My manual says my car has G13, but my coolant tank says G12?

[RockJGC]

I'm confused. I know that Audi's factory fill coolant is supposedly lifetime, but I need to top off my coolant tank and my manual states that it was factory filled with G13. But it clearly says G12 on the coolant tank. And it's definitely pink in color. From what I read, G13 is purple.

But I'm also not sure how our cars (mine is a 2016) still use the old G12 coolant when G13 has been around since 2008...

Does anyone know for sure?

[RockJGC]

And to make it even more confusing, in the manual for my car, it says that the factory fill is "glycol-based G13" which is obviously an error because the big thing about G13 is that it's not glycol, it's glycerin based.

Audi really needs to get their act together. Unbelievable.

[nick1980]

If any confusion just add alil distilled water to top it off

[RockJGC]

If any confusion just add alil distilled water to top it off

No can do. I lost a lot of coolant doing my clutch job, since there are coolant lines that go to the gearbox in my car. I need to add close to a gallon of coolant based upon what drained out from those coolant lines.

[tjf]

I believe G13 is backward compatible with earlier VW (G11, G12, G12+)coolants

https://blog.fcpeuro.com/how-to-pick...t-for-your-car

[Sgibb16]

https://www.blauparts.com/blog/types...eze-specs.html

[RockJGC]

Just as a follow-up, I purchased a few gallons of G13 from my local Audi dealership. They apparently only sell it as a pre-mixed 50/50 coolant. And it's definitely purple (or violet, as they call it) compared to the bright pink stuff that came in my car as the factory fill. So despite what my owner's manual says, it doesn't look like my car came with G13 in it at all.

[Neil F]

The tank itself is simply an older part with G12 stamped on it. No matter what G13 is a later development with Audi officially approved 20XX?. G13 is backwards compatible. It may be mixed and used with with G11, G12.

"G13 is now being used as a factory fill in VW/Audi vehicles. ECS Tuning stocks this most recent coolant
version. Owners of older cars may want to consider using it, especially for a total system flush and refill. G13
is backwards compatible with previous antifreeze mixtures. "

http://bd8ba3c866c8cbc330ab-7b26c6f3...s_Glycerin.pdf

[RockJGC]

The tank itself is simply an older part with G12 stamped on it. No matter what G13 is a later development with Audi officially approved 20XX?. G13 is backwards compatible. It may be mixed and used with with G11, G12.

"G13 is now being used as a factory fill in VW/Audi vehicles. ECS Tuning stocks this most recent coolant
version. Owners of older cars may want to consider using it, especially for a total system flush and refill. G13
is backwards compatible with previous antifreeze mixtures. "

http://bd8ba3c866c8cbc330ab-7b26c6f3...s_Glycerin.pdf

Thanks for the info. But I still think it's inexcusable for Audi to put an "old" coolant tank in the car with G12 on it if the car didn't come with G12 in it from the factory. Yes, I understand that it's compatible, but they should really have correct info in the first place. It also doesn't excuse the fact that Audi's own manual states that the car comes with "glycol-based G13", when G13 isn't even glycol based in the first place. That error in the manual just adds to the confusion.

I'm going to drain and refill with G13 and call it a day.