Unusual coolant additive

[Essex Stag]

I spoke to the chairman of our local classic car club today and told him I had a Stag he told me to put a cup full of engineering cutting fluid into the coolant . He insisted it would stop any corrosion to the alloy engine . He has a 1929 AC which has an Aluminium block and an iron head he noticed that when using Bluecol coollant he was getting a slight white deposit around the hoses when removing them indicating some corrosion . Although Blue anti freezes do state they have an inhibitor . He swears by it and has no sign of corrosion he said only down side is it can coat the radiator elements and make them slightly less efficient, any thoughts on this ?

Derek

[DJT]

I spoke to the chairman of our local classic car club today and told him I had a Stag he told me to put a cup full of engineering cutting fluid into the coolant . He insisted it would stop any corrosion to the alloy engine . He has a 1929 AC which has an Aluminium block and an iron head he noticed that when using Bluecol coollant he was getting a slight white deposit around the hoses when removing them indicating some corrosion . Although Blue anti freezes do state they have an inhibitor . He swears by it and has no sign of corrosion he said only down side is it can coat the radiator elements and make them slightly less efficient, any thoughts on this ?

Derek

I should say that your last sentence is the deciding factor; anything that detracts from the efficiency of the radiator should be avoided. Modern Bluecol type antifreeze has very effective corrosion inhibitors and is fine.

[stag8manod]

Hi Dereck, I agree with Dave, Don't do it for that reason. Having worked with boilers and steam systems all my working life (recently retired) and seen the effect of oil contamination its not worth the risk. Taken to the ninth degree the water foams causing a total loss of heat transfer between the water and the tubes by the thin film oil coating.
Cheers Ian A

[Essex Stag]

I was a bit hesitant at carrying out the advise because of the poor cooling system but at least he did warn me about loss of cooling efficiency it may be fine on his old car which has a huge rad and obviously a four cylinder but not for our temperamental old girls (the cars) I will leave it well alone . Just wondered if anyone had heard of t before . Another strange bit of advice another old mechanic told me was he always fills the dash pot of his SU carb with bake fluid as it works better than oil . Everyone I have spoken to was horrified . Some of these old remedies may work on very old cars when they were much cruder but not so much on the modern refined beast.
Thanks Derek

[joel h]

i have heard of cooking oil in dashpot of SU carb but not brake fluid joel.