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MG MGB Technical - Pink versus blue anti freeze

My modern cars use pink anti freeze rather than the traditional blue. I understand there is a difference in the chemical make up of these products.

Would there be a problem if I put pink anti freeze in the B? Currently the radiator is drained.
David Witham

Pink is probably OAT (Organic Acid Technology) formulation and blue is glycol. They shouldn't be mixed. I suppose if the system is flushed out with plain water, the OAT will be OK. But I don't know that for sure. Anyone else know?
Mike Howlett

My ZS uses orange which is OAT (Organic Acid Technology) technology. *That* is said to be compatible with the earlier blue/green but reduces the change interval of OAT from five years to 2 i.e. it can be mixed. GM OAT is claimed to cause sludging and engine failures if mixed. A number of sites say you shouldn't mix pink with blue/green, but others say orange is just the BMW version of pink. However my Halfords OAT is orange in the original grey bottle (so tending to disprove the 'BMW' comment)... but pink when mixed 50-50 in a blue bottle!

I think the bottom line is don't mix it, and as to which is used it depends on how much you are prepared to pay. I'm quite happy with the older stuff in the Bs, but only put OAT in the ZS.
PaulH Solihull

Crossed in the post. MY Halfords OAT says it is also ethylene glycol, it's the additives that vary. Whilst it advises against mixing it doesn't forbid it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifreeze sez some OATs are compatible with all earlier types and are green or yellow in colour, but that goes against the colour chart it references which indicates green is not comptible with OAT.
PaulH Solihull

FWIW I have used 4Life for the last 5 years. I get it from the club. Being Pink it shows any leaks! It changes colour if in contact with combustion gases (I started to use it after a HGF) But not cheap at £13 for 5 litres-tho I still have about 2 litres left from the original 10 after 5 years. Having said that I have bought 10 litres ready for the winter overhaul, as I thought the 10 year life claim a bit optimistic!
Michael Beswick

As the Fiat and MGTF both have alloy engines I'm going over to OAT 100% just to make life easy. The cast iron 18GB has been quite content with blue, Smiths or more recentley Comma from the local factors all its life. I wouldnt mix them having read the results of some experiments showing they react with each other. The B is luckily quite easy to drain and refill. Even the heater circuit doesnt need bleeding on my car so I would drain then refill with water run until the tstat opens drain again repeat if you are picky, which I am, then in with the OAT.
I used to pour the old stuff down the drain but there may be a recycling system these days.
Stan Best

Thanks everyone.
David Witham

This thread was discussed between 28/10/2010 and 29/10/2010

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