Corsa-B.uk - Vauxhall, Opel and Holden Corsa B Owners Club

I'll need to flush out my coolant system at some point as the coolant is starting to look a bit dirty. What's the best stuff to use for a 99 1.2 16V (X12XE)? The coolant at the moment is the clear type... I have no idea what brand, and it's not just water (before anyone asks ).

Also, is it necessary to have the heating on full when flushing? Not sure how i'm supposed to keep the thermostat open so that i can clean all the crap out of the engine too?

I'll also add that i can sometimes hear a bubbling noise from behind the dash for a minute or two after starting the car. It's been doing this ever since i bought it over 6 months ago and i always assumed it's just a bit of air in the cooling system... But now i'm reading it could be the head gasket or heating matrix (heating works fine).

I'm hoping it's not the head gasket going as that can be expensive!

I use gm red anti freeze or holtz stuff if im feeling cheap lol but it doesnt really matter aslong as its winter AND summer

Just bought a bottle of Bluecol red stuff which should do the trick . I'll have to find a way to clean the inside of the expansion tank as there's quite a bit of crap around the level mark (coolant has probably never been changed).

Take it off and fill with hot water to loosen it up then blast with hose/ power washer if you have one

My car is still making a bubbling/tricking water noise even after changing the coolant! Maybe the heater matrix didn't get flushed properly or the thermostat wasn't open when i hosed it through?... I'll let it idle tomorrow for 20 minutes or so with the cap off the expansion tank (heard it helps to get rid of air locks). The noise sounds like it's coming from behind the dash/heater controls and only really happens for about a minute after starting the car. Been doing it for ages now.

Get someone else to start the car and look in at the expansion tank to see if its coolant