WATERLESS COOLANT

[neil4030]

I am about to fit a new radiator to my late Traveller (1098) and having watched an episode of Wheeler Dealers recently where Ed China whittered on about the merits of waterless coolant in classic car engines; I was wondering whether to get some? I know it is quite expensive but as it obviously contains no water whatsoever; 'Ed' advised that it was better all round and less corrosive. Does anyone have any advice on this point?
Also, what is the best method of completely draining the existing coolant i.e. is it safe to run the engine for a bit; once the old rad is out?

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

See it advertised in Practical Classics a lot, flick through and have a look. Think its called '180' or something.

[liammonty]

There's a drain plug or tap at the rear of the block (nearside)- remove / open that to drain all coolant out of the block. If your engine has managed to last 50 years with normal coolant, I don't think you need to worry too much about using something less corrosive! I would save your money and go with normal anti-freeze.

[dalebrignall]

i am in 2 minds over this i can see the merits of having a boiling point of 180 and a freezing piont of minus 45,no water therefore no corrosion ,but you have to buy a prep fluid that netrulises the water then fill with the evans fluid .all this costs about £80 .which is a lot of money .the common sence part of me thinks if you drain the systemflush it out as best you can then fill it with neat antifreeze,therefore you have waterless coolant .antifreeze had additives that help stop corrosion all for around £20 .

[MarkyB]

Anti-freeze on its own doesn't cool as well as it does when mixed with water.

I wouldn't want to fill the system with very expensive stuff when there are so many ways for it to go missing from burst hoses to head gasket problems.
On later cars like mine there isn't any proper drain tap that would let you drain the stuff out.

[bmcecosse]

Ed China - dear oh dear ...... don't waste yer money on this stuff for a Minor. Cooling a Minor is NEVER a problem, the radiator is huge for the size of the engine. cf the Mini engine which has rad half the size....... Do add 25% antifreeze.

[Trickydicky]

We had a disscusion a while back on this one,

http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=46615

[kennatt]

been discussed at length on the scimitar forum, since they have a tendency to overheat,having a 2.8 / 3.00 lt engine and a small radiator with limited airflow.Was the general opinion that it was an expensive way to get limited extra cooling,and not worth the trouible. As said overheating and corrosion in the minor system is not a problem, in fact the reverse,they are overcooled.Not worth the trouble as far as I can see for the minor.

[neil4030]

Thanks very much everyone; what would I do without you? Will give waterless coolant a miss.

[bmcecosse]

Owning a Minor - you will soon have plenty to spend your hard-earned on........

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

I could see the benefits of this if it was an alloy block/head, but it isn't. Use ordinary blue antifreeze as people say, but AVOID THE RED!

[dalebrignall]

im sticking with blue antifreeze,its worked fine for me ,80 to fill the car with coolant is a lot of money .