smart51
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| posted on 2/9/09 at 01:51 PM |
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Why replace coolant?
Why does engine coolant need to be replaced every couple of years? does it go off? I always do it but was talking with someone who flushes the
system out with water before draining again and filling with coolant. Is there some contaminant in the old coolant that should be cleaned out before
refilling?
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rost
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| posted on 2/9/09 at 01:57 PM |
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iirc, it's just that the anti-corrosive agents stop working after some time. Just draining/replacing should do the trick.
Charlie don't surf!
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 2/9/09 at 01:58 PM |
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Usually its dirty from scum or limescale. I’ve had to back flush radiators quite a few times to clear garbage from inside them, often the water that
comes out is totally filthy
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Bluemoon
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| posted on 2/9/09 at 02:10 PM |
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Removal of sludge requires flushing. In theory I guess if the coolant corrosion inhibitors are working there should be none... Hence the need to
change it to stop the corrosion (to keep its anti corrosion properties)..
Dan
[Edited on 2/9/09 by Bluemoon]
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mcerd1
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| posted on 2/9/09 at 02:22 PM |
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most manufactures use long life coolant these days
The ford stuff is ment to last 10 years !
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britishtrident
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| posted on 2/9/09 at 02:25 PM |
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In some hard water areas doing a complete coolant change using antifreeze mixed with tap water will do more harm than good, with normal blue/green
antifreze coolants 50% changed every year and top up with 50% mixture is enough.
With orange/pink longlife coolant 50% changed every 2 years.
In modern coolants the inhibitors are so good you shouldn't get any sludge provided they are kept up to strength.
With long life OAT coolant if using a fluhing agent it should always be an acid type never old style caustic.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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britishtrident
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| posted on 2/9/09 at 02:27 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mcerd1
most manufactures use long life coolant these days
The ford stuff is ment to last 10 years !
The stuff BMW are using in the MINI goes off and turns to brown smelly goo if it gets contaminated.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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nick205
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| posted on 2/9/09 at 02:39 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
In some hard water areas doing a complete coolant change using antifreeze mixed with tap water will do more harm than good, with normal blue/green
antifreze coolants 50% changed every year and top up with 50% mixture is enough.
interesting point on the hard water - we live in the middle of chalk downs so the tap water is usually milky to say the least.
Would it be better to buy distilled water for coolant purposes? Obviously more costly come service time, but better long term engine care.
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aka Keith
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| posted on 2/9/09 at 02:50 PM |
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Nick, I too live in a hard water area.
I use distilled water/battery water for any top ups in mine.
I buy in 5l containers from the local hardware for a couple of quid. (bargin)
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Bluemoon
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| posted on 2/9/09 at 02:54 PM |
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This has got me thinking.. Next coolant change will use 50% distilled water, after a hose pipe flush...
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mcerd1
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| posted on 2/9/09 at 02:56 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
quote:
Originally posted by mcerd1
most manufactures use long life coolant these days
The ford stuff is ment to last 10 years !
The stuff BMW are using in the MINI goes off and turns to brown smelly goo if it gets contaminated.
I've got the red ford stuff in my focus and thats apparently never been changed (8 years old) and its still nice and clean - so it seems to
work...
but you have to get the right ford stuff as you can't mix it with anything else
(but I've never even had to top it up yet)
there are red, blue and green versions of the ford stuff, two you can mix with each other and one you can't mix at all (I can't remember
which is which)
[Edited on 2/9/09 by mcerd1]
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BenB
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| posted on 2/9/09 at 03:03 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nick205
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
In some hard water areas doing a complete coolant change using antifreeze mixed with tap water will do more harm than good, with normal blue/green
antifreze coolants 50% changed every year and top up with 50% mixture is enough.
interesting point on the hard water - we live in the middle of chalk downs so the tap water is usually milky to say the least.
Would it be better to buy distilled water for coolant purposes? Obviously more costly come service time, but better long term engine care.
Definately. I used the water that comes out of my dehumidifer. Essentially distilled water. It's full of mould spores but a 105deg journey
through my radiator does the trick 
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smart51
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| posted on 2/9/09 at 03:19 PM |
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The stuff I've bought is premixed long life so no need to worry about hard water. The kit car coolant always came out nice and clean. It was
about the longest living part of that engine.
If the cappuccino's coolant comes out clean, I've just refill with the new. Otherwise I'll flush it through with water.
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02GF74
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| posted on 2/9/09 at 03:21 PM |
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rainwater collected in your butt otherwise a trek to wilkinsons to buy litre bottles of deionised water (is what I used - gone up to 52 p)
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 2/9/09 at 06:21 PM |
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Isnt it hygroscopic (like brake fluid)?
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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dhutch
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| posted on 2/9/09 at 10:18 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
rainwater collected in your butt otherwise a trek to wilkinsons to buy litre bottles of deionised water (is what I used - gone up to 52 p)
Sounds good to me.
- Doesnt need to be de-ionised, just not full of chalk!
Speedy, i think its fairly wet to start of with once you've added the 50% water?
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smart51
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| posted on 3/9/09 at 07:34 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by speedyxjs
Isnt it hygroscopic (like brake fluid)?
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