chrisj21 2 Posted October 5, 2008 Going to change the radiator this week and i was just wondering what coolant people use in a standard 1.9? Just a antifreeze/water mix at the minute but is this ok? I've heard you can get coolant designed for alloy engines. Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pug_ham 245 3 Cars Posted October 5, 2008 I used whatever decent coolant they have in stock at my local motor factors when I need some. IIRC I've got vauxhall stuff in it now on a 50/50 mix but previously I've used, Comma, Bluecol, Ford... I thought all unversal summer coolant & winter anitfreeze was suitable for alloy engines now? Only when alloy engines were rare was there an issue but not for ages now. Graham. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SurGie 54 Posted October 6, 2008 Hi, there is a coolent liquid additive to antifreez + water mix from hiflowheads which makes the engine that bit cooler, good for fast road use in summer etc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shalmaneser 26 Posted October 6, 2008 Hi, there is a coolent liquid additive to antifreez + water mix from hiflowheads which makes the engine that bit cooler, good for fast road use in summer etc. Is that water wetter type stuff? Does that actually make any difference? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SurGie 54 Posted October 6, 2008 Yeh i think so, not used it yet though, i imagine it will make the water mix more fluid so it goes round engine quicker. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C_W 3 1 Cars Posted October 6, 2008 The is some "OAT" type anti freeze around - it tends to be red - don't use that. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisj21 2 Posted October 6, 2008 Graham, The reason i asked regarding alloy engine only coolant is because my P38 Range rover v8 when serviced always has a certain coolant to stop corrosion in the heads. According to land rover anyway. But i'll just nip down to the motor factors tomorrow and see what they have in. Thanks all for the advice. Chris Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peetypug 5 Posted October 6, 2008 (edited) i use the stuff we put in our diggers its 50/50 as well edit: sorry doesn't really help at all does it Edited October 6, 2008 by sorrentopete Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
welshpug 1,666 Posted October 6, 2008 Its an Ethylene Glycol based stuff that's reccomended in the haynes manuals. In fact, I have a bottle of Citroen/Peugeot Antigel Antifreeze here, says ethylene glycol on the side cost me £4 from Neat Auto's for a Litre. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Fenton 1,548 Posted October 6, 2008 Yeh i think so, not used it yet though, i imagine it will make the water mix more fluid soit goes round engine quicker. Not being funny but if you don't know how it works why just guess? All that does is spreads misinformation. It is nothing at all to do with the speed of the coolant going round the engine, thats just tosh to be quite honest. The actual purpose of "water wetter" or similar is to reduce the surface tension of the coolant, this allows it to better contact the walls of the water jacket (talking on a molecular scale here) and hence the improved contact allows for improved heat conduction from the head/block to the coolant. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SurGie 54 Posted October 6, 2008 Exactly what i was trying to say, it flows better. Its not ! I did say "I IMAGINE" please read next time... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S13Nick 0 Posted October 6, 2008 i kno i shouldent but i just use water :S lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GLPoomobile 958 Posted October 6, 2008 Exactly what i was trying to say, it flows better.Its not ! I did say "I IMAGINE" please read next time... But Tom is not saying it "flows better" (we are talking a water/coolant mix here, not custard! You'd be hard pressed to get it to flow much better than it already does!), Tom is saying that it's ability to transfer the heat is much better. As for coolant type, I just filled my system up with a 33% mix of Comma stuff, and that one did mention use in alloy engines on the back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
