Pink antifreeze
Forum rules
By using this site, you agree to our rules. Please see: Terms of Use
By using this site, you agree to our rules. Please see: Terms of Use
- Mr Spigot
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 166
- Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2021 2:44 pm
- Location: East Sussex
- MMOC Member: Yes
Pink antifreeze
I have just acquired a 1952 MM convertible with original sidevalve engine. I noticed that the water in the radiator is pink and there seems to be some pink residue around the hose housing. I recall reading that these old cars need ethylene glycol antifreeze (blue) rather than the modern pink stuff. Is this correct? Should I drain the water out and refill with Bluecol?
- Attachments
-
- Maudie water 2.jpg (63.54 KiB) Viewed 35702 times
-
- Maudi water 1.jpg (60.1 KiB) Viewed 35702 times
1960 2 door with 1275 Midget engine - WOI 577 - owned since 1990
1952 MM convertible with original engine - MWD 305 - owned since 2023
1952 MM convertible with original engine - MWD 305 - owned since 2023
-
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2010 9:01 pm
- MMOC Member: No
Re: Pink antifreeze
I use blue in my Minor. However my old VW camper had to have pink. I think it was because there are aluminium parts in the VW cooling system and blue would react with it. I do not know if there would be a problem with the pink in a Minor, but it would not be a bad idea to flush the system anyway and refill with blue.
1969 Traveller in Almond green. Owned since 1979.
-
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 222
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2020 9:20 pm
- MMOC Member: No
Re: Pink antifreeze
Good question and I don’t know but further to King Kenny there is a lot of aluminium to water surface area on the USHM3 engines with the thermostat housing, water jacket / dynamo bracket and block drain valve housing.
- ndevans
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 1088
- Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:56 am
- Location: Bristol, England
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: Pink antifreeze
My antifreeze is yellow. Can't remember the brand, but I've just drained the system, it's been in there for over 2 years and is still perfectly clear.
In the past, I've used blue antifreeze, which has always been fine.
In the past, I've used blue antifreeze, which has always been fine.
Re: Pink antifreeze
The standard answer to your question is yes, drain, flush and refill with Bluecol. Plenty of discussions about this on this forum and loads of anecdotal evidence that modern antifreeze will seep and leak leading to the deposits that you have found.
-
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 2584
- Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:32 pm
- Location: Kernow
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: Pink antifreeze
Yep. Agreed.
- Mr Spigot
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 166
- Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2021 2:44 pm
- Location: East Sussex
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: Pink antifreeze
Perfect. Thank you for such a definitive answer.
1960 2 door with 1275 Midget engine - WOI 577 - owned since 1990
1952 MM convertible with original engine - MWD 305 - owned since 2023
1952 MM convertible with original engine - MWD 305 - owned since 2023
-
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 186
- Joined: Tue May 14, 2019 4:49 pm
- Location: Staffordshire Moorlands
- MMOC Member: No
Re: Pink antifreeze
Probably a bit over the top, but I mix Bluecol with de-ionised water rather than tap water.
- svenedin
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 1971
- Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2014 9:27 am
- Location: Surrey
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: Pink antifreeze
So do I. If you have a condensing tumble dryer you can use the condensate water.
Stephen
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.
Stephen
Stephen
- ndevans
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 1088
- Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:56 am
- Location: Bristol, England
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: Pink antifreeze
Agree on this, I do the same. Not sure why though, does it cause less corrosion?
- svenedin
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 1971
- Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2014 9:27 am
- Location: Surrey
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: Pink antifreeze
It depends where you live but in my area the water is extremely hard and this scales up kettles, washing machines etc. The same in the car cooling system.
Stephen
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.
Stephen
Stephen
Re: Pink antifreeze
And by that we mean if you cut the outer metal off the kettle, you'll find a whole new kettle shaped limescale block...
(though maybe the acidity of anti-freeze would counteract the limescale, personally I wouldn't want to risk it).
[img]download/file.php?avatar=1401_1646150056.jpg[/img]
- Bill_qaz
- Minor Addict
- Posts: 734
- Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2022 7:31 pm
- Location: Oxfordshire
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: Pink antifreeze
Retracted mixed up what is topping up my modern car SiOAT is not copper and brass friendly. But not all AIT is blue check the spec not the colour
Last edited by Bill_qaz on Sat Dec 02, 2023 12:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
Regards Bill
- svenedin
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 1971
- Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2014 9:27 am
- Location: Surrey
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: Pink antifreeze
This seems to come up every year as soon as it gets cold!
