Hi there. I bought Volvo coolant 2 years ago for the flush and refill of my 2000 S70's radiator. Since the coolant was to be 50/50 (coolant/water), I have about half a bottle of unused, 2 year old coolant left (capped, never diluted, still in the original bottle).

Can I use this 2 year old coolant for my upcoming flush and refill without worry about a decline in its performance (tolerance to cold)?

If I have less than 1/2 a bottle and need additional coolant, can I combine this older coolant with some new Volvo coolant (that I will buy now)?

Thanks for your assistance.

Lara's Uncle

How did you manage to flush and fill the system with 1/2 bottle? The system volume is 7 or 8 litres and coolant is sold in 4 liter jugs.

Yes, you can still use the 2 yr old coolant, BUT

save money in the future and just get prestone coolant, works just as good as volvo's at a 1/3 of the price.
--
'88 240, '92 745, '98 v70 John, Tampa Bay

I don't know if Prestone coolant is as good. I have mixed experiences with it on my 98 V70. 3 years ago I flushed the system and filled it with Prestone and for the next two years was getting infrequently coolant smell inside but no apparent loss. There was no other indication of a leak so I left it alone. Last year the system was flushed and filled with "overpriced" Volvo coolant and the smell (however infrequent) is gone. A coincidence?

In my (brief) experience as a Volvo owner, I have heard that NON-Volvo coolants possess compounds that will deteoriate the Volvo radiator (this may not be the case in cars other than Volvos...I have have used Prestone and others in different vehicles with no problem). So, I err on the side of caution. It's pay a little more now or, potentially, a lot more later.

In regards to your question about how I can use half a bottle for the refill...Volvo recommends a 50/50 mix (water and coolant) and the reservoir only holds enough for half a bottle of coolant (since the other half will then consist of water). Does that make sense?

Thanks for your help.

Lara's Uncle

It makes sense but that's no flushing at all. To flush you need to drain the whole cooling system (including radiator and engine block), refill it with soft (or better still DI water) run the engine with heater on high until it reaches normal operating temperature, drain the system again, and if you like (I do) repeat the procedure couple of times more. Then refill the system with 50/50 mix.

Jen,
It's virtuallly impossible to get much more than half of the coolant out on a drain procedure, using the two drain spigots provided. Any attempt to refill with a 50/50 mix will fail due to that situation. Best way is to drain and then flush until most of the old coolant has been replaced by fresh water, then add yout 50 % in pure antifreeze to make up the missing 50.

If a mechanic inadvertently used 100% Volvo antifreeze instead of the 50% antifreeze/50% water mix, would that damage the car?

You right, I stand corrected.
I flushed the system 3 or 4 times, each time refilling with DI water. Then I drained the whole system (whatever I could) and filled it with 100% coolant. I estimated that the most I could drain in one try was 50% of the volume, so the 100% coolant would mix with water that was left after flushing and make the 50/50 mix. It worked, twice already.

Hey Jen,

I grossly simplified the drain/refill procedure in the interest of brevity (my primary concern for this posting was the useful life left of the unused coolant). I don't actually perform this maintainence task myself. I have a mechanic do it for me and I supply the Volvo coolant instead of using their coolant.

"my (brief) experience as a Volvo owner, I have heard that NON-Volvo coolants possess compounds that will deteoriate the Volvo radiator (this may not be the case in cars other than Volvos...I have have used Prestone and others in different vehicles with no problem). So, I err on the side of caution. It's pay a little more now or, potentially, a lot more later"


That statement shows that the jury is still out on Volvo vs Non-Volvo coolant. I flushed mine and used the expensive Volvo stuff. I'd rather be penny-wise than dollar foolish 'cause I just don't know.

Hi all.

As per Volvo manual, you must use type D coolant. Volvo has it; Renault has it; so I assume that there is non car branded somewhere.
Some coolants have written in the botle "good for Aluminium engines", but I haven't found any Type D other than Volvo and Renault.

About quantity, I don't have my manual here but IIRC it's about 7 - 8 liters, so 3,5 - 4 liters of coolant.

Joao Caldeira

I don't know about Prestone coolant, but Volvo coolant is phosphate free. I just flushed the cooling system today on the s70t5 and i think i did a pretty good job. i used a 10-15 minute flush, gunk brand, and it sure came out bubbly. After flushing the suds out i ran 4 gallons of distilled water thru it, added half of the recommended capacity with volvo coolant, and then toppped up with distilled.

Distilled water is mineral free. Phosphates found in other coolant form deposits in the radiator and everywhere else coolant flows. You'll notice the white scale if you ever look in an older one.

Just my opininon.

Smith