Coolant

[Niall]

Hi, I’m new to the forum having only purchased a Stag a few weeks back. I’m thinking of changing the existing coolant and using Forlife coolant. I use this in my MGB and I find it very good. It’s says it’s designed for classics and all engine types. I’ve read posts about blue and OAT coolant for the Stag but wondered if anyone has used Forlife for their Stag? Thanks

[jbuckl]

Hi & welcome Niall, I use traditional ethylene glycol in the stag. Unsure of gasket compatibility with for-life. IMHO don’t bother with the waterless though.

[Ritchie6]

I have to confess I've never heard of Forlife coolant. When I bought my Stag it was using the traditional blue antifreeze so I carried on with the same stuff-saves a lot of problems with flushing out and changing to different products. It's cheap enough to change on a regular basis,which is every 2 years and I've never had any overheating issues. When I drain out my antifreeze it's as clear as the day I put it in so I know there's no corrosion or sludge. I also use distilled/De-ionised water which is pretty cheap from Tescos (about £4 a gallon) rather than using tap water as we are in a Limestone area and the water has sediment in it

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009HR3HI...v_ov_lig_dp_it

Richard

[trunt]

There are many places that say that older classics with copper/soldier in the cooling system should use “IAT” as the newer stuff “OAT” attacks the soldier joints, I may have experienced that on my MGB where the filler neck just fell off one day!

In the USA iat is usually coloured green, but a quick google shows that in the uk it’s blue? Go figure - They can’t even spell colour here!

terry

[dasadrew]

....They can’t even spell colour here!

terry

nor solder...

[trunt]

that was all me.

After working with the stuff for over 50 years that's embarrassing!

Been here so long, see what happens? Aluminium, Tyre, Colour, its all a haze now!

[Neil in Deal]

Evening Niall,

I must admit to being a bit of a "traditionalist" when it comes to my Stag's coolant. When I bought it I'd no idea of when the cooling system had been drained/back flushed. (As others will no doubt tell you, it really is necessary to do this EVERY 2 years [or sooner!] to prevent any build-up of sludge/muck......especially if like me, you don't know when it was last done.) My local Stag specialist carried this out at the same time as they were fitting a "big" aluminium radiator and electric cooling fan. They also re-filled the system with the correct type/strength of anti-freeze. Note that the drain plugs (one each side of the block) need to be removed when back-flushing, to allow the block to be cleared of any sludge build-up.) Simply opening the drain taps will still allow sludge to remain in the block.....

The only downsides of using a "waterless" coolant I can see are:- initial prepping/getting all water out, "conditioning" (prior to finally filling with Evans Waterless coolant, don't know about Forlife), if you have a leak with waterless you aren't supposed to "top-up" with water. As you'll see from the MANY posts regarding the cooling system, there are several "schools of thought" regarding standard versus modified systems. Personally, I'm happy with the "big" rad. with electric fan and conventional water/anti-freeze mixture. (Fortunately I haven't had to top-up the coolant in 1600 miles/one year.) Also, (being Scottish) I kinda grudge paying for "waterless" ! …...apart from not being able to top-up with water, should the old girl decide to spring a leak in a hose etc. But seriously, reading all the horror stories of sludge/corrosion persuaded me to stick to the tried/tested water/anti-freeze coolant path. I KNOW from 1 year ago the block waterways ARE clear, as is the radiator.

Anyway, the choice is yours!
Best of luck, enjoy your Stag,

Neil.