I go by what this article says: https://www.mg-cars.org.uk/imgytr/hints ... freeze.pdf
Blue only. No pink.
Stephen
I go by what this article says: https://www.mg-cars.org.uk/imgytr/hints ... freeze.pdf
Blue only. No pink.
Stephen
1969 1098cc Convertible “Xavier” which I have owned since 1989.
Stephen
Stephen
-
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 152
- Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2013 7:58 pm
- Location: Edinburgh
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: Pink antifreeze
My car was filled with 4life coolant, which is pink in colour and is perfectly okay to use in a minor.
https://4lifecoolant.co.uk/faq
I guess the problem is you just don't know what the previous owner has used to be able to have confidence, rather than there being an definite problem.
https://4lifecoolant.co.uk/faq
I guess the problem is you just don't know what the previous owner has used to be able to have confidence, rather than there being an definite problem.
- Bill_qaz
- Minor Addict
- Posts: 734
- Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2022 7:31 pm
- Location: Oxfordshire
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: Pink antifreeze
Like I posted its the spec not the colour, as nielmorey post link shows.his IAT is red
"Forlife is an IAT coolant, although it is red in colour, and can be used in all coolant systems designed to use IAT."
"Forlife is an IAT coolant, although it is red in colour, and can be used in all coolant systems designed to use IAT."
Regards Bill
- ndevans
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 1088
- Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:56 am
- Location: Bristol, England
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: Pink antifreeze
This is the stuff I use:-
https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead ... QEw&adurl=
It's been in 2 years/~3000 miles, and still crystal clear.
https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead ... QEw&adurl=
It's been in 2 years/~3000 miles, and still crystal clear.
-
- Minor Addict
- Posts: 701
- Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2020 1:56 pm
- Location: Pontypridd
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: Pink antifreeze
That's what I was advised was best to use so that's what I bought.
- Bill_qaz
- Minor Addict
- Posts: 734
- Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2022 7:31 pm
- Location: Oxfordshire
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: Pink antifreeze
But that is OATndevans wrote: ↑Sat Dec 02, 2023 10:37 pm This is the stuff I use:-
https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead ... QEw&adurl=
It's been in 2 years/~3000 miles, and still crystal clear.
Regards Bill
- geoberni
- Minor Legend
- Posts: 3660
- Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2017 11:19 am
- Location: North Leicestershire
- MMOC Member: Yes
Re: Pink antifreeze
I got tired of this Antifreeze question popping up on facebook last year, it was just about every week at one point.
Here's what I posted:
As this article says https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/h ... 1/1272436/
Here's what I posted:
But, you should also note that there is no standard for Colours added to Antifreeze.There has been some discussion about Antifreeze recently, with some limited opinion claiming that it doesn't matter and the Red Stuff is fine....
To try and get a definitive on this, I contacted Tetrosyl Ltd, the parent company of Bluecol, the long standing UK Antifreeze manufacturer. This was the reply:
In terms of suitability, there will be much information available on the sites used by “enthusiasts” such as Pistonheads etc. The general school of thought is that older cars should use the traditional BLUE products such as Bluecol BLA001/005 etc which are the 2 years products.
The longer term 5 years RED products would be unsuitable because they are based on OAT technology which does not like the older rubber seals found in pre-1980s vehicles.
Kind regards
Michelle Law
UK Marketing Product Manager
Tetrosyl Ltd
So there you have it from the UK Marketing Manager
Don't use OAT/HOAT products irrespective of colour, which will change depending on manufacturer.
As this article says https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/h ... 1/1272436/
As an American article, while saying that the 'colors' vary, they say that IAT is 'Green' they don't know it's Blue over here. That's why their closing comment is the bottom line, read the description....The truth is, color is not a reliable predictor for what type of coolant you have. For example, OAT coolants are usually orange, yellow, red or purple. HOAT coolants are orange and yellow for the most part. Then the older IAT coolant is green. Coolants that manufacturers sell can confuse matters even more, like Honda’s blue coolant.
That's why you need to read what the bottle says and and not rely specific color you’re pouring. If the the bottle's description has you tripped up, check your owner’s manual for the right kind of coolant.
Basil the 1955 series II