have read lots of posts on this forum about "vx red antifreeze "being the best available"..my question is ,why is it so much superior to others as if the coolant is replaced every year with a good quality antifreeze to the correct 50/50 mix ,the fact that the vx stuff is long lasting ??well surely most if not all antifreeze at that strenght would last a year.

Not sure I would say its the best.

Its probably the best value - even retail price is excellent for a long life antifreeze.  And it can be mixed with blue, unlike many other Reds.

reason for question is my mega is currently topped up with halfords blue antifreeze at 50/50,so wondering if worth a drain and refill with the "red stuff" as winter is fast approaching.I did the last coolant drain/flush and refill in the early summer this year and cannot see the sense in draining away perfectly good coolant just to replace with a different colour?  but if it is a sound reason to do so i will

amba wrote on 30. Sep 2007 at 22:43:

reason for question is my mega is currently topped up with halfords blue antifreeze at 50/50,so wondering if worth a drain and refill with the "red stuff" as winter is fast approaching.I did the last coolant drain/flush and refill in the early summer this year and cannot see the sense in draining away perfectly good coolant just to replace with a different colour?  but if it is a sound reason to do so i will

Personally, I would change the blue annually, and the Red every 2 years (unless its a K series Rover ;))

With that in mind, I'd be inclined to change your blue to red next summer :)

thanks tb..will keep blue in until warm weather next year ???and then do a full "red "change and to ensure i get the full benefit when i open the bonnet i will also change the coolant bottle as old one is really water stained and despite every effort to clean cannot bring back to new...and would want to see the red colour,just to remind me

amba wrote on 30. Sep 2007 at 22:58:

thanks tb..will keep blue in until warm weather next year ???and then do a full "red "change and to ensure i get the full benefit when i open the bonnet i will also change the coolant bottle as old one is really water stained and despite every effort to clean cannot bring back to new...and would want to see the red colour,just to remind me

When you do come to do it, it takes an awful lot of flushing to get the coolant a nice red coulour...