[M7ART]

My Fiat 124 Spider Owners Handbook specifies 'Paraflu' as the approved engine coolant. However, a sticker on the coolant reservoir filler says FL22. Is there a difference? If so, which should I use? I have no previous knowledge of 'Paraflu'. My understanding is that FL22 is a Mazda coolant. Given that the Fiat 124 Spider is assembled in Japan by Mazda, is the FL22 sticker a misleading oversight by Mazda?

 

[MotoPete]

Nulon's "One Coolant" meets both specifications, so I'm guessing perhaps it's the same for Mazda's product.

https://www.nulon.com.au/products/Cooling_Systems/One_Coolant/#specs

 

[azzura]

Paraflu is the name that Fiat have been using forever for their "own brand" anti-freeze. There only used to be one type, blue in colour. The Paraflu "UP" (ultra performance I think) is red/orange in colour and is for newer cars (like the 124 Spider) and is based on OAT (organic acid technology) and used in modern engines with a lot more alloy content. The old blue Paraflu is now called Paraflu 11. Nowadays both Paraflu's are made by Petronas https://www.pli-petronas.com/uk/products/automotive-functional-fluids/petronas-paraflu

I would imagine that the FL22 sticker is applied automatically to the (Mazda) reservoir even though it is a Fiat engine.

 

[ameridan]

According to my research, the coolant should be purple.

Coolant:
Mopar 68163848AB (or equivalent) Antifreeze/Coolant ~ 10 Year/150,000 Mile Formula OAT (Organic Additive Technology); Ethylene Glycol base,
Color: purple (do not mix with others!)

Does the sticker disagree with this? Is this not the correct coolant?

 

[Stewie]

The FL22 is green in color from what I've seen.

 

[azzura]

The Paraflu UP is specified outside of the US, the Mopar stuff has been selected as the best match once Fiat took over Chrysler I guess, I don't know if we can get Mopar stuff in the UK?

 

[M7ART]

The factory filled coolant in the reservoir of my 2016 Fiat Spider is green in colour. From what's been said earlier in this post, it would appear to be Mazda's FL22 coolant. Not the Paraflu specified in the owners handbook. So it would appear that the FL22 sticker on the coolant reservoir filler cap is correct.

 

[Greg]

I would stick with what's in the owner's handbook and not use something just because Mazda does. I don't think we have the same radiator as the MX-5 and we know the rest of the cooling system is different. Strangely, the issue here is usually glue, yes glue. They use glue (sometimes called sealant) to secure the radiator's end caps to the core. Incorrect coolant can act as a solvent and dissolve the glue over time. The best way to be sure to avoid this is by sticking with what the book says, no pun intended.

If you use incorrect coolant, it may work or it may not. The problem is you generally find out about 5 years later at a really inconvenient time.

Greg