I was getting my fluids flushed and replaced,my mechanic told me he purchased coolant from auto zone,i immediately asked him,what kind it was.

He mentioned some generic brand or universal brand,so i told him to flush the radiator(being he didn't turn the car on),so the pump didn't circulate the coolant in the block. He flushed it and noticed that all the coolant wasn't violet at all(being the true color of our G12)it was orange in color.

I told him that i always put in G12 and nothing else,so i guess some ******* put that orange **** in my car,thinking he was doing me a favor by topping it off but with the wrong coolant. So i told him to flush it and buy 8 quarts of coolant or whatever is needed for the block and radiator.

He said some guy at the shop,claims that if he flushes the old orange coolant,it could damage the coolant system by "mixing" the orange coolant and G12,being there are "pockets" in the coolant system that still retain some orange coolants,even after a flush with water?

I find that ridiculous but I'm no Audi mechanic,so what i need to know from you fellas is,would a flush of the orange coolant and replacement of the proper(G12) damage the coolant system and new water pump and new thermostat that was just installed?

Do i leave the old orange coolant in the car and leave well enough alone? I never experienced over heating ever in my 2001 A4,needle always goes to the middle,after driving for 15-20 minutes or so.

I can only think of one time,that a shop could have topped off my coolant about 6 months ago.

Last time i topped it off,i purchased the G12 from a Nappa auto parts store and that was 2 years ago.

My mechanic got scared and said he doesn't want to change it until he talks to the Audi dealership tomorrow to ask them,would it damage the coolant system,if he flushes the system to put in the proper G12 from the orange coolant,being he doesn't want to be held liable if something fails in relation to changing the coolant fluid types.

Please let me know fellas...

 

Just drain what is in there & put in the G001200 coolant in & be done with it. Not too much to analyze here.

 

drain and use G12

Also aAdvanced Auto now sells G12

 

If you're worried, you could flush with water. Then drain and refill with G12.

 

I'm now considering putting a big "Dummy label" on my overflow tank and radiator to prevent this from happening...

 

You guys were reading my mind,my exact thoughts but i needed confirmation as i again,am no mechanic by any means.

I'm like...why would flushing coolant,that doesn't even belong in my car in the first place and replacing with the proper G12 coolant,damage the coolant system?

You guys are correct...it won't!

I am curious though,has anyone ever heard of our car's coolant system being damaged by using coolant,other than G12?

How long would one,have to be using none G12 coolant,for damage to occur?

What type of damage are we talking about? Water pump or thermostat damage?

 

I think if green coolant is mixed with g12 it turns into sludge like material. I can imagine its not good to any component.

 

Gotcha...thanks jonesy!

 

Regular G12 is reddish pink, could be mistaken for orange. It's only G12+ that's violet and it's perfectly fine to mix the two. You probably already had G12 in your car when you topped it off with G12+.

 

If you're in doubt just drain the coolant that's in there and mix a gallon of G12 with a gallon of distilled water.. Like M5S5 said there's not much to analyze here.