Club 80-90 Forums

How do i full the cooling system backup with antifreeze just lost most of in by bleeding the Cooling System would Halfords premium-grade antifreeze be ok to use.

Do you mix with water then add by bleeding back through
or just top up?

Any help would be tops

here are some opinions on the process.
https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Co ... ing_system

I was asking about just this same issue a couple of weeks ago. Try the search function and/or look at the past few pages for threads of which I was the author. There will be several...

Key points were that if you're diesel it's not such a big deal which brand you use, wasserboxer it's more important. I wouldn't go topping up what's already in there because (a) you'll be mixing brands, which is less of a problem than it was but still not ideal and (b) this stuff does go out of life eventually anyway, so it does need to be changed at some stage. Normally every two years, I believe.

So, if you've just lost a little bit and want to risk mixing brands, top up what's in there, repeatedly running the engine and testing the mix ratio as you do it.

Alternatively, drain out what's left (DON'T let it run off into the street drain; down the toilet is I think the least destructive way), flush system with a hose (+ rag wrapped round it) in both directions, pour in approx 8 litres of a/freeze and top up with water. Bleed, then make a note of the date and then be non-frozen/rusted for two years!

NO NO NO..........NEVER put antifreeze in the sewage system............... ie sink/toilet or even down a drain outside......

Drain it into a washing up bowl etc.. then once you have refilled the system put it in the empty container..
Then ask your local garage if you can leave it witht hem, or take to your local waste disposal centre..

My oh my, I was just recently told that while street drain was no good (straight into nearby rivers), toilet drain was okay. I was sceptical, but as I don't really know what antifreeze actually is I took it at face value. Thanks for putting me straight.

[quote="toomanytoys"]NO NO NO..........NEVER put antifreeze in the sewage system............... ie sink/toilet or even down a drain outside......

I never knew that!!!

First of all, I'd just like to say hello, as this is my first posting
I bought a T25 recently, and was told to check oil and water every day. The coolant level looked a bit low, so being a complete NOOB I topped it up with about half a litre of ready mixed cheap "pooh" (I just thought it was all the same ). Now, after reading the advice on this forum, I am wondering whether I should drain and replace the lot. If so, Halfords have a 3 for 2 offer on the premium ready mixed at the moment; which seems to meet the required spec. If this is OK, how much would I need?

Howdy Beergut,
nice to see more locals joining up Halfords is really the last port of call for most stuff, as they charge the earth for most things. A motor-factors or such like is best and cheapest for most service items, usually garage quality stuff as well. I use ABS and Brakes International, amongst others, in Rochdale.

I just got some VW-safe antifreeze from Just kampers in the post. £4.95 for 1 1/2 ltrs. (German stuff, looks exactly like the stuff that was already in the system, my `van`s just come in from Munich so could be the same) You`ll need a few litres to do a full system refill. Get a tester if you are just topping up and check the strength of what`s already in there, and top up to suit with neat a/freeze to required strength Aim for around 35 - 40 % strength, or protected down to -20 degrees is similar I think, depends on how your measuring device registers. Sounds severe, but when the wind is whistling through the grill, the wind-chill can dramatically drop the temperature in the rad. Note : to high a strength of antifreeze can cause cooling problems, I`ve read up on this and it seems that over 50% and the engine doesn`t cool properly.

OK thanks for the advice. This seems to be one of those areas where there is a division of opinion, though.

no not a division Mr westy is right I bought some from a local factor 4.95/1.5L and mixed it 50/50.
the rust inhibitor in the antifreeze is one I would not trust to a halfwits concoction!
the VW recommended inhibitor has changed too. I just can't remember it just now....(senior moment)

beergut100 wrote:First of all, I'd just like to say hello, as this is my first posting
I bought a T25 recently, and was told to check oil and water every day. The coolant level looked a bit low, so being a complete NOOB I topped it up with about half a litre of ready mixed cheap "pooh" (I just thought it was all the same ). Now, after reading the advice on this forum, I am wondering whether I should drain and replace the lot. If so, Halfords have a 3 for 2 offer on the premium ready mixed at the moment; which seems to meet the required spec. If this is OK, how much would I need?

I've just found out that the coolant was entirely drained and replaced with G12+ just a few weeks ago. Given this, will it really matter that I "accidentally" topped it up with a tiny amount of the cheap stuff? The stuff I put in was "Blue Star ready Mixed" and it claims to contain a corrosion inhibitor and conforms to BS6580, if that means anything to anyone. I only put in half a litre. Please tell me I don't have to replace the lot

I wouldn't think so not with half a litre ........G12+ thats the stuff

I wouldn`t loose any sleep mate thats only, at the most, 1/4 litre of actual a/freeze if it`s ready mixed stuff.

Cheers. Thought so, but just wanted to set my mind at rest.