What Coolant to use when you don't know what's been used?

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organicmatter
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What Coolant to use when you don't know what's been used?

Post by organicmatter »

I pretty sure my vans previous owner just used any thing that was cheep to top up with.
My question is what type should I use as a temporary top up until I can do a flush and fill with the correct one.?
1992 Holdsworth Villa 3, 1.9 Petrol

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itchyfeet
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Re: What Coolant to use when you don't know what's been used?

Post by itchyfeet »

is it likely to freeze in Edinburgh?
if not top up with water and replace as soon as you can

if the antifreeze is not right the corrosion will already have happened
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organicmatter
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Re: What Coolant to use when you don't know what's been used?

Post by organicmatter »

True has warmed up recently.

just to clarify it has been serviced regularly with correct coolant.
However it will have been topped up with just cheep general purpose stuff.

Ta Tim
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itchyfeet
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Re: What Coolant to use when you don't know what's been used?

Post by itchyfeet »

proper stuff is G12 or whaterer is now the latest.

most of us use this which meets G12 spec, you need 8 lites for 50% mix so twox5L
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-a ... &0&cc5_866" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

often 1 litre bottles are cheaper on ECP but not today.

or if you can go halves with somebody this is great value, 20 lites for 40 quid

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-a ... &0&cc5_866" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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kevtherev
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Re: What Coolant to use when you don't know what's been used?

Post by kevtherev »

Blue antifreeze reacts badly with pink, tends to form goop when mixed.
At worst it can gum up a radiator/heater matrix.

When you do change it flush the radiator, water pump and heater
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