Which Antifreeze?
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Which Antifreeze?
Any thoughts on which type of antifreeze is best, that is best at prevent corrosion?
Historically I have always used the standard Blue Ethtlene Glycol but still find the aluminium bits corrode. However when I recently did a coolant change in our other car I ended-up using some green (Prestone) antifreeze from Costco which they claim is good for 10 years. Has anyone tried this in an Excel and is it likely to be a better anti-corrosive than the Blue Glycol?
Historically I have always used the standard Blue Ethtlene Glycol but still find the aluminium bits corrode. However when I recently did a coolant change in our other car I ended-up using some green (Prestone) antifreeze from Costco which they claim is good for 10 years. Has anyone tried this in an Excel and is it likely to be a better anti-corrosive than the Blue Glycol?
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Re: Which Antifreeze?
Previously Jerry (Taylor)
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Re: Which Antifreeze?
Don't rely on colour - look at the formulation and don't mix different formulae.
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Re: Which Antifreeze?
I put Prestone in my Subaru at 50k miles, and when I blew it up at 100k and stripped
it down it was like new in all the waterways.
The condition of the big ends was less impressive, but unrelated.
it down it was like new in all the waterways.
The condition of the big ends was less impressive, but unrelated.
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Re: Which Antifreeze?
I've used the modern long life OAT coolant in my Excels for years without any sign of a problem. I just made sure I didn't mix types by giving the cooling system a really good flush with a hosepipe
Kev W no.282
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Re: Which Antifreeze?
Well considering that Costco have Prestone concentrated at £12 for 5l that looks like a good way to go then.Qwertyco wrote:I put Prestone in my Subaru at 50k miles, and when I blew it up at 100k and stripped
it down it was like new in all the waterways.
The condition of the big ends was less impressive, but unrelated.
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Re: Which Antifreeze?
I think Tesco sell it as well!NickC wrote:Well considering that Costco have Prestone concentrated at £12 for 5l that looks like a good way to go then.Qwertyco wrote:I put Prestone in my Subaru at 50k miles, and when I blew it up at 100k and stripped
it down it was like new in all the waterways.
The condition of the big ends was less impressive, but unrelated.
"Life is like a Dancing Monkey, - Pretty amusing, until it starts to lob faeces at you"
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Re: Which Antifreeze?
I use Comma Xstream® G48® in both the Excel and the Mini
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Re: Which Antifreeze?
NickC wrote:Any thoughts on which type of antifreeze is best, that is best at prevent corrosion?
Historically I have always used the standard Blue Ethtlene Glycol but still find the aluminium bits corrode. However when I recently did a coolant change in our other car I ended-up using some green (Prestone) antifreeze from Costco which they claim is good for 10 years. Has anyone tried this in an Excel and is it likely to be a better anti-corrosive than the Blue Glycol?
Not my own advice but:-
Advice from Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) Technology moves forward; new products are
constantly being launched with claims to improved formulations and performance. With the bitterly cold weather during the
winter of 2009/2010, antifreeze has been in the headlines, with some alarming stories in relation to classic cars. At first, these seem to be about the well-known tendency of antifreeze to find the tiniest hole and cause leaks. However, in some cases it has led to
catastrophic engine problems. Traditional blue ethylene glycol is a toxic but highly effective antifreeze; it contains
silicates as an inhibitor to help prevent corrosion in engines with mixed metals in their make-up. Bluecol and Blue Star are well
known brand names; both are declared suitable for ‘classic cars’ on their company websites. Halfords also sells this type of anti-freeze with its own branding. Be aware that there are also low- or no-silicate ethylene glycol formulations (usually red) available which may not be suitable for all engines. Propylene glycol is another well-known and less toxic antifreezeformula and usually
contains silicates. However, Comma, the main manufacturer, has now discontinued it in favour of an ethylene glycol product containing ‘bittering agents’ to make it less palatable and minimise the risk of accidental poisoning. Both of these products use inorganic additive technology (IAT). Recently, problems have been reported concerning the use of antifreeze mixtures
using organic acid technology (OAT). OAT was introduced in the mid-1990s and the products are biodegradable, recyclable, do not contain either silicates or phosphates and are designed to be longer lasting. However, these products do seem to cause
problems in older engines. Over and above the ability of antifreeze to find the smallest crevice and leak, OAT anti freeze
s have been accused of destroying seals and gaskets and causing a great deal of damage in ‘old’ engines. For this
reason, the manufacturers do not recommend their use in historic vehicles. These products are usually coloured red, pink or orange.
