12 replies to this topic

[Chance]

I.e the pink or blue coolant

Am I right in thinking this is OK for winter
As in I wont need a general anti freeze or is it best to add some anyway??

[mike.]

Its usually anti freeze and summer coolant together and its the blue stuff you want, not the pink.

[Chance]

So if I just get some blue stuff and replace the just water thats in there now ( not advisable I know) I'll be set for winter??

I mentioned the pink for the families modern boring cars aswell

[minimissionary]

I go for 50/50 Blucol to water for winter use. It seems to be getting colder and colder every year!
Give it a good flush in both directions while you're at it.

[Chance]

Is blucol a brand?? I'll probably just go to halfords
Any blue coolant will be suitable I suppose?? :)

[charie t]

go to local parts people, you'll save a fortune

[Chance]

I got a few motor spares shops in my area so I'll have a look in then
Thanks :)

[Artful Dodger]

Go to a local friendly garage and ask for some, we always get enthusiasts coming for grease, coolant etc. doesn't really hurt us profit wise and keeps them happy, plus, when things go wrong, they always come back ;)

[Brad_Raybould]

Yeah, go to a local spares shop, they will have some and they should help you in the future with other bits too :) I go for the blue stuff and I mix it with the water as it says so on the label. That works for the winter and summer. I'll show you what I use at the meet Thursday mate as I always keep it in the boot.

[Chance]

Yeah Im always go to local places for grease and general things
Usually just chuck some cheap antifreeze in though
But I want to use proper stuff all year so here I am :)

Sound brad, I'll see you Thursday

[ibrooks]

STOP!!!!!!

Learn something and avoid an expensive bill - and/or heartache.

Blue coolant is generally glycol based. Pink or orange is generally OAT (organic acid technology) based. They are NOT compatible. If you mix them they turn to sludge and bung things up in a big way.

Coolant is not just anti-freeze and should be in there all year round. As well as the anti-freezing agents that give it the common usage name of anti-freeze it contains corrosion inhibitors that protect the engine and wetting agents that make it better at getting the heat from the engine and into the liquid by reducing the surface tension (and at the other "end" of the system it transfers the heat to the radiator and then to the air better). There are also lubricants for things like the water pump seals. Only ever run just water as a short term test where you are maybe running a newly built or installed engine up to temp whilst looking for leaks etc. and you know it's going to be coming out again soon or as a system flush.

OAT coolants are better for the environment if they should be spilled (they should still be disposed of properly though) and they are necessary for modern engines with more exotic alloy components. They can be used on older engines but you MUST MUST MUST get every last bit of the old glycol coolant out of there before you use them just draining the system by popping a radiator hose off doesn't do this.

Glycol coolants are better at the original job but nasty for the environment and make tyres go slimy (hence race-tracks hate them in case of spills and some people use old coolant as a cheap tyre-shine on their sidewalls).

On an older engine like an A-Series where you have a choice I would use a glycol coolant. It's probably what's been in there from new so you are also less likely to have problems with combining the two technologies but be aware that previous owners have been there first and might have done anything.

Don't just rely on a colour - read the label and be sure of what you are buying.

Iain

[Chance]

Thanks for all that info
It does just have water in atm, I know its not recommended but there you go

I will get glycol based coolant for my minI then :)

[Artful Dodger]

buut, the colour is an indicator of what type it is, you havnt met many garage mechanics have you not the type to be reading labels 8) just orange in new cars and blue in old!!!