thanks.

So just so I’m clear on this, I should do a change, filling with the above recommended stuff?

If yes, is changing the coolant something a competent DIY’er could handle?

Many thanks

[GiveMeABreak]

Well it all depends on whether you have the kit for filling and for both filling, bleeding and de-gassing the system, as there are slightly different methods depending on the engine.

[jamesc3purple]

Thanks Marc.
No I don’t have the kit.

As the level is getting near the MIN mark, what about just buying the right coolant as above and just top up instead?

Thanks

[PaulC5]

Our Citroens from new have had a slight yellow colour coolant. However, the stuff Citroen have then sold us or put in when the timing belts/water pumps have been changed has been a blue colour. For now I would just buy it from a Citroen dealer and top it up, your choice whether you go for ready mixed or full strength. I always go for the full strength not wanting to buy water since I can add some water if needed but putting in full strength for a top up will not change the overall strength in the system much but might help if the previous owner has been topping up with just water.

I do not know what kit you will need for your engine but in my case it has been something to raise the expansion tank level so air can be bled out of the vent points. I have made a tool from a bit of sink waste pipe (1 1/4 inch) about 1 foot long with a seal and cut a hole in a spare expansion tank cap to push it through so it can be fastened to the tank. Then fill the system to the mid level, fit the pipe so its lower end is below the liquid level, tighten its cap/seal and then put in more coolant into the pipe to raise its level (it will not go up in the tank, just the pipe to give some pressure), then open the bleed points to let air out. Once happy, slacken the cap, the coolant in the pipe will run in to the tank, remove the pipe and if needed top up to the mid point.

[moizeau]

Just add a bit of distilled water is what I'd do. Unofficially

[PaulC5]

I have a neighbour who was losing coolant from his van so over the year topped up with water. The first frosty night the engine block froze and cracked it. He wrote the van off, bought another and a couple of years later did the same thing so wrote a second one off having not learnt.

So if adding a bit of water is only a one off and you know a previous owner has not done it then water might be ok. You could though remove a bit of coolant, put it in a plastic bottle and then the freezer. If your freezer is set at the usual -18°C and if it freezes then the coolant needs replacing. This will not tell you if the corrosion inhibitors are any good though.