The final category is HOAT. These products use hybrid organic acid technology in an ethylene glycol base with some silicates in the formulation alongside the organic corrosion inhibitors. The product is usually coloured green and is not recommended
for use in historic vehicles. FBHVC is still researching this problem but its current advice is:
Only use blue coloured IAT antifreeze in historic vehicles
Only use OAT products (‘advanced’ or ‘long life’ antifreeze) if the vehicle used it when new and if specifically directed by the vehicle’s manufacturer
Never mix different types of antifreeze without thoroughly flushing out the system
Always replace the coolant within the time scale specified by the antifreeze manufacturer as the corrosion inhibitors break down over time.
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Re: Which Antifreeze?
However the Tesco one is "Ready to Use" as opposed to "Concentrate" so is only half the strengh.Qwertyco wrote:I think Tesco sell it as well!NickC wrote:Well considering that Costco have Prestone concentrated at £12 for 5l that looks like a good way to go then.Qwertyco wrote:I put Prestone in my Subaru at 50k miles, and when I blew it up at 100k and stripped
it down it was like new in all the waterways.
The condition of the big ends was less impressive, but unrelated.
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Re: Which Antifreeze?
If you want to be certain you don't get corrosion, use Evans Waterless Coolant. As it has a high boiling point, it doesn't pressurise the system like water based coolant either. It's been in my engine without problems for over 4 years now.NickC wrote:Any thoughts on which type of antifreeze is best, that is best at prevent corrosion?
Historically I have always used the standard Blue Ethtlene Glycol but still find the aluminium bits corrode. However when I recently did a coolant change in our other car I ended-up using some green (Prestone) antifreeze from Costco which they claim is good for 10 years. Has anyone tried this in an Excel and is it likely to be a better anti-corrosive than the Blue Glycol?
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Re: Which Antifreeze?
My car also has the more modern OAT coolant. I've read and been concerned by issues caused by using OAT coolant in ' classic cars' but as OAT was introduced in the early 90's ( ?) I assumed that when the term classic is used, it's a reference to older cars than ours when oll seals, hoses etc were made from less modern materials.KevW wrote:I've used the modern long life OAT coolant in my Excels for years without any sign of a problem. I just made sure I didn't mix types by giving the cooling system a really good flush with a hosepipe
Am I right or wrong to have made that assumption?
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Re: Which Antifreeze?
I have personally seen what corrosion can be like in an alloy engine with OAT. The corrosion scrapped the engine. This was in a Range Rover with the old 4.6 V8 from Buick origins. Land Rover changed the recommended anti freeze to OAT around 99 when BMW became involved, but no changes were made to the basic engine. Personally I would never put OAT in any engine not specifically designed to use it from new. Also NEVER mix OAT with normal ethylene glycol as they will react with each other.shaunw wrote:My car also has the more modern OAT coolant. I've read and been concerned by issues caused by using OAT coolant in ' classic cars' but as OAT was introduced in the early 90's ( ?) I assumed that when the term classic is used, it's a reference to older cars than ours when oll seals, hoses etc were made from less modern materials.KevW wrote:I've used the modern long life OAT coolant in my Excels for years without any sign of a problem. I just made sure I didn't mix types by giving the cooling system a really good flush with a hosepipe
Am I right or wrong to have made that assumption?
A little further info here - http://robisonservice.blogspot.com/2009 ... -land.html
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Re: Which Antifreeze?
I use TRIPLE QX Blue Ready Mixed Antifreeze/Coolant 5Ltr with no issues. Cheap and readily available from euro car parts
Previously Jerry (Taylor)
Now "Black Flag"
Lotus Excel SEI1989 253.6hp 190lbft
Lotus Elise S3 1.6. Motorsport Green 2011.
Now "Black Flag"
Lotus Excel SEI1989 253.6hp 190lbft
Lotus Elise S3 1.6. Motorsport Green 2011.
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Re: Which Antifreeze?
When I changed my anti-freeze I did so after taking advice from a (very) old school Lotus specialist based near the south coast. Having said that after reading the articles posted here it appears to me the only 100% risk free option is to stick with using the traditional ethylene glycol anti freeze.
Kev W no.282