Coolant L322 TD6

Hi guys,

Just bought the car with 117,000 miles and I got a check coolant level message on my 04’ L322 TD6. Checked dipstick, it does appear low but I cant determine what colour it is currently. Tissue dip looks clear? Suggestive of plain water ?

Question is, is there a way i can determine the color for a top up? Is pink generally the color used and is G48 a gd choice?

Bmw use the pink type in their engines.
I'd try and find the leak before forking out on more coolant that could end up on the floor.

Does it feel slippy/oily between your fingers? While you have some on your fingers, dab your tongue and antifreeze will be very bitter
As you don't know what's in it, you likely don't know when it was last changed, you may as well drain, flush and refill with what is recommended in the book

+1Yip and yip!

Would it be ok to replace with g48 once drained and flushed through?

If it's what's in the book you can't go wrong. Being a bmw engine you can use anything that's appropriate.

So is it safe to assume that since 04’, if the car had been serviced at a MD, it will generally be pink coolant used due to OAT? Halfords recommending G48 but it has a green label?

Thanks for this! I wish i knew what was in it just to top it up! I need to do a 100 journey tomorrow and dont want any issues. Can i simply top up with still water to endure car gets to destination ok?

Water will be fine in the short term....

When I have done cooling system work, I fill with water in the first instance and run for a few days to check for leaks as coolant in expensive. Once i know it is golden, I drain and refill with the good stuff.

I use blue coolant of the correct spec, as I know I am filling from empty and as such there will be no cross contamination....I did that once and it turned into a brown rusty coloured mess....

Water will be fine for a few days, then drain and refill correctly when you next get 5.

Can still water be used? Or does it have to be distilled?

As long as its wet that will do for now.

L322Chris said:

Can still water be used? Or does it have to be distilled?

Click to expand...

Just water out of a tap.

Sparkling water darling

Turboman said:

Just water out of a tap.

Click to expand...

Council pop.

Mark Piercy said:

Sparkling water darling

Click to expand...

Oooooh, get you all posh !

Only the best Sébastien

Mark Piercy said:

Sparkling water darling

Click to expand...

kds said:

Oooooh, get you all posh !

Click to expand...

Only needed for Evoques!

Turboman said:

Only needed for Evoques!

Click to expand...

Ahhhh, stop swearing.....

This is the one I used in MY2005 TD6. The concentration has to be correct or it will throw up a coolant warning.