A3 Coolant and Coolant Hoses

**DervyP** · 25-05-2019,05:42 PM

Hey all,

A quick question, the Haynes Manual suggests using G12 which isn't sold anymore. I've gone onto Halfords and they suggest using the G40 which is blue, not pink.

Comma G40 Antifreeze and Coolant RM...

My car is 2004, 2L FSI which currently has the pink coolant. Is the Halfords G40 the right coolant even though it's blue?

Also I need to buy a new reservoir and the coolant return hose as they have corroded and each of them are broken. Am I corrected in thinking that is the name of the hose or is it called something else? It's the hose in the red circle below.

20190525_133732.jpg

Thank you.

**jonathanfenton** · 25-05-2019,05:47 PM

TPS will have both. Give em a bell with your reg

**FrenchAudi** · 25-05-2019,08:58 PM

Prior to G12, the standard VAG antifreeze was G11, which is blue, and has not been generally available for some years. The last time I managed to buy it for my van was 2014, when I found some in Germany. I have now changed it over to G13.

If your coolant is pink it is probably G12, G12 Plus, G12 Plus Plus, or G13, which are successive replacements for G11, and only miscible with each other.

None of these replacements may be mixed with G12, and the system has to be flushed thoroughly with clean water before they can be used.

Unless Halfords will give you a written guarantee that their G40 is miscible with VAG G11, I would recommend you flush the cooling system and use G13 from a VAG dealer.

My Audi has G13, and I also use it for our Alfas, so we have the same antifreeze in all the vehicles.

**Crasher** · 25-05-2019,09:06 PM

It is G13 now which is purple.

**jonathanfenton** · 25-05-2019,09:56 PM

My A3 was pink, now purple but wasn’t flushed.... Hope pink and purple mix ok as it looks red now

**FrenchAudi** · 25-05-2019,10:10 PM

Originally Posted by Crasher

It is G13 now which is purple.

I'd say mauve myself

Whether the concentrate is considered to be purple, mauve, or pink, when diluted it's a pale pink colour when seen through plastic header tank, and cannot be confused with blue G11.

**Crasher** · 25-05-2019,11:04 PM

That is because you live in French land and the frogs instinctively cannot bear to agree with anything the English say, we say British Racing Green and they say it should have been proper green and we cheated....