Penrite pink coolant is it really VW approved?

[rutti]

Does anyone know or have experience in using the Penrite pink coolant? The label says its approved for VW and also mention equivalent to g12. Repco is currently having a sale on the 5l ones.

[Tubbs76]

Even though one would always reco factory, to my knowledge, any pink / red coolant can be substituted. I find the toyata (red) coolant is very good and ran this for a while. comes mixed at 50/50 ratio. To be honnest, there really is no difference between red and green coolant apart from the cost. one does not out perform the other. I know many people who have flushed their systems and have gone over to green for the simple fact that the long term running costs are far less.

[Guest001]

Does anyone know or have experience in using the Penrite pink coolant? The label says its approved for VW and also mention equivalent to g12. Repco is currently having a sale on the 5l ones.

Despite last reply I would stick with the G12 that VW recommend. Blow a gasket with the wrong stuff in it and you will need deep pockets.

There was another thread on here yesterday about this and it said the Penrite was VW approved but unless it has the correct info on the bottle would be a bit sus of it.

Read this thread It seems Penrite is OK , nothing else is

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f77/alternative-g12-coolant-47274.html

[Guest001]

Even though one would always reco factory, to my knowledge, any pink / red coolant can be substituted. I find the toyata (red) coolant is very good and ran this for a while. comes mixed at 50/50 ratio. To be honnest, there really is no difference between red and green coolant apart from the cost. one does not out perform the other. I know many people who have flushed their systems and have gone over to green for the simple fact that the long term running costs are far less.

From Blauparts site

#2 What Type Of Vw Coolant

Use ONLY Audi Vw G11, or G12 approved anti-phosphate, anti-amine, anti-phosphorous coolant! Do NOT use regular store bought coolant, which typically contains ethylene glycol and doesn't correspond with the specifications of a Vw cooling system. The specification or type of Vw coolant required for a particular model can be found stamped on the expansion tank (e.g. G11 or G12) as well as in the owner's manual under the coolant section. It's also good to note the color of your coolant (e.g. pink or purple). See Vw Coolant Features section below for further Vw coolant information and specifications.

What happens if you don't use correct approved Vw coolant?
Inferior coolant has an adverse reaction within a Vw cooling system. Poor quality coolant contaminates the system and eats away at metal, rubber, and plastic components. Obvious external indicators are bulging coolant hoses and white calcified residue oozing from coolant hose clamp mating areas (See Image 2). Not so obvious is lime and scale deposits that begin to build-up in the radiator core, restricting coolant flow and causing the engine to run hotter (especially in summer and warmer climates). All of this eventually causes serious engine problems (i.e. water pump failure - See Image 1). If your coolant is green or brown in color, thoroughly flush your cooling system immediately! You'll notice similar warnings in your owner's manual under the coolant section.
#3 Vw Coolant Concentration

[Transporter]

Does anyone know or have experience in using the Penrite pink coolant? The label says its approved for VW and also mention equivalent to g12. Repco is currently having a sale on the 5l ones.

What's wrong with the VW coolant?

[golfgti101]

very big difference with green coolant and the pink stuff... green stuff is ethylene glycol based and doesn't work with your coolant system...

[Lito]

It's not like g-12 is that expensive anyway and it's a life time product. Incidentally when I burst a coolant hose recently I had to buy some more coolant to top up and I got g-13.

[rutti]

What's wrong with the VW coolant?

nothing wrong, just thought its easier buying coolant from repco than driving 1 hour to get coolant from dealers.

[rutti]

Thanks for the input so far. So looks like the Penrite stuff isn't officially approved, at least nothing official.

[Guest001]

Thanks for the input so far. So looks like the Penrite stuff isn't officially approved, at least nothing official.

Ok I went to the Penrite site and found this page http://www.datateck.com.au/Lube/PenriteAus/

It says the PINK coolant is Glycol based but it also says its VW approved so make your own mind up but I think I would buy the real stuff next time you are in town

Approvals page

http://www.penriteoil.com.au/tech_pdfs/193%20-%20Coolants%20Range%20Update%20-%20Nov%202012.pdf

[rutti]

What's wrong with the VW coolant?

Ok I went to the Penrite site and found this page Penrite Australia - NetLube

It says the PINK coolant is Glycol based but it also says its VW approved so make your own mind up but I think I would buy the real stuff next time you are in town

Approvals page

http://www.penriteoil.com.au/tech_pd...Nov%202012.pdf

Cheers mate. I think you nailed it!

[kaanage]

G12 and G12+ are also glycol based (all coolants are except for race coolants where the lubricity of glycol is a safety hazard)

AA-Academy : Antifreeze

Penrite could be sued if their coolant didn't actually comply with G12/G12+ and all the other specification they list for their magenta coolant ( here is a better link http://www.penriteoil.com.au/product...d_products=272)

There's caution and then there's paranoia

[Tubbs76]

My understanding is that there is green coolant which is anti corrosive.. could be wrong?

[Tubbs76]

Looks like im flushing and going back to red then, had it on good authority from a bloke who specialises in vw's and audis that both will work fine as long as anti corrosive..in terms of cooling performance, has also stated that they work the same and one isnt better than the other in that respect. def stated you must get the mix ratio right though.

[kaanage]

had it on good authority from a bloke who specialises in vw's and audis that both will work fine as long as anti corrosive..in terms of cooling performance, has also stated that they work the same and one isnt better than the other in that respect. def stated you must get the mix ratio right though.

Have a good read of the AA Academy article that I linked to in my previous post - it explains what the differences are but the main factors are that the older (usually green) coolants need periodic replacement because the corrosion inhibitors break down over time while the newer ones (often but not always pink/purple) are basically fully stable if properly mixed and only need replacement if the cooling system needs draining.

Don't mix coolants, though, as that is what causes the nasty pics on the Blauparts site because the different additives react and precipitate out.

And yes, cooling performance is the same for the old and new coolants since the main content in both is water + (ethylene or propylene) glycol - the difference lies in the corrosion inhibitors that are added.

Here is another description of the differences http://forums.tdiclub.com/showpost.p...62&postcount=5