Wrong antifreeze
JeffHs - 19/2/22 at 06:30 PM
I've got a '78 Pinto in my car. 3 years ago I fitted an ally Polo rad, did some research and convinced myself I needed pink OAT
antifreeze. Last year I was plagued with overheating issues. I found that the thermostat had dropped out of its housing because the steel
retaining spring had rotted away. I later found that the water pump I'd fitted years ago (an aftermarket cheapo with steel fins) had also lost
half of the length of each fin. At the time I thought that the bits of the broken spring had knackered the pump, but after starting the car a week ago
it leaked badly from the front core plug. I thought it must have been frost damage because with all the draining and refilling I'd probably got a
weak
antifreeze solution. I looked very carefully at the core pug and decided that it hadn't been pushed out but had just rotted.
I replaced it but there's 3 more and one of them is behind the bell housing so an engine out job to fix
Have I got the wrong antifreeze?
adithorp - 19/2/22 at 08:49 PM
OAT is anti-corrosive just the same as ethelene-glycol. Could be you've got some dodgy/fake stuff. Or too weak a solution (should be between
30+50% af) or you might have mistakenly bought premix and then diluted it further thinking it was neat. Or just the corrosion was already there. Has
it ever not had antifreeze?
[Edited on 19/2/22 by adithorp]
JeffHs - 19/2/22 at 08:57 PM
Halford's concentrate 30% mix.
Never been run without antifreeze
mcerd1 - 19/2/22 at 11:17 PM
I guess 30% could be a bit on the weak side ?
I was thinking the same as you for my pinto (although I'd probably use the ford OE spec stuff I already had) - but then my brother put me onto
this stuff he uses at work:
https://www.deere.co.uk/en/parts-and-service/parts/maintenance-parts/lubricants/coolants/
Its specifically formulated for corrosion protection in multi-metal engines - loads of there older machines still have copper radiators with silver
solder at the same time as a mixture of cast iron, steel, yellow metals and aluminium parts too - so they need all the help they can get
Its what they use in the biggest machines/plant as well as lawnmowers and everything in between
found these corrosion test results for it a while back too:
motorcycle_mayhem - 20/2/22 at 01:31 PM
quote:
Originally posted by adithorp
OAT is anti-corrosive just the same as ethelene-glycol.
[Edited on 19/2/22 by adithorp]
OAT (organic acid technology) is the inhibitor, not ethylene glycol. Basically (no pun intended), it's an acid/salt buffer system. Great for
alloy, not so great for cast iron, steel and (particularly) yellow metals. Main attraction is long life, particularly so to the vehicle manufacturers.
The old blue stuff, is basically (pun not applicable) has an inorganic system. Depending on what you've got as that package (nitrates,
silicates, whatever), it coats everything in the cooling system with an insoluble precipitous material (usually a silica derivative). Protects yellow
metals, iron, steel, whatever. It doesn't last long (because the inhibitor is obviously consumed!). Despite the drawbacks and the issues that the
precipitants cause, I use this for everything.
Your choice. Don't mix the two.
axle - 20/2/22 at 01:55 PM
I agree this is more suited to the older engines, I almost suffered from the same symptoms when I used the pink one, Bluecol would be a good one.
Hope this helps
harmchar - 20/2/22 at 09:19 PM
I’ve used Prestone stuff as it’s supposed to e suitable for all engines and can even be mixed with existing coolant.
https://www.holtsauto.com/prestone/products/coolant-antifreeze-ready-use/
Nice bright green colour.
axle - 21/2/22 at 09:13 AM
sounds good, having look at their spec it says all type of engines. However this is in US. Is your engine the pinto type ( which is particularly old
and still in use over here)the reason I mentioned blue type it would be good for water pump ?
[Edited on 21/2/22 by axle]
JeffHs - 21/2/22 at 09:35 AM
Thanks guys. Prestone looks like the way to go.
I need a lot because it's a full flush and refill. Best
price I've found is Amazon, £21 for 4 litres of concentrate
harmchar - 21/2/22 at 12:07 PM
That’s an okay price for 4 litres. Think the only way you’d get cheaper per litre is to buy the 20 litre drum.
Costco sell the Prestone range but I can’t remember how much for 4 litre.
axle - 21/2/22 at 04:42 PM
quote:
Originally posted by JeffHs
Thanks guys. Prestone looks like the way to go.
I need a lot because it's a full flush and refill. Best
price I've found is Amazon, £21 for 4 litres of concentrate
Please let us know how you get on with this anti freeze my main concern is the seal on the water pump .
Deckman001 - 22/2/22 at 03:56 PM
I am running a 79 ish xflow, I didn't put any antifreeze in for the first year due to having so many leaks each weekend so sort I'd have had
to have won the national Lottery to cover the anti freeze costs alone, but I paid the price and had to change the core plugs due to them falling apart
within a year !
So heed my lesson and get antifreeze in asap everyone as just water isn't good to leave in a system.
I was advised to use BLUE antifreeze due to the age of my engine, OAT based too.
Pink is for very modern engines.
Stuart Walker - 6/3/22 at 08:27 PM
Thanks for sharing, will heed your lesson!
quote:
Originally posted by Deckman001
I am running a 79 ish xflow, I didn't put any antifreeze in for the first year due to having so many leaks each weekend so sort I'd have had
to have won the national Lottery to cover the anti freeze costs alone, but I paid the price and had to change the core plugs due to them falling apart
within a year !
So heed my lesson and get antifreeze in asap everyone as just water isn't good to leave in a system.
I was advised to use BLUE antifreeze due to the age of my engine, OAT based too.
Pink is for very modern engines.