Coolant for M42?

[elbrack]

Alright, this has probably been beat to death, but I need some opinions on coolants that are safe for use in the M42. Coolant is running a bit low and couldn't til in early morning light what was in it at the time, just that it was a bit low.

I know the BMW stuff is safe, but man it's expensive. Other suggestions? I've read none can be mixed. How difficult is a flush?

I've read bleeding nightmares for this radiator.

[dnguyen1963]

As long as the coolant is designed for aluminum engine, it should be okay to use. The color is just a dye and it should not affect your engine at all. Die hard fans will insist on BMW coolant. Trust me, BMW does not make ethylene glycol. They buy it from big chemical company just like everyone else.

[Das Delfin]

I did an extensive search on this last fall. I ended up going with Peak coolant you can mix with any types. Just make sure you flush it out at least once every two years, otherwise it will become gel-like and eat your car. Bleeding isn't hard if you use the top radiator hose to fill it up separate from your motor. ie attach the hose to the radiator and twist it up so you can pour coolant into the rad, then fill the motor thru the expansion tank, then fill the rad. I did this and bleeding took 5 mins. Also it's important to turn on your heater to full hot and full blast.

[AndrewBird]

BMW coolant is only like $10 more a gallon. It's not that expensive, and you should only need to buy 2 gallons every few years.

If you haven't flushed your system and don't know when it was last done, it probably needs doing. Bleeding isn't nearly as big a deal as people make it out to be.

[elbrack]

I know the system was flushed within the last year. Looks like it's filled with BMW blue. I'll go grab a bottle and some distilled water. Hopefully the top off is all it needs. Still baffled how it dropped so much lower.

[Bglad]

Pentosin Pentofrost...

Thread/

[roguetoaster]

I know the system was flushed within the last year. Looks like it's filled with BMW blue. I'll go grab a bottle and some distilled water. Hopefully the top off is all it needs. Still baffled how it dropped so much lower.

Check for drips/trails below the radiator expansion tank (bad o-rings) or at the plastic water pipe under the intake.

[jrobie79]

anything as long as its phosphate and nitrate free...i think I have prestone in mine now

[bmwm42]

zerox g05

[The White Guy]

Evans waterless coolant, there I said it.
No pressure,no corrosion and it is a lifetime cooling fluid.