Proper coolant

[mickandr]

I was told that the BMW coolant is the same as Pentofrost NF. It is a nitrite free antifreeze. The colors are confusing as the old green stuff was what was used originally. The new BMW is pink and the Pentofrost NF is a light blue green. I am thinking the color shouldn't matter and use the Pentofrost, anyone have another opinion what to use in this older engine? Thanks.

[bkats]

I didn't know BMW had pink coolant. The only pink coolant I've ever seen was long-life Toyota stuff or similar. If that's what it is (long-life), it's probably not necessary to pay the premium that it probably carries. I have used BMW blue coolant for all my cars. That's what I would use. Both my mechanic, the dealer, and most of the owners I know use the BMW blue stuff. Of course, I'm in CA where we don't really need "antifreeze", so that might all be completely wrong.

As far as a nitrite free antifreeze, that's good, but it's also important to get low-phosphate antifreeze since our cars have aluminum heads and radiators.

[mickandr]

I stand corrected, I was reading s couple of topics on another forum that was talking about the pink antifreeze. The Pentofreeze brand has no nitrites, amines or phosphorous. Thanks again for the input.

[samsonevickis]

BMW Blue is still Blue.

I use it across all BMWs, I even use it in my 944. The current BMW blue formula is a very close match to the 80s porsche stuff. And I was advised to not use the new Purple Porsche stuff.

But at the end of the day it really doesn't matter too much.

[1SGDHORN]

If you want the best and to protect your car long term and run a system with no pressure to raise the boiling point of your coolant look into Evans waterless coolant. It's not cheap but, it is a do it once and be done with it thing.

[Sansouci]

Even if you are in so cal with zero freeze risk, doesn,'t antifreeze have anticorrosives, and stuff to raise the boiling point?

[dcains]

Antifreeze does have those properties, but the pressure in the system does more to raise the boiling point than any additive. Only place it shouldn't be used is on a race track, because it's slippery when spilled.