2014s Go To Orange Long Life Coolant

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but BRP is switching over to Long Life Coolant on most all of their 2014 product lines, including Spyders and Ski-Doos. it is orange in color, and BRP says it is doing so for the longer service life (since so few of people replace coolant in their aluminum block engines these days) and for the increased corrosion protection. They claim it has better boiling behavior (erosion in the water jacket) as well. They also are telling us we should not be mixing the orange coolant with green or any other type of coolant, in fear of it gelling. We just saw it in some new ski-doos and noticed a service bulletin stating the same was coming for 2014 Spyders. Their part # for the new stuff is 219 702 685, but I am sure we can figure out what else will be compatible. Thought it was a good heads-up for all of us here. :cheers:

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Originally Posted by sledmaster

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but BRP is switching over to Long Life Coolant on most all of their 2014 product lines, including Spyders and Ski-Doos. it is orange in color, and BRP says it is doing so for the longer service life (since so few of people replace coolant in their aluminum block engines these days) and for the increased corrosion protection. They claim it has better boiling behavior (erosion in the water jacket) as well. They also are telling us we should not be mixing the orange coolant with green or any other type of coolant, in fear of it gelling. We just saw it in some new ski-doos and noticed a service bulletin stating the same was coming for 2014 Spyders. Their part # for the new stuff is 219 702 685, but I am sure we can figure out what else will be compatible. Thought it was a good heads-up for all of us here. :cheers:

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Through the years, I've been consistent in having my coolant in my cars flushed and all the hoses replaced, every two years . . . since I started that, I've never been stranded by the side of the road with steam coming out from under the hood. I had planned to do the same with my Spyder . . . especially because of the heat under the Tupperware . . . that can't be doing those hoses any good!

So I suppose flushing out the existing coolant and replacing it to Orange Long Life Coolant would be the recommended thing to do.

my bike is still in the shop for the heat recall waiting for the canister, the service manager was telling me they are using a new anti freeze but not in the spyder, it has a higher boiling point

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Originally Posted by cuznjohn

my bike is still in the shop for the heat recall waiting for the canister, the service manager was telling me they are using a new anti freeze but not in the spyder, it has a higher boiling point

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BRP is switching to the orange long life coolant on all of their vehicle platforms, only a few select models are excluded. What your service manager told you is incorrect. 2014 Spyders will have orange long life coolant. If he does not believe you tell him to go read roadster service bulletin #2014-1.

As for switching over an earlier model year unit, this would be the ideal course of action once your unit reaches the specified replacement interval. You could do it earlier if you want the added benefit of higher boiling temp and increased corrosion protection, but you could wait until the specified replacement interval. This bulletin also details the flushing procedure to switch from green to orange coolant. Pretty much a matter of draining the green, filling with distilled water, bring to operating temperature, let engine cool, drain water, refill and bleed with new orange coolant.

The bulletin also states that some of the 2014 literature might refer to the green coolant, even owner’s manuals and shop manuals, as some of this material was printed before the change was validated. Always verify which color of coolant is in a vehicle before adding more.

GM has had all sorts of issues with that orange stuff. After replacing many gaskets on various GM cars and trucks because of that orange stuff I promptly remove it from all my engines and replace with green. If I have to change it more often then so be it, cheaper than tearing down to replace gasket throughout the engine!

Pardon me for resurrecting an old thread but if you've seen my other posts about a leak, I've determined that the leak is orange. This thread seems to confirm that it is coolant.

Now the problem is I've been topping it off with 50-50 *green* pre-mix. I don't remember seeing anything in the owners manual about only using orange long-life coolant; did I miss something? Or did I just screw myself even more?

Trb--

Mixing green ethylene glycol based coolant with orange organic acid long life coolant is a big no no. You made a mess. The system needs to be drained, flushed and cleaned. Then refilled with the proper coolant.

The mix can gel and it can eat aluminum parts. Bad news.

When I picked up my 2014 RT-L in September, the service manager mentioned the orange coolant was the standard for my Spyder. He warned us not to mix with the traditional green. Was easy for me.... Orange (Cognac) Spyder uses Orange Coolant.

