Coolant

[ollyw]

Hi all.

Can anyone recommend a supplier or make of coolant for my 2.8?

I’ve been using OAT pink by mistake for years, I’m about to do the yearly check over etc prior to getting her out from hibernation and the coolant needs changing.

I know now it needs to be IAT blue stuff.

Any suggestions? I was hoping somewhere like mpd or euros would have it. (No small local factors round my way anymore)

Glad to see this page is alive and kicking still!

Thanks

Olly W

[Mr B]

Hi Olly,

I've always used Bluecol coolant in my car's, my dad used to say it was the best stuff around for older car's.

Ain't 100% sure but I think it's what Ford used to put in them from new.

Wayne

[pbar]

You probably already know, but if changing to blue make sure you get all of the pink stuff out as the two don't mix very well and could congeal. To be honest, might be worthwhile to keep using the pink, especially if you have had no issues rather than risk mixing the two, could be very difficult getting it all out and there is a risk of dredging up crud also in the process.

[Mr B]

You probably already know, but if changing to blue make sure you get all of the pink stuff out as the two don't mix very well and could congeal. To be honest, might be worthwhile to keep using the pink, especially if you have had no issues rather than risk mixing the two, could be very difficult getting it all out and there is a risk of dredging up crud also in the process.

I think Bluecol now make the Pink antifreeze as well.
Wayne

[Major_Tom]

I've always used Bluecol coolant

So that's what the 'B' stands for...

[Mr B]

I've always used Bluecol coolant

So that's what the 'B' stands for...

Amongst other things!....

[ollyw]

Thanks for the replies.


I had no idea about the two not mixing well. Thankfully I’ve had the heater out and back flushed , rad out etc so fully drained everything as a result.

I found the pink stuff was starting to sludge slightly over this winter hence all the effort. Also have heard pink is way too strong a formula for the cooling systems on our cars and can eat away at some of the alloy components?

How true I don’t know but back to blue for time being


Olly W

[pbar]

Thankfully I’ve had the heater out and back flushed , rad out etc so fully drained everything as a result.

There is a drain plug on the block as you will have some in there still. You may wish to leave that alone though as they can be trouble.

[stevemarl]

OAT (pink) antifreeze is not compatible with some materials used in most pre 1998 vehicles. Obviously it won`t fail overnight, but over time.
(from Bluecol`s site): Bluecol 5 year red antifreeze is a methanol-free, Ethylene Glycol based antifreeze and engine coolant. Bluecol 5 year extended life antifreeze is silicate free and incorporates the latest in Organic Acid Technology (OAT). Bluecol 5 year antifreeze can be kept in your radiator system all year round to maintain protection against winter freezing and summer overheating, whilst at the same time protecting the materials in the cooling system against rust and corrosion. It does not evaporate in use and is not flammable. Bluecol 5 year antifreeze conforms to BS6580 (2010) and contains a bittering agent to prevent accidental swallowing and consequential harmful effects to humans and animals.
*Not suitable for Classic or Vintage vehicles.

Certain cars are built with organic acid technology (OAT) antifreeze (e.g., DEX-COOL[18]), or with a hybrid organic acid technology (HOAT) formulation (e.g., Zerex G-05),[19] both of which are claimed to have an extended service life of five years or 240,000 km (150,000 mi).
DEX-COOL specifically has caused controversy. Litigation has linked it with intake manifold gasket failures in General Motors' (GM's) 3.1L and 3.4L engines, and with other failures in 3.8L and 4.3L engines. One of the anti-corrosion components presented as sodium or potassium 2-ethylhexanoate and ethylhexanoic acid is incompatible with nylon 6,6 and silicone rubber, and is a known plasticizer. Class action lawsuits were registered in several states of the US, and in Canada,[20] to address some of these claims.

[Major_Tom]

Can red and blue ethylene based antifreezes be mixed?

[stevemarl]

Not a good idea I`d have thought, you`ll have the 2 year life of the blue and the compatibility issues of the red. Having said that, depends on concentrations?

* AFAIK, the main difference is the silicates v OAT which are the corrosion inhibitors, not the actual antifreeze (which may well be Ethylene Glycol in both types ? )

[Major_Tom]

Not a good idea I`d have thought, you`ll have the 2 year life of the blue and the compatibility issues of the red. Having said that, depends on concentrations?

* AFAIK, the main difference is the silicates v OAT which are the corrosion inhibitors, not the actual antifreeze (which may well be Ethylene Glycol in both types ? )

Thanks for the input my good man.