Anti-freeze

[Stimpy]

I've been using pink anti-freeze in my Stag for 10 years
I have recently been told that I should use blue antifreeze.

I always thought that pink coolant surpasses blue coolant so should be the best.

I guess the question is - is there any harm using pink coolant in a Stag?

Any guidance would be wonderful!

Thanks

Steve

[Matt Cook]

Lots of people use red antifreeze, the most important thing is not to mix them. They react and gunge up the water ways

[Matt Cook]

From LD Part website:
LDpart NEWS ! �20 Nov 2011
ANTIFREEZE Please
But which one should I use?
There are basically two types in UK.
The Blue or Green 2 years protection.
The Red or Pink 5 years 150,000 miles protection for aluminium
Stags were built when the only type available was Blue or Green 2 year protection.
As cylinder heads are getting scarce now it is best to change this type every year as the corrosion inhibitors gradually degrade over time hence the limited life protection.
OR
Change to the Red Pink type.
This is a far superior product for keeping heads corrosion free and radiators unblocked.
HOWEVER
It is an irreversible change. You can never go back to Blue Green
It requires a two part chemical full flush before installation.
Ideally it needs a header tank as is doesn�t like being exposed to air in the system.
Once a change to Red Pink is made all that is necessary is to keep it up to strength and 50% is recommended.
Also use distilled water in the mix and not tap water which may have unwanted elements like limestone hardness.

SO if you have bought a Stag that has Red Pink fitted, you cannot go back to Blue or Green.
All you need to do is keep it at 50% strength. You probably never need to flush your system again as the radiator tubes stay really clean with this coolant.

[richardthestag]

From LD Part website:

It is an irreversible change. You can never go back to Blue Green
It requires a two part chemical full flush before installation.
.

I most respectfully disagree, annual reverse flush would eradicate any trace of Pink/Orange/OAT IMHO

Mixing blue and red can create wallpaper paste in the cooling system so should definitely be avoided

I see no major disaster in running Pink/Orange/OAT on it's own in your stag cooling system.

My 1993 Range Rover - Rover v8 was running Pink/Orange/OAT for many years with no sign of any damage. I am not sure what damage may occur in older vehicles, it is not clear.

Maybe Pink/Orange/OAT being a recent product is NOT type approved for older vehicles and thus not recommended?!?

My stag has Blue Ethylene Glycol 40%

My Range Rover has plain water now but will get whatever I can lay my hands on tomorrow when I refill the cooling system after a radiator change.

I found this via a quick google
"OAT-based extended-life coolants https://wiki.seloc.org/a/Organic_Acid_Technology


OAT stands for Organic Acid Technology, and includes such ingredients as sebacate, 2-ethylhexanoic acid (2-EHA) and other organic acids, but no silicates or phosphates (except in the case of Toyota's pink extended-life coolant, which adds a dose of phosphate to its extended-life OAT-based antifreeze). OAT-based coolants are usually (but not always) dyed a different colour to distinguish them from traditional blue/ green antifreeze. GM OAT-based Dex-Cool is orange. Volkswagen/Audi uses a similar product that is dyed pink. But Honda has an extended-life OAT coolant that is dyed dark green and does not contain 2-EHA.

The corrosion inhibitors in OAT coolants are slower acting but much longer-lived than those in traditional coolants. Consequently, OAT coolants typically have longer a recommended service life.

OAT corrosion inhibitors provide excellent long-term protection for aluminium and cast iron, but may not be the best choice for older cooling systems that have copper/brass radiators and heater cores. It depends on the formula."

------------------------------------


Classic Oils quote https://www.classic-oils.net/Classic...ue-Anti-Freeze
"Classic Oils 2-Year Blue Anti-Freeze is a traditional Ethylene Glycol based anti-freeze and engine coolant, specially formulated for Classic, Vintage and Veteran vehicles.

Classic Oils 2-Year Blue Anti-Feeze uses Inorganic Acid Technology (IAT) suitable for historic vehicles. IAT provides iron and steel corrosion prevention by nitrites and nitrates, aluminium protection by silicates and phosphates, lead solder protection provided by molybdates and includes borates to help control acidity.

Choosing the correct anti-freeze for your historic vehicle is essential as many modern anti-freezes incorporate Organic Acid Technology (OAT) chemistry which has been found to be damaging in older vehicles. OAT anti-freezes are typically red, pink or orange in colour.

2-Year Blue Anti-Freeze can be used all-year-round in pumped or thermosyphon cooling systems. It provides a high degree of corrosion protection for all engines, whether they are predominantly of aluminium or ferrous construction. It does not evaporate in use and is not flammable. "

[bullstarz]

You should not go on the colour of the coolant but what is main ingredients are. When changing the coolant its always best practice to flush the system ( even better to use a flushing agent), especially when theres different metals in the engine like the Stag .

As richardthestag said "annual reverse flush would eradicate any trace"

Dont let a garage do it either as sometimes its the young apprentice who is given that job and i have seen them fill the car with screen wash " well it was blue"

[richardthestag]

Dont let a garage do it either as sometimes its the young apprentice who is given that job and i have seen them fill the car with screen wash " well it was blue"

I am guessing the same lad with a merciless lack of intelligence also falls for the "nip down the stores for a long weight!"

[Ritchie6]

Or a long stand. The old guys also used send them for a bucket of steam, a left handed spanner or even some striped paint. I never had the indignity of having engineers blue applied to the spherical parts of my anatomy!

[LAMBRETTLAD]

And a tub of elbow grease !

[new to this]

My brother use to use pink antifreeze for years ,then he had a leak and use rad weld and every thing gumed up,he had to have the head off to clear every thing out,he now uses blue antifreeze

Dave

[Ritchie6]

I use blue antifreeze in mine ,mainly because that's what was in the car when I bought it but also it's what I'm familiar with. I've just changed it a few weeks ago having done 2 years in the engine without any problems.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009HR3HIE/?coliid=I5TNE0JR09OB9&colid=3H45PX8H10C3P&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Richard

[Stimpy]

I think I can trust LD Parts advice here - and I've used pink in the past.

My problem is - the radiator was replaced after a minor crash to the front and the body shop put blue back in after I used pink.
According to LD Parts swapping between colours is a no-no. Although Richard has disagreed with that so maybe its ok

I want to go back to pink again since it's technically superior

Whenever I change coolant I let the hose run through the system for 20 minutes or more to ensure it's cleaned out. Hopefully that will clear it....

[Stimpy]

Thanks all for your help