antifreeze/coolant

kermit_rr · Sep 13, 2020

Depending on what you use, manufacturers say you must change or anywhere from 2, years, 5 years or even xx miles.
Too much or too little is bad, so what do you think?
It's suggested if its left in too long it starts attacking the metal and even becomes less effective.

All a sales pitch or something in it?

What do you do with old coolant?

norseman · Sep 13, 2020

Almost certainly sales pitch.
I have read that a mixture in excess of 50 percent AF/water offers no additional protection against the coolant freezing. I can believe this as truckers in regions of extreme cold leave their engines running during stop overs.
My RRC's coolant is changed every two years as art of a annual service by the local garage, so they dispose of the old stuff. It should not be tipped down the drain & waste disposal sites normally have suitable facilities.

kermit_rr · Sep 13, 2020

norseman said:
Almost certainly sales pitch.
I have read that a mixture in excess of 50 percent AF/water offers no additional protection against the coolant freezing. I can believe this as truckers in regions of extreme cold leave their engines running during stop overs.
My RRC's coolant is changed every two years as art of a annual service by the local garage, so they dispose of the old stuff. It should not be tipped down the drain & waste disposal sites normally have suitable facilities.

I think trucks in the very cold climates won't start when it gets suitably cold, probably can't get the diesel hot enough

kermit_rr · Sep 14, 2020

To anyone who wonders about premix vs concentrated antifreeze, seems like you should not use water straight from the tap;
"The use of deionized water for this inhibitor solution is strongly recommended for any system containing aluminum because the presence of 30 mg/L of chloride ions is known to cause pitting in 6061 aluminium." (one of the most common alloys of aluminium for general-purpose use)

Nodge68 · Sep 14, 2020

kermit_rr said:
To anyone who wonders about premix vs concentrated antifreeze, seems like you should not use water straight from the tap;

Use a concentrated coolant mixed between 30% and 50% concentration. Using water straight from the tap is normally ok now, as OAT coolant has a 5 year life. This means there isn't much harmful content in the cooling system, when compared to biannual changes.

Deionized water is still the recommended water to use, but I would say that most garages will use tap water.

kermit_rr · Sep 14, 2020

Nodge68 said:
Use a concentrated coolant mixed between 30% and 50% concentration. Using water straight from the tap is normally ok now, as OAT coolant has a 5 year life. This means there isn't much harmful content in the cooling system, when compared to biannual changes.

Deionized water is still the recommended water to use, but I would say that most garages will use tap water.

I run old fashioned ethylene glycol in the V8 as thats what was around at the time. It works.
as far as garages using tap water, you're probably right, its not their car anyways so who cares

kermit_rr · Sep 14, 2020

with respect to chlorinated tap water, easy enough to store some for a couple of days before you put it in the engine

Nodge68 · Sep 14, 2020

kermit_rr said:
with respect to chlorinated tap water, easy enough to store some for a couple of days before you put it in the engine

That's what I do. I make up my coolant with a 40% mix of concentrate, but allow the water to "gas off" for a couple of days before using it. I've got a batch sitting right now, in readiness for refilling the coolant on my FL2 at the weekend.

kermit_rr · Sep 14, 2020

Not done it for what's in the landy at the moment, but i was ignorant to the chlorine issue when i filled it, something for next time

RangeRoller dt · Sep 15, 2020

I boil it and let it cool (water). I’ve drained some pretty muddy looking stuff out of rads in the past but they were still working. Flush with hose pipe (from tap) and fluid change hasn’t seemed to kill any of them off

payydg · Sep 15, 2020

I use 50/50 mix with deionised water. Change every 2 years. Can get the lot cheap off eBay/amazon. Worth the extra effort IMO.

antifreeze/coolant

kermit_rr

Very

norseman

Well-Known Member

kermit_rr

Very

kermit_rr

Very

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

kermit_rr

Very

kermit_rr

Very

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

kermit_rr

Very

RangeRoller dt

Well-Sprung Member

payydg

Well-Known Member

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