My dealer and my local indy are in disagreement about the type of coolant to run in my 2001 VDP SC. My indy says there is mixed coolant in the system and I know the dealer topped it up when they replaced a cooling hose.

Does anyone know the Jaguar p/n for the correct coolant for my '01? I have read that it is not a good idea to mix different coolants!

Thanks,

RGW

 

The Great Divide on anti-freezes is between the old silicate system, and the new Organic Acid Technology (OAT), for corrosion prevention. Your car should have the OAT type put in, if it is mixed with the old type, sludge can form and block passageways in the coolant system, especially radiators and heater heat exchangers. Old and new systems both use Ethylene Glycol to provide the anti-freeze component. The OAT stuff is usually colored orange to distinguish it from the old stuff which is normally blue, but I believe can also be green.

Anybody else got any "nuggets" of info on this subject ?

 

Fraser is right on. I've heard that it's not good to mix old and new (OAT) due to sludge possibilities. I'd drain and flush the system and replace with OAT which is recommended. The OAT stuff is orange. I use Dexcool - here in the states.

 

Agree with the full flush to get rid if any remnants, did mine twice and got a fair bit of crud out.

Now if anyone wants to correct me feel free (i'm not a tech) but i'm pretty sure the Ford long-life Orange coolant is the same spec as the Jag one (the spec is written on the reservoir filler cap) and a fair bit cheaper.

(Spoke to an indy and he says it's compatible and it's been in mine for about 6 months and is still a nice colour and no visible sludge)

Worth a look in and any input from specialists/chemists much appreciated as if it will muck mine in the long run i'll swap it out.

Alex

(1999 XJR)

 

Thanks for the insights guys. My dealer did tell me the coolant they used is pink and not orange. Could it be the more expensive Jag version has a different dye in it than the Ford version? Is there a Jag part number for the correct coolant?

RGW

 

Mine, in two cars, is orange.

 

Essentially if the Ford spec ID is the same as Jaguar recommendation, it's OK. My car is an XJ6 which has the Ford-made V6 3 litre engine used in lots of other cars in the Ford empire, mostly in the US. So I can use whatever Ford recommend, and same for the V8 a v ersion of which is used in a Lincoln, is it not ?

 

On my 2000 XJ8 VDP, there is a small sticker beside the fill cap on the coolant resivor, and it says orange.

 

The change in coolant type was made mid-year 1999
The subject has been discussed at length in other posts, but to recapitulate, this is cut and paste from the Jaguar TSB:
"Engine Coolant

4.0 Liter engine
From VIN 853936 to VIN 878388 DOW D542
From VIN 878389 to VIN 878717 WSS M97B44-D
Capacity 10.0 Liters (10.6 qts)

4.0 Liter Super-charged engine
From VIN 853936 to VIN 878388 DOW D542
From VIN 878389 to VIN 878717 WSS M97B44-D
Capacity 12.0 Liters (12.7 qts)"