15 replies to this topic

[minicity1275]

Hi,it's that time of the year where it's starting to get a bit nippy and I need to put some fresh (and decent) antifreeze in the mini.
Is it a case of "any decent antifreeze will do" or will my mini benefit more with a certain type of antifreeze?
The engine is a 1986 mg metro.
Cheers
Al

[Joe-C]

Any decent blue antifreeze should do.

[minispaniard]

antifreeze, or better called coolant, should be used all the year as it contains rust inhibitors and not only during winter!!

Glycol (don't quote me on that) based one, usually blue, is the one you want for the cast A series engine.

[mk1leg]

Corma do a decent one..................from a auto spares shop.....

[CityCharlie]

I have used GlytaSyn with no issues previously.

It has been said that OAT antifreeze (it tends to be red in colour and generally with a 5 year plus life) can break down the solder of a radiator but there is not much evidence to support this (bar manufacturer's warnings).

If it were me I would use GlytaSyn G52 which most motor factors and some Halfords branches will sell. Unipart Cool Blue tends to be the cheapest antifreeze/ coolant IME.

[freshairmini]

just any blue anti freeze. Its all good

[Tommyboy12]

I put blue halfords stuff in mine about 3 weeks a go but it soon turned rust coloured...

[jaydee]

antifreeze, or better called coolant, should be used all the year as it contains rust inhibitors and not only during winter!!

Glycol (don't quote me on that) based one, usually blue, is the one you want for the cast A series engine.

Yes its glycol ethilene

[minicity1275]

Thanks,hopefully get my antifreeze changed over the weekend now :)

[Jamie_RoverMini35]

anti-freeze isnt coolant, it doesnt cool as well as water it only stops rust and cleans things out too much is as bad as not enough

[Jamie_RoverMini35]

also the obvious haha

[CityCharlie]

I put blue halfords stuff in mine about 3 weeks a go but it soon turned rust coloured...

I did not wish to say anything, but I have had a similar experience with the cheaper coolants in classic and modern cars, although I do not really have any conclusive proof for that.

In my MGB on a 10,000 Ivor Searle engine I previously ran it on red coolant with no rust precipitates present when I drained it. With blue (Halfords) coolant which seems to conform to specifications of sorts (BS6580:1992) it went rusty coloured within a couple of months.

With my Stag I shall admit that my radiator was silted quite alot until I changed it. Despite flushing the coolant out of that car to within an inch of its life (read removing the drain plugs and ensuring the water ran clear) that went rusty coloured in 6 months. I shall have to see if that occurs again. On another modern I had silt present in the system which was not present with OAT coolant.

The Spitfire I bought with Glytasyn and the original radiator of the car did not seem to suffer from silt in the coolant when I drained it.

I am not saying that the above evidence is enough, but it is certainly enough to make me consider twice about buying cheap coolant. Especially when my modern ran on OEM coolant has spotless hoses, and coolant pipes internally, even after 200,000 miles on the car :).

[ibrooks]

You need to be VERY careful if switching from OAT (Organic Acid Technology) coolant to an Ethylene Glycol one - they react with each other to create sludge. You need to completely wash the system out if swapping from one to another and that's not easy with an engine and radiator in a car no matter how much "flushing" you do.

Generally OAT is better in engines with alloy blocks or heads and Glycol is better in all steel engines but either will do the job in either engine.

Coolant should be used all year round as it should also include corrosion inhibitors which obviously prevent corrosion and wetting agents which help the heat transfer to the water. It's not just anti-freeze.

Iain

[miniman retford]

Corma do a decent one..................from a auto spares shop.....

I thought Corma came from an Indian restaurant? Oh no thats Korma

Edited by miniman retford, 12 December 2012 - 03:20 PM.

[minimaxie]

I get the stuff from Tescos, does the job just fine, and its only a couple of quid. Always carry a spare bottle in the boot incase the car decides it doesn't want it in there lol

Edited by minimaxie, 12 December 2012 - 03:29 PM.