Coolant Issue

[habo]

Coolant Issue

After years, I realized that the coolant in my DV6TED4 engine is actually wrong.

When I bought the car used, it already had pink coolant inside. Later, when I had the timing belt and water pump replaced at a specialized Citroën workshop, they refilled it with Total Coolelf pink. I assumed it was correct and didn’t check, so I continued using it.

Now, since I need to replace the timing belt and water pump again—and will have to change the coolant as well—I decided to investigate further.

I discovered that my engine requires a coolant meeting the PSA B71 5110 specification, which corresponds to G33, not the G12/G12+ type used by Total.

Searching for coolants with this specification, I found that although all major brands produce one, none are officially available in Greece.

Looking globally for a PSA coolant, I found it sold under the code 16 377 564 80, a blue-green 5?L concentrate.

I asked ChatGPT whether this meets the PSA B71 5110 specification, but it couldn’t find any reliable information and suggested asking the vendor.

Since I strongly suspect that even they might not know, I would like to know whether it is actually safe to use PSA 16 377 564 80.

The labels also provide no clarification. Abroad, it is consistently sold as a concentrate, but here in Greece, some say it is concentrate while others claim it is ready-to-use.

I honestly never thought that a car’s coolant could be so confusing.

What’s your opinion on this?

[PaulC5]

A couple of months ago I bought some anti freeze from our Citroen dealer, 1 litre size 1637756080 and it is a blue colour and the concentrated version, says concentrated on the label. Anti freeze colours do not mean anything since the manufacturers can make it any colour they want but all the ones I have bought from Citroen over many years have always been blue.

When you search on your part number the labels on the bottles say ready to use so it is not concentrated.

[habo]

Thank you PaulC5
I replied late. I finally bought from the local Peugeot dealer the characteristic blue PSA coolant — 5 + 2 liters non concentrated. In the end, only the 5 liters were needed, which is very strange since Citroën specifies 6 to 6.5 liters if I remember correctly. I hope nothing was left inside, although I flushed the system with deionized water to remove the orange Total coolant it had before, or at least that they are compatible, since I could not find any information at all.

[PaulC5]

The engine block is the bit that can not be drained easily and possibly the cabin heater matrix so the 1 to 1½ litres will likely be there and since you flushed it may well have just been water. Adding the 5 litres of diluted stuff (probably 50%) means you will have put in 2½ litres of concentrated so if the total is 6 litres the final strength will be 42%. If the total is 6½ litres then the strength will be 38%. If you want to get it to about 50% then you might need to top up with ½ litre of concentrated after removing a bit.

[citroenroen]

I have a similar concern with the WRONG coolant being put into a 1990 CX (w/ Automatic Transmission) recently .
The mechanic put OAT (Pink/Red) coolant into the cooling system ofter a cooling system flush .
Previously IAT (green) coolant was used in the 1990 CX.
I have read that the OAT (Pink/ Red) coolant has more coolant efficiency ?
I have also read that in the future , it will cause many coolant related components to fail (water pump, radiator, heater core , hoses , and Automatic transmission water cooling components ) ?
Does ANYONE know anything about this here on French Car Forum?

[MattBLancs]

I have a similar concern with the WRONG coolant being put into a 1990 CX (w/ Automatic Transmission) recently .
The mechanic put OAT (Pink/Red) coolant into the cooling system ofter a cooling system flush .
Previously IAT (green) coolant was used in the 1990 CX.
I have read that the OAT (Pink/ Red) coolant has more coolant efficiency ?
I have also read that in the future , it will cause many coolant related components to fail (water pump, radiator, heater core , hoses , and Automatic transmission water cooling components ) ?
Does ANYONE know anything about this here on French Car Forum?

My understanding is the big issue with mixing / a change in coolant types is undersirable results from mixing - mixing types can generate a "gloopy" viscous mess that causes issues.

However, you've said a flush was performed first so the mixing issue shouldn't be a concern here.

I'm not aware of any reason why the coolant changed would cause components to fail - I did find passing mention of "slightly reduced corrosion inhibition" but not much detail on it actually creating issues.

Good quick summary of coolant types from Halfords here:
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/advic ... ct-22.html

As for different formulations, there are three basic types of engine coolant – IAT, OAT, and HOAT. They each serve different purposes, and are used for specific types of vehicles:

Inorganic Additive Technology (IAT)
IAT is the traditional coolant used in older cars, filled with inorganic additives that provide fast-acting corrosion resistance. However, it’s now rarely used as the default in modern cars, since these additives deplete quite quickly, resulting in a short lifespan for the coolant.

The liquid is usually bright green and will need changing roughly every 2 years or 24,000 miles.

Organic Acid Technology (OAT)
OAT coolants are used for most cars manufactured after 1998 and last a lot longer than IAT coolants thanks to the lack of silicate additives. Instead, they use organic acids and corrosion inhibiters, which, while increasing the coolant’s lifespan, does give it lower corrosion resistance.

OAT coolants are typically orange, red or pink in colour, and won’t need to be changed for around 5 years or 50,000 miles.

OAT coolant is also more popular in modern cars due to changes in the manufacturing. While IAT coolant works best in older engines made of steel and iron, OAT coolant is better suited to aluminium engines, which is what most modern cars are made of.

Hybrid Oat Acid Technology (HOAT)
This coolant combines the properties of IAT and OAT to create a fusion that gives you the best of both worlds; the anti-corrosion properties of IAT coolant and the long life of OAT coolant.

The liquid is usually yellow in colour and should last around five years or 50,000 miles.