Which coolant to use for my car

[Tec]

Which coolant should I use for my 2008 9-3 Turbo X. I have 77000 miles on it and the coolant refill light just popped up. If you could please post brand and type as that would be helpful.

Thanks.

[9-3 Aero]

The Saab specification is (of course ) [FONT=Verdana]Saab Genuine Coolant, P/N 93 170 402 (1 litre) and 93 165 162 (5 litre). To be mixed 50/50%. This, or equivalent, still sold at GM dealers?[/FONT]

[Dave T]

I wonder what coolant one should use in a Saab?

I used to have a classic 900 (1990 900, sold as the 900i in most countries). The manual specified a phosphate free coolant. Xerex by BASF was available in many stores and was supposed to be phosphate free. BASF G-105 was harder to find. The Xerex brand was sold by BASF to another company years ago. Some people recommended Mercedes Benz coolant. Perhaps, any green coolant, like Prestone, easily found in the U.S. would be suitable. Besides, classic 900's are so old that probably quite a few owners started using who know what coolant.

Later, Saabs around 2000, probably earlier, started using orange coolant, which was probably some variation of GM Dexcool. I'd try to find some Dexcool type coolant.

If one has a newer Saab, like a 2008, I would be more picky and try to match the factory coolant.

I have a 1999 9-3SE that has green coolant so I used Prestone when changing it. I used deionized water to dilute it. That's found in many grocery stores, often bought for ironing clothes. Deionized or distilled water has fewer minerals and is not the usual bottled drinking water.

Now, some cars have lifetime coolant. I don't believe that. 100,000 miles (160,000 km) is the longest I'd use it, maybe half of that is better (80,000 km). However, I don't change coolant every year like I used to.