13 replies to this topic

[Hrimfaxi]

First off, I've done a search - getting conflicting answers.  OAT for later engines?

My Mini is a '95 SPI.

This'll be it's first winter with me, so now is a good time to top on with fresh antifreeze.
However, I don't know what's in there at the moment - it's brown and watery, no sludge or anything.  Is that the later brown/orange OAT antifreeze in there?

Thanks. 

[samsfern]

You'd probably be best off flushing it out and replacing it with blue antifreeze, that way you know how much antifreeze is in there.

[Ethel]

Sounds like you need to drain, flush & start again, Ethylene Glycol is the safe bet, though there is universal OAT that claims to be safe with copper & brass.

[Hrimfaxi]

Thanks for the replies - looks like a trip to Halfords and a full flush is on the cards for this weekend!
 

though there is universal OAT that claims to be safe with copper & brass.

This is what I found conflicting in my first search on the subject - there's comments saying it's fine and others saying it's been eating the copper inside MIni rads. 

[Ethel]

There are masses of different specs of OAT, I've started using Eurocarparts own brand in my diesel, so I'll let you know. With the (prior) state of my radiator it shouldn't take long, if there is an issue.

 

GL12+ seems to be the magic code - VAG's  spec

[cooperhawk]

I read only use blue and not to mix with red.  

[minidaves]

the mpis used the red and I use the red in all the mini's because the blue seems to attack the heater matrix because they are made of aluminium.

[Wise Old Elf]

http://www.rrbew.co....-Antifreeze.htm

 

 

The classic Rolls Royce guys looked into this a while back.

[reallybig]

make sure you get stuff with bittering agent so animals won't drink any spillages if you have any

[Hrimfaxi]

IAT is the one then, reading up on that Rolls Royce/Bentley site has made me fear OAT.  

 

[Ethel]

From the '96 Rover workshop manual:

 

"Use UNIPART SUPERPLUS 3 ANTI-FREEZE AND SUMMER COOLANT^* to protect the cooling system.

If this is not available, use an ethylene glycol based anti-freeze, containing no methanol with non-phosphate corrosion inhibitors suitable for use in mixed metal engines to ensure the protection of the cooling system against frost and corrosion."  * 2 year service life suggests that's IAT, blue stuff.

 

Fernox S1, for Solar Heating, sounds interesting, only it degrades over 200 Celcius, I wonder how long it'd last in an engine? 

[Richard1]

I use HOAT for everything. Sell it to a half dozen dealers, (Mitsubishi, MB, Jeep, Nissan, and others) and hundreds of CAT motors.

[Hrimfaxi]

 

 

Fernox S1, for Solar Heating, sounds interesting, only it degrades over 200 Celcius, I wonder how long it'd last in an engine? 

 

Sounds like a challenge...  

All done!  Drained, rinsed through, IAT in.  Will see how this goes.
Thanks all!
 

[philip663]

 the blue seems to attack the heater matrix because they are made of aluminium.

 

Uh i have the 'blue' stuff in mine with an alu rad, i should be ok.. right? =[