This is copied from the 2014 RT Owners Manual:

The cooling system must be filled with
distilled water and antifreeze solution
(50% distilled water, 50% antifreeze).
For best performance, use the LONG
LIFE ANTIFREEZE (P/N 219 702 685).

and this from the 2013 RT Owners Manual:

The cooling system must be filled with
distilled water and antifreeze solution
(50% distilled water, 50% antifreeze).
For best performance, use the BRP
PREMIXED COOLANT (P/N 219 700
362).

So they did change the part number

Big difference between "For best performance" and "You must use"

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Trbayth

Big difference between "For best performance" and "You must use"

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

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I agree, if it is wrong to mix them they should probably tell you that. Only use xxx or equivalent would say a lot more than "for best performance"

Was reading a thread on BITOG yesterday saying that some
LONG LIFE anti-freeze will cause gelling and really screw up the
system when MIXED with certain non-long life. The point was
made that the system should be drained, then filled with filtered water and run for awhile, drained again, then add the long life stuff.

Personally, I'm gonna leave what I have in and change it for same stuff in a couple of years UNLESS the draining process is
a major headache. If so, I may then go with the long life.

I just took another look at the bottle. Says it's compatible with any other antifreeze, any color. Between that and the wording in the owner's manual, I think I'm good, at least short term.

Trb--

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Originally Posted by Trbayth

I just took another look at the bottle. Says it's compatible with any other antifreeze, any color. Between that and the wording in the owner's manual, I think I'm good, at least short term.

Trb--

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Did it by chance give the chemical make up?

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Originally Posted by ulflyer

Was reading a thread on BITOG yesterday saying that some
LONG LIFE anti-freeze will cause gelling and really screw up the
system when MIXED with certain non-long life. The point was
made that the system should be drained, then filled with filtered water and run for awhile, drained again, then add the long life stuff.

Personally, I'm gonna leave what I have in and change it for same stuff in a couple of years UNLESS the draining process is
a major headache. If so, I may then go with the long life.

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Seems that I remember that the threads tended to come out with the radiator drain plugs leaving people with the unplanned expense of replacing the radiator when the coolant was changed, so share with the spyder loving world how that works for you.

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Originally Posted by Ben Burped

Seems that I remember that the threads tended to come out with the radiator drain plugs leaving people with the unplanned expense of replacing the radiator when the coolant was changed, so share with the spyder loving world how that works for you.

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Happened to me. :banghead: The next time I drained the coolant I did so by removing the lower hose instead on the drain plug. Didn't want to have to buy yet another radiator. :yikes:

The long life coolant never should be mixed with the traditional coolant it is a big no no!

Also I have a lot of dealings with the Orange Dexcool from GM with working at a GM dealer that stuff Is horrible on a coolant system when it starts to break down and it doesn't last the mileage that they say it does . If your looking for better cooling agents look into something like (water wetter) it will work much better but it to does require maintance.

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Originally Posted by billrob71

If your looking for better cooling agents look into something like (water wetter) it will work much better but it to does require maintance.

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Bill, Isn't water wetter an additive to existing coolant? What
are the maintenance requirements?

Guys, don't confuse "long life coolant" with "dexcool". Has anyone actually checked. You can't go by color anymore. They DO have an orange HOAT long life coolant that is not dexcool....

Knowing the spyder is Canadian I'd likely believe it's orange dyed G-05 coolant.

My RT-S was built 3/4/14 and to the best I can determine has green antifreeze. Vossr picked up his in Sept. and was told it's orange? For me it's a 3,000 mile service question later this month or next.

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Originally Posted by ulflyer

Bill, Isn't water wetter an additive to existing coolant? What
are the maintenance requirements?

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Water wetter can be added to coolant but it is most effective running it with just water , the only problem is it will not protect in freezing conditions and will need at least antifreeze added for winter storage or winter riding.

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Originally Posted by DrewNJ

Guys, don't confuse "long life coolant" with "dexcool". Has anyone actually checked. You can't go by color anymore. They DO have an orange HOAT long life coolant that is not dexcool....

Knowing the spyder is Canadian I'd likely believe it's orange dyed G-05 coolant.

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That is correct coolant has a dye added, Honda has blue GM and Chrysler use orange now and fords in the short past that I was working for them was yellow.

Fairly certain dexcool is a GM only isn't it??? Bill?