Hi,

I am planning for a coolant change in 1.9 TDI octavia. Can I use Castrol automotive antifreeze instead of G12. Will this affect my engine in long term?

Please clarify.

Why not G12+ ?

Long term, blue antifreeze does not offer the same corrossion protection. Plus I doubt anyone will buy a VW group car with non-red antifreeze in - it is very noticeable. Plus you need to make a full coolant system flush - they're not completely compatible.

Quite frankly, for the 3 bottles of antifreeze that it costs to fill in I find it amazing that people would still want to use anything else than G12+ . There are other red antifreezes around, there's a generic one at motr shops, and there's even a Castrol one if you really must change from G12+.

I agree with dieselV6.

Why change from G12+? The corrosion protection provided is just as important as the anti-freeze capabilities.

It comes in 1.5l bottles at about £8 each (including VAT). For a 1.9SDI you really only need two bottles. That gives full corrosion protection and anti-freeze protection below what you'll ever see.

G12+ :eek: I thought the octi was G12 so thats what I ordered a bottle of for topping up :thumbdwn: Will it be ok?

G12+ as the name suggests, is even better than the G12

Anyway, it's freely mixable with G12, factory fill until 1-2years ago was G12.

G12 is reddish, G12+ is pinkish.

I think it has been superceded again www.vwspares.co.uk

As everyone else says, I really don't see any reason for not using G12 (or later).

Ok..Here in India, there is no sales counter for spares from skoda dealers. So I need to send the car to dealer service to change spares. I will try to get G12 plus from another source.

Thank you for your valuable suggestions.

Ah, that makes a difference. We weren't aware you were in India.

Or perhaps you could get some for "topping up"? Ok, 3l is some topup, but...

You may be able to get Pentosin Pink in India.

Whatever antifreeze you use should be phosphate, nitrile and amine free.