Anti-Freeze...oat Allowed On A 1989 Engine?

[DanteICE 72]

So I've been reading the forums and researching in general, but I'm still not sure if the 5 years OAT antifreeze is suitable for the 205 GTI 1.9 engine from 1989?

 

I have searched the forums but as far as I'm concerned there isn't anything definitive out there to say 'yay' or 'nay'.

 

Geoff

[johnhenry 20]

when i picked up the car from the garage the other week after getting the HG done, it had the OAT (red) stuff in it, I automatically changed it back over to the old stuff (blue) but upon speaking to a couple of people; OAT is okay for older engines, but older (blue) stuff isn't good for new engines.

 

I will sceptical at best, so I'm just keeping it blue!

[hcmini1989 16]

Nobody tried the waterless coolant might be worth a look for anyone thinking of doing an antifreeze change ,Does cost a fair bit though especialy if you have to buy the flushing fluid aswell .

[DanteICE 72]

Yeah I looked into that too, but I thought it to be a mistake if you have a coolant leak a top up can't really be done unless you're carrying waterless stuff around with you. Also, normal stuff has been good for ages and with care it's still perfectly acceptable.

 

So the verdict still out of IAT vs OAT in older engines?

 

I have read somewhere it's to do with what the coolant touches in terms of metal. In other words, copper radiators (early 205s apparently; according to GSF website) it's blue stuff all the way, but my engine should be ali radiator and as far as I know the coolant will only touch aluminium in a 1.9 engine.

[Ryan 99]

OAT is fine for alloy and iron engines, but not recommended if there are other metals like copper in the cooling system. Original 205 radiators are copper, so you might want to avoid OAT if you're using the original radiator, or a genuine Pug replacement.

[welshpug 1,666]

You forgot the steel liners.

 

Citroen antigel is blue, as is the bog standard stuff on the shelf at my local motorfactors.

[DanteICE 72]

You forgot the steel liners.

 

Ah yes the liners! But that's not a problem for OAT as far as I know, so are we saying OAT is fine?

 

Found some info:

 

What is best for performance use?

"It is always best to use the engine manufacturer’s advice. If engine contains yellow

metals [copper and brass as in older vehicles] then the long life products based on

organic technology should not be used. As a general rule, most modern engines

require the long life organic antifreezes."

Can anyone be definitive?

Geoff