Anti-freeze

[egsj]

Another newbie query, as I head towards my first winter as a Moggie owner...

First, I've read in a back issue of Minor Matters that it's better to go for an ethylene glycol-based, rather than methanol-based, anti-freeze for the radiator. I'm not sure which (if either) of these types the one I have on my shelf actaully is: it's Bluecol 'u' Universal Top-Up and it says on the bottle that it contains ethanediol. Does the 'eth-' bit at the start suggest that I've got the right sort?! I'm out of my depth here...

Also, I tried the 'cotton bud test' this weekend, but the results were inconclusive: I dipped the bud in the radiator mixture, popped it in a bag and put it in the ice-box of my fridge for an hour and it came out kind of icy, kind of slushy. I couldn't make a clear judgment from the test as to whether or not I had sufficient anti-freeze in the radiator already; for one thing, I'm not sure how efficient my fridge is, whether the freezer's set too cold, whether a little ice box is chillier than a freezer drawer, etc. I ran the test twice, and also tested my screen wash for good measure - and with the same ambiguous outcome. (Does screenwash lose its anti-freeze power over time...?) Any advice? Should I buy a tester kit?

Jamesy

[HUMBLEPIE]

I see Lidols are doing a antifreeze and screenwash testers at 99p each from the 6th November. I will be buying one of each. Steve

[dalebrignall]

i would have thaught that bluecol antifreeze would be fine.most motor factors sell antifreeze testers,they are simple to use.i think that themoggy system holds 5 litres of coolant.there is a tap on the bottom of the rad,place a bowl underneath,drain out a couple of litres.fill up with antifreeze and go for a run to mix the antifreeze in with thr rest of the coolant.

[egsj]

Thanks. Can I pour what I extract from the radiator down the drain or plughole, or is that environmentally unfriendly?

Jamesy

[d_harris]

Don't see why not!

[linearaudio]

Thanks. Can I pour what I extract from the radiator down the drain or plughole, or is that environmentally unfriendly?
Jamesy

I reckon you will wish you had never bothered if you try to find the right person to dispose of your old radiator water in an environmentally sound way. I imagine it would require boiling to give a sediment which would then have to be burnt in a high temperature furnace, with proper safety handling equipment, or maybe sealed in a casket and set in concrete But an interesting point, rather like what do you do with your old chip oil? In my area it is not possible to dispose of that without some kind of licence- even the "civic amenity site" won't touch it! Good luck with the scientific approach to measurement, my experience of testers has always been rather negative, I just do as suggested above each year-drain off a couple of pints and add neat antifreeze-instant 25 percent mix!

[grumpygrandad]

dont ask how to dispose of it just tip it down the drain ours goes into a sceptic tank and will probably sit their for years,,grandad

[bmcecosse]

Ethanediol = ethylene glycol! I doubt any Methanol antifreeze is made these days - but you may find old stock.
Your 'Top-Up' bottle will alraedy have been diluted with water - which is fine for topping up. If you do complete change then buy neat antifreeze and dilute to taste!

[egsj]

Invaluable responses, as ever. Thanks to all.

Do people also empty their screenwash bottles and add new mix at this time of year? Mine's two thirds full and gave, as I said, an ambiguous response to the anti-freeze test. Do the anti-freeze properties in screenwash fade over time?

Jamesy

[egsj]

Invaluable responses, as ever. Thanks to all.

Do people also empty their screenwash bottles and add new mix at this time of year? Mine's two thirds full and gave, as I said, an ambiguous response to the anti-freeze test. Do the anti-freeze properties in screenwash fade over time?

Jamesy

[dalebrignall]

just top the screen wash up with a 50% mix of screen wash and water

[egsj]

Thanks!

Jamesy

[alainmoran]

When I was living in the US, people reccomended running the car on 100% anti-freeze since it has better heat-transfer characteristics than mixed ... would that be a good idea in a minor?

[dalebrignall]

that would lower the boiling point of the coolant,it does not get that cold to warrant that 50 % max is sufficent .

[MarkyB]

100% anti-freeze since it has better heat-transfer characteristics than mixed

I'm pretty sure this isn't actually true. The water is much better at cooling than the anti-freeze, just use the recommended amount or a bit more if you are expecting a very nasty winter

[Bazzalucas]

Here in the frozen north of the 'States the recommended dosage is 50/50 water/ethylene glycol. I've never had a problem, despite some seriously cold weather.

[Luxobarge]

I use 50:50 all the time, including in the summer, in all my cars.

Remember, a great deal of the reason for running antifreeze is to prevent corrosion. If you use just water, then water + hot iron = corrosion, poorer cooling, blocked rads, blocked heater matrices and lots of admin.

To demonstrate, get a piece of bare bright steel. Splash some water on one part, and some 50:50 antifreeze on another part. Then leave overnight and see the difference.....

[bmcecosse]

Hmmm - my 1098 hasn't had anti-freeze in it for 8 years now ! Water is nice and clear and all running well!

[grumpygrandad]

this is the POOR scotsman comming out again,,grandad

[Bazzalucas]

Does anyone here try the old trick of blocking part of the rad with a piece of cardboard to bump up the temp a bit and get a "hotter heater" in the winter? Am I in danger of cooking my innards?