Went to Halfords to buy anti-freeze. £ 17 for 5 litres ready mixed at 50/50 concentration.
So I am paying for water that I can get out my tap for free!!? F*** right off. 
...and what if I want a 60/40 mix? Can't do it without removing the water. Is it because people have become so stupid that they can not work
out the correct concentration or money for old rope (water in this case).
Yours sincerely,
Mr Angry.
Get yourself a halfords trade card and save some serious money.
quote:
Originally posted by Toprivetguns
Get yourself a halfords trade card and save some serious money.
Don't buy anything in halfrauds, get it from a motor factors at 1/3 off the price
steve
Question is... what else would I expect from Halfrauds, which is why I don't darken their doorway.
Same thing for B and Q, which appears to be the haunt favoured by the post-industrial majority.
Both establishments simply cater for those with excess funds and little idea of how to use their hands.
Why not buy straight antifreeze and dilute it yourself?
Paul
quote:
Originally posted by mini-sprite
Why not buy straight antifreeze and dilute it yourself?
Paul
The premixed stuff is for topping up surely?
I'm confused - are we talking engine antifreeze, or screenwash/antifreeze?
Just that I'm also finding it hard to find screenwash concentrate - I usually buy a 5 litre container of concentrate, but all I can find these
days is ready-mix - which costs exactly the same for the same quantity. Expensive water!
Try your local motor factors David
Pre-mix has some justification if you live in a hard water area but in general it is a contrick of the first order.
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
I'm confused - are we talking engine antifreeze, or screenwash/antifreeze?
Just that I'm also finding it hard to find screenwash concentrate - I usually buy a 5 litre container of concentrate, but all I can find these days is ready-mix - which costs exactly the same for the same quantity. Expensive water!
I had some of thier concentrate screenwash if that's what your after it smells lovely;
ScreenWash
They do sell concentrated Antifreeze
here but I would'nt be rushing
to buy any from them.
[Edited on 26/11/16 by shindha]
quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
Try your local motor factors David
engine anti-freeze.... and I've just noticed i'd written Anit which may have confused some.
for screen wash have a look in the supermarket, don't know about engine anti-freeze as I get it from a mate who has big barrels of it.
I think most people (as in non-car enthusiast which must be the vast majority of people in Halfords) want premix, TBH I don't have any equipment
to accurate measure fluid volume (I know you don't need accurate stuff to do half and half) and if its something you really don't like doing
you want to make the job as quick as possible and will pay a bit extra to do it. Premix is also likely to be more consistent in the hands of Joe
Bloggs.
Premix is also handy if you have to do it right away on the forecourt.
Halfords do sell concentrated antifreeze/coolant.
Halfords OAT Antifreeze Concentrate 5 Litres
Item: 798785
Halfords OAT Antifreeze Concentrate 5 Litres
Trade price
£18.74 inc.vat
£15.62 ex.vat
engine antifreeze is a complex subject, and often different manufacturers require different products, and mixing them may result in gunge / jelly
mixing oat with ethylene glycol for example: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/cooling/cool_121.htm
and in many ways its as important as the oil used!
for screenwash, I use carpride/151 from the corner shop at £1.25/l at about 25-30% summer, and 50-90% winter, (but then again the car [tintop] is
parked under a tree so has to have a bit better than normal to clean the screen)
ps the hazardous substance data shows circa 20% methanol, and some ethanol, so shouldn't need 'meths' added
http://www.jbsgroup.ie/msds/JA017031%20-%20Windscreen%20Wash.pdf
quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
engine antifreeze is a complex subject, and often different manufacturers require different products, and mixing them may result in gunge / jelly
mixing oat with ethylene glycol for example: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/cooling/cool_121.htm
and in many ways its as important as the oil used!
OAT coolant is also ethylene glycol based the problem is the corrosion inhibitors work in a completely different ways.
In addition to checking the concentration of the antifreeze you can check how much corrosion protection is left in the antifreeze by checking the
PH.
With in service OAT coolant an PH of about 8 is around normal, new 50/50 mix will be about 8.7
http://www.labcheckresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Coolant-System-Maintenance-Guide-FINAL1.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OC9nM0Frb4
Local garage monkey filled my screen washer bottle with pure concentrate, I'm still adding just water and it's still to strong
Actually had a good experience with Halfords the other day.
Ordered some gearbox oil to collect, turned up during Friday evening rush hour at my nearest branch which happens to be in the middle of major
roadworks up here (silverlink) and waited while they tried to find my order that was "ready to collect".
After 10 mins got an apology as they couldn't find any despite the system showing 3 in stock.
I was none too happy as I want to put my gearbox in over the weekend.
They suggested trying another branch, to which I replied pointing out horrendous traffic, inconvenience and other such words of dissatisfaction.
So, they rang another branch, arranged collection, refunded my money and delivered it to my door at 9.00am the next day (Saturday). Totally free of
charge.
Can't say fairer than that!
The ford stuff is pretty good, both the coolant and the winter screenwash
Or if you need old fashioned glycol coolant, the john Deere coolgaurd II stuff is pretty good too
quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
Try your local motor factors David
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
Try your local motor factors David
Agreed - they're cheaper and usually more knowledgeable about things car related too.
I've stumbled across this thread whilst looking for something else. I feel compelled to add some more info having once worked for Halfords whilst
at University (about 4/5 years ago).
I was always frustrated by people buying premixed screen wash knowing how little concentrate was in the 5 litre bottles. I looked up the cost price to
each store as I knew the £5 retail price was not representative of the ingredients.
Anyways, Halfords paid 5p per bottle.
If that's not a crime I don't know what is.