Got a 100HP Panda & the coolant level has just dropped below min in the tank(when it cold,no signs of a leak & it doesnt over heat).
I assume its the original Paraflu up which is an OAT coolant,would i be ok to top up with Halfords ready mixed OAT compatible coolant or use,as recommended in the manual Paraflu up?
I'm thinking as long as its an OAT coolant it should be ok to whats in now(its the pink colour & it looks as new)I prob only need 500 ml to top up,is it even worth it?

I done exactly that about 3 months ago and no problems as yet

You should really check the coolant level when the car is at running temp.

FullMetalPanda said:

You should really check the coolant level when the car is at running temp.

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Shouldnt be any different at cold vs hot.

OP using the Halfords stuff will be fine

However you need to find out where it's going, as there will be a leak somewhere

Did you check for leaks around the water pump? Is it possible you could be losing a little through worn splines or a dodgy gasket?

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Shouldnt be any different at cold vs hot.

OP using the Halfords stuff will be fine

However you need to find out where it's going, as there will be a leak somewhere

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When coolant gets hot it will expand, so readings will be completely different compare to cold...!!
I like my cars to have the coolant level on "MIN" when cold.

Peter Pick-Up said:

When coolant gets hot it will expand, so readings will be completely different compare to cold...!!
I like my cars to have the coolant level on "MIN" when cold.

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Since when does it expand when hot. You've major problems if it does it enough to be noticeable. The only time I had it do this was when it boiled over on a Classic Panda.

The only other time it tends to expand is when it freezes and causes damage.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Since when does it expand when hot. You've major problems if it does it enough to be noticeable. The only time I had it do this was when it boiled over on a Classic Panda.

The only other time it tends to expand is when it freezes and causes damage.

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Water does expand to occupy more volume, as it gets hotter, but the effect is small, especially since coolant is probably only about 50% water, the other 50% being ant-freeze.

Water has that very weird capability that other liquids do not have, of expanding a lot between 0C and 4C and, as you say, that effect is significant and can cause a fair amount of damage. I once had frozen coolant actually push the core plugs out of the engine of my Hillman Avenger in the winter of 1983.

Just feel the hoses cold and warm, you'll know what expanding means...!!
Open the coolant bottle when hot, and you see ( and feel....!!) what expanding means....!!

Peter Pick-Up said:

Just feel the hoses cold and warm, you'll know what expanding means...!!
Open the coolant bottle when hot, and you see ( and feel....!!) what expanding means....!!

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When pipes are hot they're hot, thats the only difference I ever feel except for when the system is pressurised which is different to expasnsion. Opening an expansion tank when hot has nothing to do with expansion, its to do with the system pressure that suddenly gets lost.

Why is it called an expansion tank...????

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Opening an expansion tank when hot has nothing to do with expansion

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And the earth is flat.

Peter Pick-Up said:

Why is it called an expansion tank...????

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