Ardenb: Hi Guys,

Advice needed. Water or coolant for radiator? Am confused as to which is the better option.
Also for coolant, should it be in the radiator or the bottle connected to the radiator by a short hose? Pardon my lay description, am not a pro.

Many tanx.

Siena:

50/50 water / coolant mix.

What car are you referring to? Because on some cars, the expansion resovoir is where you add your coolant. On some models, the coolant resovoir is purely for expansion, so in this case, the coolant is added to the radiator directly.

vitality22:
@Siena,
for a Nissan xterra, pls explain to me where the mixture of water and coolant is put.

Siena:

50/50 water / coolant mix.

What car are you referring to? Because on some cars, the expansion resovoir is where you add your coolant. On some models, the coolant resovoir is purely for expansion, so in this case, the coolant is added to the radiator directly.

Ardenb: Tanx Siena, I use a camry 2002. Today one of my colleagues added water to the other container connected to the radiator. Said coolant goes into the radiator. Is that ok too cos on the cover of that container is written coolant.

Siena:

Coolant / water mix go into the radiator. The resovoir is for expansion. And you should not top up with water. Do this over a period of time, and the coolant will be over-diluted.

If you add any coolant / water to the expansion tank, when the engin's hot and the coolant expands, it'll have nowhere to go.

Ardenb: Wow...tanx. So its adviceable I drain out a bit of water in the reservoir container then? Also one last question....The color of the coolant in my radiator is pinkish but the one I bought is greenish, does it matter?

Ardenb:

Wow...tanx. So its adviceable I drain out a bit of water in the reservoir container then? Also one last question....The color of the coolant in my radiator is pinkish but the one I bought is greenish, does it matter?

dskenky: @ Siena
Pls wot happens if the water in the Reservoir drops down ? wot's the next line of action then? thanx for ur anticipated response.

cecegorz:
I guess we are in the same fix here. My car came in with pinkish coolant but because I've not seen it anywhere to buy (all over Lagos, all I see in the shops is the green one, even asked someone in trade fair complex to check for me, same story ).
Since then, I've been topping up with just water and it's almost fully diluted now.
Anybody knows where I can get Pink in Lagos please Holla @your boy.

Siena:

If you can't get the red / pink stuff, then it would make sense to import a 5 or 25 litre can. You should NOT be running plain water, and definitely NOT mix the green / blue coolant. Also, you should not drain the diluted stuff, and refill with the green / blue coolant. The aluminium material of your cylinder head will react to it.

cecegorz:
This is so timely! I was actually about to take that route of draining and putting in the green stuff. Thanks a lot for this info.
Now, on the 50/50 mix ratio, when I get the pink coolant, seeing that what I have inside both the radiator and the reservoir now is more of water, do I need to drain everything, mix the ratio and poor in afresh OR Just to drain the reservoir tank only and pour in the mixed ratio.

Siena:

I can't recall your car make, model or engine type.

VIPICO: Sienna, Pls what make of coolant would you recommend for those of us living in Nigeria for a Toyota Camry 2000 model? Thanks for answering.

vitality22: @Siena
I've got a question for you pls, in a case where i dont know the colour of the coolant as the one there has diluted completely that it becomes colourless, what do I do in such a scenario? I use a 2001 Nissan xterra 3.3l engine. And also a 2004 toyota corolla 1.8Xli. (bank type)
Thanks a bunch

cecegorz:
Sorry i missed this.
It's Camry '99 LE . 2.2L DOHC

cecegorz:
@Siena
I guess you missed this.
Meanwhile, how do I order for the Pink so you can deliver to me in Lagos?
I will need the quantity that will be enough to fill the radiator and the reservoir in the 50:50 water mix, and probably some extra for future top up.

enquirydon: my oga in this section mine is Mazda 626 97 model ,what type coolant should I buy, beca i want to drain d one that come with it.

enquirydon: thanks chairman, am learning, will i use coolant or water to top it every morning pls respond need on this.

Why would you be topping up your cooling system every morning?

enquirydon: @ siena.after 50/50 coolant/water .i should leave my radiant alone without puting any water or coolant till when sir.because normaly nigeria car owner do put water inside there radiator everday