2000 era VW Coolant

[Mau]

Buddy has a 2000 VW Beetle (1.8T). What type of coolant does this vehicle use? Can I top off with Honda type II?

 

[threeputtpar]

That would probably be pink G12. Main point of the G12 was that it was silicate free. Closest off the shelf coolant to it would be DexCool.

I have no idea what the composition of Honda type II is.

 

[scurvy]

It takes VW G12. G12+ or G12++ are all miscible and can be used. Color is a terrible way to identify coolant but these are all pink/violet.

Lots of folks will tell you to run Dex-Cool in VWs because it's cheaper/easier, they may even tell you it 'works fine'. VW's G12 coolant family (from Valvoline/Zerex/BASF, Glysantin G30) are fantastic coolants - I have never seen a cooling-related issue caused by them and they easily last 160k km between timing belt & waterpump changes. Down here a 1 gallon jug of full strength concentrate at the stealership is only $22; I can imagine a 4 liter jug would be similarly priced up there.

I would not run Dex-Cool, Honda Type II or any of the all makes/all models Dex-Clones - only OEM VW G12 coolant.