Coolant advice please.

Author
Discussion

texaxile

Original Poster:

3,290 posts

150 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
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Apologies if this has been asked before, but I'm after some suggestions as to the best coolant to use I my Lancer Turbo.

Up until now I've used the blue with a 50/50 mix, as the 4G63 in the lancer has a slightly smaller radiator and this is the suggested best option. However, after neglecting the cooling system and draining it recently, it has clogged up with small lumps of clear, silicon like pieces in the thermostat and water pump. cue replacements for both ( pump became porous anyway) I now need to refill, and a friend suggested using the "pink" silicate free coolant instead.

The engine is a steel block and alloy head. They're not prone to warping or overheating issues as a rule.

Would it be a better idea to swap to the pink?, cooling system is drained at the moment so it's simply a case of mix, add and forget, hopefully.

Stickyfinger

8,429 posts

105 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
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Any are OK, just do not mix them. So use the OAT

Slidingpillar

761 posts

136 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
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Any yellow metal? Metal radiators usually have brass tanks, and thermostats can be brass too. As long as there is no brass, you'll be fine with OAT, but if there is, stick with old style antifreeze.

texaxile

Original Poster:

3,290 posts

150 months

Thursday 12th November 2015
quotequote all
Hmmm..good question. It's a 1981 vehicle so I'll have to scrape some paint off the spare rad to check. The thermostat is definitely steel as I replaced it, same goes for the Water pump impellor blades. I'm 99.99% sure there's no brass on the Rad. The top and bottom are both metal however and not this new fangled, "johnny come lately" plastic stuff.

Mr Teddy Bear

186 posts

191 months

Saturday 21st November 2015
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Don't use long life coolants in 1980's vehicles it attacks all pink copper based metals and some plastic's too, that may well be used in gaskets, seals, o ring's and some hoses.

Russwhitehouse

962 posts

131 months

Saturday 21st November 2015
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I have recently put Motul Inugel Expert in the Healey and am now a bit concerned. I can't figure out whether it is actually OAT or not as it seems to be some sort of glycol based hybrid but could also contain organic acids, so not sure whether to drain it and revert to water and antifreeze or not. Any thoughts?

texaxile

Original Poster:

3,290 posts

150 months

Saturday 21st November 2015
quotequote all
Russwhitehouse said:
I have recently put Motul Inugel Expert in the Healey and am now a bit concerned. I can't figure out whether it is actually OAT or not as it seems to be some sort of glycol based hybrid but could also contain organic acids, so not sure whether to drain it and revert to water and antifreeze or not. Any thoughts?
I've just picked up 5l of the above, also having second thoughts. I have asked around and not yet had a definitive answer, but if it's a choice between some gunky plastic stuff or eating away at the seals, I'll go with the gunk.

opieoilman

4,408 posts

236 months

Monday 23rd November 2015
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The Inugel Expert is a regular glycol antifreeze, either in pre mix or concentrate. So will be ideal for classic applications.

The Inugel Opitmal is their OAT coolant so steer clear of that one.

Cheers

Guy

Russwhitehouse

962 posts

131 months

Tuesday 24th November 2015
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Excellent. Thanks for the heads up Guy.