OEM Coolant for B8 Sq5

[BahnSpeed]

My 15 SQ5 is in need of coolant. I have the pink G-12 OEM VW coolant is my garage. Is this compatible or does the SQ5 need a different type of OEM coolant?


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[ChrisR14]

There is a label on the coolant bottle. If it says G12, you can use it. If it says "G12+" you'll need G12+.

[BahnSpeed]

Thanks much appreciated!


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[chawski]

Can this stuff be bought from your local parts store or is it web order/dealer only? Gonna be doing my b9 sq5 in the near future

[BahnSpeed]

In the past you can only get the coolant from an Audi or VW dealer. After you bought it you had to mix it 50-50 with distilled water. Now you can buy pre-mixed G 12/G13 coolant at most of the major auto parts stores.


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[BahnSpeed]

G-12 marked on top of the reservoir tank for the fellow B8 SQ5 owners


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[djn876]

It also could be G13, my 16 says G12, but it likely had G13 in it per the shop manual. G13 has been in use since 2012 and is what I used when I divorced the coolant loops. Here is a good compatibility list. You can also use Pentofrost E if you can find it, or order some from ECS or any other place that sells Audi parts. Buy it unmixed and mix it yourself, it's a lot more cost effective. Get a refractometer if you really care to know what coolant concentration is.rWHrN.jpg

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[BahnSpeed]

Thanks for the added info. It’s definitely the pink coolant in there in mine. What color is G13?


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[BahnSpeed]

Violet I’m assuming from the chart....?


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[djn876]

Yeah, I always thought it looked more pinkish but it has a little bit more of a violet hue I guess, hard to get a picture in the dark right now.

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[arjun90]

I thought Pentafrost SF was the alternative choice. However, just recently I had to pick up a bottle of SF from Advance Auto for my Avant, and they gave me Pentafrost E (with the purple cap) for the same price (which I found odd because SF costs a little more). Pentafrost E has silicates where Pentafrost SF does not. If I'm not mistaken, the Audi OE coolant does not have silicates either.

I've stocked up on genuine G13 Audi coolant ever since that puzzling experience at Advance Auto. The G13 coolant is presumably backwards compatible, thus less afterthoughts for me. :D

I would recommend everyone to get the genuine coolant, its cost effective and is the one of the few exceptions when buying from a local Audi dealer parts center

It also could be G13, my 16 says G12, but it likely had G13 in it per the shop manual. G13 has been in use since 2012 and is what I used when I divorced the coolant loops. Here is a good compatibility list. You can also use Pentofrost E if you can find it, or order some from ECS or any other place that sells Audi parts. Buy it unmixed and mix it yourself, it's a lot more cost effective. Get a refractometer if you really care to know what coolant concentration is.rWHrN.jpg

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[choppstixxx]

Yea what is written on the coolant tank is not always what might be in it. My 2016 says "G12", but the manual states G13 so I put in Pentosin Pentofrost E mixed 50/50 with distilled water which is G13. You can mix newer/higher grade "G" coolants with lower, but not the other way around for topping off purposes. Also the color of the cap or coolant does not always mean it's the same. Some manufacturers use different colors for different "G" grades.

[djn876]

Pentofrost E is fine at least per their description. Pentofrost SF looks like it is only good for G12, the E is good for everything.



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[choppstixxx]

Pentofrost E is fine at least per their description.
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Yea I did a bunch of research before I jumped on Pentofrost E, even asked my buddy who was a Audi Master Tech. Obviously if you can get a bottle of OEM coolant easily, I'd just get that. For me the Pentofrost E was on sale for $5 a bottle (and obv. compatible), so I went with that since I only needed to top off. If I were doing more of a flush, I would def. go OEM.

[BahnSpeed]

Called the dealer this am and a gallon of coolant concentrate runs around $26.00 Audi does not sell pre-mixed coolant.

Bought peak euro pink antifreeze premixed for $17.99 at autozone since I’m just topping off.


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[choppstixxx]

Called the dealer this am and a gallon of coolant concentrate runs around $26.00 Audi does not sell pre-mixed coolant.

Bought peak euro pink antifreeze premixed for $17.99 at autozone since I’m just topping off.


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I would not use that in any newer Audi, I am guessing it is some variant of G12 coolant based on the info they put on their website:

https://peakauto.com/products/antifr...ded-life-pink/

I would only use G13 TBH in a 2013+ SQ5

[BahnSpeed]

They also have Peak violet colored Euro coolant that’s probably comparable to G13. I’ll just keep the pink stuff for my Mk3 VW.


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[djn876]

If you are just topping off, I'd just add some distilled water. Putting in G12 (or equivalent) in a G13 system isn't going to hurt anything.

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[uncleiggy]

If you are just topping off, I'd just add some distilled water. Putting in G12 (or equivalent) in a G13 system isn't going to hurt anything.

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Exactly! Had to top up coolant a while ago (broken cap grrrr), since I was in the middle of nowhere I called the dealer and they say "just top up with distilled water, you've got close to 8 quarts in the system, 1/2 quart won't make any damage. No distilled water, add tap water, it's better than an unknown pre-mixed gas station stuff".

[BahnSpeed]

Ended up buying the G13 coolant concentrate from my VW dealer which is a closer drive than the Audi dealer and the same stuff. After mixing it 50/50 with distilled water I ended up with 2 gallons of G13 coolant for the price of one. Thanks to all who replied!


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[djn876]

Ended up buying the G13 coolant concentrate from my VW dealer which is a closer drive than the Audi dealer and the same stuff. After mixing it 50/50 with distilled water I ended up with 2 gallons of G13 coolant for the price of one. Thanks to all who replied!


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Glad you got it sorted out, and now you have plenty for the future too. Plus VW probably charges less!

For the comment above, if it's an emergency, do what you need to for the safety of the car, but tap water should be avoided if possible, the minerals will plate out and cause corrosion and reduce the effectiveness of the HX. Very small amounts probably won't matter long term but should generally be avoided.

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[arjun90]

Good thing you didn't cheap out Those that do face dire consequences on their cooling system such as a clogged heater core

Ended up buying the G13 coolant concentrate from my VW dealer which is a closer drive than the Audi dealer and the same stuff. After mixing it 50/50 with distilled water I ended up with 2 gallons of G13 coolant for the price of one. Thanks to all who replied!


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[BahnSpeed]

Keep a good thing going! Not looking to get stranded with a busted cooling system on a hot summer day.


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[BahnSpeed]

UPDATE - at the dealer today for an oil change and the tech found the water pump leaking. Coolant also got on the drive belt and that needs to be replaced as well. Warranty ran out about a month ago so a not so cool way to spend over $1k on repairs
On the flip side got a late model A5 Convertible as a courtesy loaner for 24 hours.


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[djn876]

If you call AOA and you use the dealership a lot they may Goodwill a repair for you or split the cost.

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[BahnSpeed]

Ok thanks good to know. I already paid and picked up my car so I’ll have to give it a try post-service.


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