# Antifreeze replace **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** 944, porsche\ **Created:** [September 19, 2017, 1:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/antifreeze-replace/107913 "2017-09-19T13:52:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chevysleeps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b487fb/32.png) [@chevysleeps](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chevysleeps)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 1:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/antifreeze-replace/107913/1 "2017-09-19T13:52:34Z")
I have an 87 924s that’s been in the shop and not driven for the last 3 years due to wiring issues. Now that she starts and runs, she’s running hot and I notice the antifreeze needs to be replenished. I’ve been told that if the head is made out of aluminum, I should use orange antifreeze and not green. Is this true? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 2:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/antifreeze-replace/107913/2 "2017-09-19T14:03:37Z")
Why does the coolant need to be replenished? Do you mean that the coolant is disappearing or just in need of a change? Universal green coolant is fine for this car. By “universal” I mean the stuff that can be added to any of the colors of coolant on the market. What color is the coolant now? Green? Orange? or mud brown? BTW, “mud brown” is an indication of a problem as is disappearing coolant. ---
**Author:** ![chevysleeps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b487fb/32.png) [@chevysleeps](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chevysleeps)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/antifreeze-replace/107913/3 "2017-09-19T14:58:11Z")
It’s green now but very low. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 2:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/antifreeze-replace/107913/4 "2017-09-19T14:59:45Z")
That’s not true. When your vehicle was built back in 1987, the only antifreeze available was the green antifreeze. So you can use whatever antifreeze you want. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 3:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/antifreeze-replace/107913/5 "2017-09-19T15:06:33Z")
> [@chevysleeps](#): > > It’s green now but very low. Add more green but keep an eye on the coolant level. If you need to keep adding coolant, there is a problem. If there is a green puddle, you have an external leak - hose or gasket or water pump seal. If there is no evidence of a puddle, you have an internal leak - cracked head, head gasket, cracked block, really bad things. That may be another reason it was parked. ---
**Author:** ![chevysleeps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b487fb/32.png) [@chevysleeps](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chevysleeps)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/antifreeze-replace/107913/6 "2017-09-19T16:46:22Z")
Thank you, now I have to say ‘innocuous’ because I didn’t have 10 characters in my reply. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![chevysleeps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b487fb/32.png) [@chevysleeps](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chevysleeps)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 4:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/antifreeze-replace/107913/7 "2017-09-19T16:47:28Z")
No, it was definitely parked because the wiring harness was toast. I appreciate your input! ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 2:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/antifreeze-replace/107913/8 "2017-09-20T14:31:59Z")
As a 30 year old car that has been sitting for three years you need a serious cooling system service. at the minimum a chemical flush (see what VW recommends) then fresh coolant. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 2:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/antifreeze-replace/107913/9 "2017-09-20T14:34:15Z")
> [@Gpierce001](#): > > (see what VW recommends) I thought the OP has a 924 Porsche so why VW. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/antifreeze-replace/107913/10 "2017-09-20T15:03:51Z")
VW owns Porche, if OP had a Chevy I would say check what GM reccomends ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/antifreeze-replace/107913/11 "2017-09-20T17:20:12Z")
VW did not own Porsche in 1987 so it only makes sense to check with a Porsche dealer or Porsche mechanic. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/antifreeze-replace/107913/12 "2017-09-20T20:36:14Z")
I had the same vehicle with the same symptoms. It turned out to be a bad water pump. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 8:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/antifreeze-replace/107913/13 "2017-09-20T20:54:32Z")
> [@VOLVO\_V70](#): > > W did not own Porsche in 1987 Correct, but the engine was sourced from VW. Not until the 944 was the engine an actual Porsche. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 3:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/antifreeze-replace/107913/14 "2017-09-21T03:16:23Z")
I expect an 87 924 could use the ordinary green coolant, but it might be a good idea to drop by a VW dealership parts dept anyway. Ask them what kind of coolant they recommend for your 924. For Toyotas anyway, the price of coolant at the dealership isn’t much more than at an auto parts store, and when you buy it there you are sure you are using the correct coolant for the vehicle. It sounds like a cooling system flush is in order anyway at this point. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/antifreeze-replace/107913/15 "2017-12-24T14:33:05Z")
The 924S and 944 used the same engine, a 2.5L Porsche design.