The 'E' Type Forum

I would imagine this may have been asked before, but I searched and couldn't find it.

Can anyone please recommend a good coolant? I'm not going waterless...

Thanks,

Dom

If you can get it, I’ve used this in all the XK engines I’ve built. 50:50 mix.

Dom, the Bluecol Simon recommends is what we in the UK will generally use. If you can’t get that in Canada, why not ask on Jaglovers which coolant or anti-freeze is recommended as that will probably be easier to get for you.

Geoff

Glycol based coolant....bluecol here in the UK....do remember that it's extremely toxic to pets so do dispose of old coolant safely and mop up any spills when refilling!

Many thanks, guys!

So research suggests I should very much move away from green (silicate) stuff to orange, but that the system needs a really good flush beforehand. Any specific tips or tricks I should be aware of?

Thanks again.

Zerex G40 was recommended to me.
Available at NAPA. My branch in Penticton had to order it in for me.
Mike

Dom, a good flush of the cooling system with a cleaning agent, some recommend a light acid content and there are brands out there to do the job. Remember to have the heater set to hot when you empty and fill it. A search on here for anti-freeze will give you suggestions for how to go about it.

Geoff

This may be heresy but I always use Mercedes Benz branded coolant: I was recommended it years ago.

Right; all set for a flush, clean, flush and refill.

Last question (promise); when cleaning, do I need to use distilled water, or is that only necessary for mixing with coolant prior to filling?

If you are using premix, good to go. If using "full strength" and want to cut it to 50/50 then use the good water...

I use Castrol 4 life in my classics and have done for many tears without any issue

Richard

mxke wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 25, 2023 11:34 pm

If you are using premix, good to go. If using "full strength" and want to cut it to 50/50 then use the good water...

Sorry - what I mean is, when flushing and cleaning, do I need to use distilled for that, or just a hose pipe and tap water. I totally get that the 50:50 mix that ends up in the system needs to use distilled.

Flushing and cleaning tap water is ok..Steve

I've used 2 year Bluecol in the past but am struggling to find any for sale in 5 litre containers.

Does anyone know who stocks it or can recommend an alternative.

Many thanks.

I used Hexael from Amazon

Spent some time on this...

1. Do not use only water, no matter what climate you live in. Pure water produces rust and silt and clogs passages etc. When looking to buy a used car, if it has pure water in it, never bought it...
2. Do not use waterless. It has 7-8 drawbacks that I can't remember, but one is that it makes the engine run a few degrees hotter, not what we want
3. Do use normal oldfashioned glycol on any classic car. And change it every 2-3 years

The new fangled formulas, none of them protect the engine better from overheating og from clogging up, but they do (claim to) require less frequent changes. I stick to glycol and change it every 2-3 years.

Brand name? Doesn't matter. They're all produced to standards. A known brand name on it doesn't mean better product, it means more spent on marketing.

It's just like engine oil. Brand name doesn't matter, specs (SAE, viscocity) matters. The local Biltema or Harbour Freight or what you have near you, with their cheaper oil, they don't produce it, it's private label oil, so its really Elf or Valvoline or similar inside the container.

All this is of course just my opinion, you decide for your car...

Many thanks for the advice.

I'll try using Hexael although I was hoping that someone could suggest where I might get 2 year Bluecol in 5 litre containers as that is what I have used before.

Ian

Ian...Bluecol is available all over the place in 5lt just google it..Steve https://skcstores.co.uk/products/blueco ... tion-5-ltr