coolant renewing
Discussion
I think its about time my lotus Cortina had a bit of TLC, oil change and coolant change. The question ? Is it worth flushing the engine and radiator and refilling with waterless coolant.
Has anybody tried this product and have they had problems ?
Thanks in advance Patrick
Has anybody tried this product and have they had problems ?
Thanks in advance Patrick
Edited by petrolpat on Saturday 23 February 16:39
Just take the thermostat out of the system, turn the heater on hot and plug your hosepipe in the system to flush it out.
That ugly american guy always goes on and on about how great waterless coolant is on his youtube channel but honestly for the amount it seems to cost I would just buy a 25 litre bottle of coolant (like a 10 year supply) and change it out every 2 or 3 years.
That ugly american guy always goes on and on about how great waterless coolant is on his youtube channel but honestly for the amount it seems to cost I would just buy a 25 litre bottle of coolant (like a 10 year supply) and change it out every 2 or 3 years.
another vote for 4-LIFE but don't use it unless your engine and ('water') cooling system are both in good condition other it will find weak spots and cause leaks
PM me if you want a simple but effective method of thoroughly cleaning but it's aimed at Midgets so you'll have to know what if any needs adapting for your car
PM me if you want a simple but effective method of thoroughly cleaning but it's aimed at Midgets so you'll have to know what if any needs adapting for your car
na said:
another vote for 4-LIFE but don't use it unless your engine and ('water') cooling system are both in good condition other it will find weak spots and cause leaks
PM me if you want a simple but effective method of thoroughly cleaning but it's aimed at midgets so you'll have to know what if any needs adapting for your car
I don't think it's very fair only offering advice for midgets. Although the OP's quite a big fella, he's perfectly capable of working on his car.PM me if you want a simple but effective method of thoroughly cleaning but it's aimed at midgets so you'll have to know what if any needs adapting for your car
[quote=petrolpat]I think its about time my lotus Cortina had a bit of TLC, oil change and coolant change. The question ? Is it worth flushing the engine and radiator and refilling with waterless coolant.
Has anybody tried this product and have they had problems ? Thanks in advance Patrick [quote]
Pat, how many miles a year do you do in the Cortina? It's horses for courses as to using a waterless based coolant or a high quality anti-freeze/coolant with oxide inhibiters. For what it's worth my simple view is that the waterless fluids are very overpriced and the makers know they're tapping into a market where there are many deep pocketed and sometimes gullable owners who'll throw any level of cash at their mechanical mistresses; and I'm as guilty as the next man for this.
Realistically, a thorough reverse flush sans thermostat followed by good quality coolant and careful bleeding is more than enough for 90% of our cars. Waterless product does offer some advantages should the engine be iron block with alloy head in that it will, in theory, inhibit reaction between iron+alloy and should reduce engine temperatures.
Has anybody tried this product and have they had problems ? Thanks in advance Patrick [quote]
Pat, how many miles a year do you do in the Cortina? It's horses for courses as to using a waterless based coolant or a high quality anti-freeze/coolant with oxide inhibiters. For what it's worth my simple view is that the waterless fluids are very overpriced and the makers know they're tapping into a market where there are many deep pocketed and sometimes gullable owners who'll throw any level of cash at their mechanical mistresses; and I'm as guilty as the next man for this.
Realistically, a thorough reverse flush sans thermostat followed by good quality coolant and careful bleeding is more than enough for 90% of our cars. Waterless product does offer some advantages should the engine be iron block with alloy head in that it will, in theory, inhibit reaction between iron+alloy and should reduce engine temperatures.
v8250]etrolpat said:
I think its about time my lotus Cortina had a bit of TLC, oil change and coolant change. The question ? Is it worth flushing the engine and radiator and refilling with waterless coolant.
Has anybody tried this product and have they had problems ? Thanks in advance Patrick [quote]
Pat, how many miles a year do you do in the Cortina? It's horses for courses as to using a waterless based coolant or a high quality anti-freeze/coolant with oxide inhibiters. For what it's worth my simple view is that the waterless fluids are very overpriced and the makers know they're tapping into a market where there are many deep pocketed and sometimes gullable owners who'll throw any level of cash at their mechanical mistresses; and I'm as guilty as the next man for this.
Realistically, a thorough reverse flush sans thermostat followed by good quality coolant and careful bleeding is more than enough for 90% of our cars. Waterless product does offer some advantages should the engine be iron block with alloy head in that it will, in theory, inhibit reaction between iron+alloy and should reduce engine temperatures.
No more than say 1000m tops last few years a lot less. Twin cam is as you say iron block alloy head combo. With you on over pricing of some of the waterless products. The 4 life product @ £20ish is probably what I will go for. I do still wonder how to get all old coolant out without strip down of mechanicals to make the 4 life do its stuff without being diluted with residual old coolant. Has anybody tried this product and have they had problems ? Thanks in advance Patrick [quote]
Pat, how many miles a year do you do in the Cortina? It's horses for courses as to using a waterless based coolant or a high quality anti-freeze/coolant with oxide inhibiters. For what it's worth my simple view is that the waterless fluids are very overpriced and the makers know they're tapping into a market where there are many deep pocketed and sometimes gullable owners who'll throw any level of cash at their mechanical mistresses; and I'm as guilty as the next man for this.
Realistically, a thorough reverse flush sans thermostat followed by good quality coolant and careful bleeding is more than enough for 90% of our cars. Waterless product does offer some advantages should the engine be iron block with alloy head in that it will, in theory, inhibit reaction between iron+alloy and should reduce engine temperatures.
petrolpat said:
No more than say 1000m tops last few years a lot less.
sell it
only jokingpetrolpat said:
I do still wonder how to get all old coolant out without strip down of mechanicals to make the 4 life do its stuff without being diluted with residual old coolant.
it's not very critical as far as I know, you can contact MGOC Spares (MG Owners Club) to confirm as it's their product (01954 231688 off the strip of labels they gave me last time, 25 labels left, I've been a good 4-LIFE customer over the last 20 years or so putting it into my classics and even factory built new cars)it's not like the waterless product requirement
it doesn't pay to mix the old and new types of standard coolant too much as you can get bits of glup (technical term there) in the system especially if the vehicle is under used
but don't be over fussy, chances are if you follow a thorough cleaning and flushing procedure you're more likely to be only left with an odd residue of water or so diluted old coolant as to be of little or no significance
if you disconnect, or better still removed as many components, from the cooling system as possible then it only leaves tilting the car by use of jack(s) and stands
ETA: I've never bothered going as far as tilting any of the cars I've changed to 4-LIFE
Edited by na on Sunday 24th February 21:50
Thought about this for the E-type - that was until I got the price. 15 litres of coolant plus 10 litres of the other stuff to flush all the water out came to the thick end of £400. Water seems to have cooled her fairly well for the last 30 years so I think that for the next ten or so it'll continue to suffice!
petrolpat said:
I wonder no more. Thanks Nigel 
no don't do that, as I always put (when I remember) check and cross reference any information you get from any source (including and sometimes especially when it's me) with a couple of other reliable sources - in this case the MGOC Spares ought to knowthey run out of 4-LIFE last year because the company that had been making it for them for the last x number of years didn't want to continue so they had to find someone else to take on the contract and the labels weren't ready (IIRC)
if I can find it easily (broadband limits) I'll post a John Twist video on glup
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