Waterless coolant
Discussion
Anyone of you out there can advise me on the above ? anyone using it, whats it like, worth getting ?
I took the XK120 out yesterday on the first warm day of the year, and the ol girl got really hot, thats with a new uprated water pump fitted.
Just wondered whether its worth getting some of this stuff as i keep hearing its good to use.
I took the XK120 out yesterday on the first warm day of the year, and the ol girl got really hot, thats with a new uprated water pump fitted.
Just wondered whether its worth getting some of this stuff as i keep hearing its good to use.
The problem as I see is the following potential scenario. You're out and about in your classic, and yes you have a small container of the waterless coolant to top the cooling system-up in the event of a leak. So despite making sure all hoses etc are in good order you manage to hit a piece of debris on the road and a hose or radiator gets pierced and you loose 75% of your coolant. You manage to bodge thing-up and fill the system up with, water presumably to get back home - then drain it all off later. De-ionised water and glycol antifreeze is expensive enough - but waterless coolant? serious money I fear. Even worse - you then have try and drain any remaining depleted waterless coolant/water mix. out of the water galleries in the engine. Too much expense and needless faff for me......
If it runs hot with water, it'll run even hotter with waterless coolant as it has inferior cooling properties.
When is your car overheating, on the move, at standstill or all the time ? Have you checked the thermostat in the first instance ?
I seem to recall that certain models of the XK engine can be fitted with the wrong type of thermostat or even fitted upside down. Sorry I can't remember if it's applicable to the XK120.
Any more info on the current status of your cooling system ?
When is your car overheating, on the move, at standstill or all the time ? Have you checked the thermostat in the first instance ?
I seem to recall that certain models of the XK engine can be fitted with the wrong type of thermostat or even fitted upside down. Sorry I can't remember if it's applicable to the XK120.
Any more info on the current status of your cooling system ?
MPH....i took the thermostat out years ago, as someone told me it was an idea at the time, anyway it worked a treat, up until yesterday, not a particularly hot day, i've took it out on hotter days, but it was running out 95, which was hotter than usual, then when i got home it boiled over.
EXKAY120 said:
MPH....i took the thermostat out years ago, as someone told me it was an idea at the time, anyway it worked a treat, up until yesterday, not a particularly hot day, i've took it out on hotter days, but it was running out 95, which was hotter than usual, then when i got home it boiled over.
Surely there's something wrong with the car if it getting hot and bothered on a mild spring day, what's it going to be like in the heat of summer?I would sort out the cause of the over heating rather than trying to mask it.
Fix the problem before the weather gets warmer. Running without a thermostat is a bad idea, engine will warm up slower and maybe run cooler than it should.
Waterless isn't going to help as others have said. If you have a problem that results in coolant loss it'll be money down the drain!
If it's just had a new water pump fitted is it airlocked? Has something else been fitted incorrectly?
Waterless isn't going to help as others have said. If you have a problem that results in coolant loss it'll be money down the drain!
If it's just had a new water pump fitted is it airlocked? Has something else been fitted incorrectly?
Thanks for all your info guys, i appreciate it, clearly i need to have things checked out, it was running fine for a good hour yesterday, temp was at about 90c, then when i came home and drove into the garage to a standstill the water started pouring out of the overflow pipe....
Anyone know of anyone good with Jaguar near the Sevenoaks area ? someone who wont try to rip me off...
Anyone know of anyone good with Jaguar near the Sevenoaks area ? someone who wont try to rip me off...
Edited by EXKAY120 on Sunday 15th April 19:15
I would say that if it ran at 90 degrees without a thermostat you already had a problem. I'm surmising that's the reason you took the thermostat out in the first place.
I'd start by giving the whole cooling system a good flush out and have the radiator checked over.
Once you find the problem I'd definitely put the thermostat back in.
I've owned several older Jaguars with the XK engine. On the move they shouldn't have any problems. In traffic on a hot day they may struggle.
I usually throw away the engine driven fan and fit an electric one.
I'd start by giving the whole cooling system a good flush out and have the radiator checked over.
Once you find the problem I'd definitely put the thermostat back in.
I've owned several older Jaguars with the XK engine. On the move they shouldn't have any problems. In traffic on a hot day they may struggle.
I usually throw away the engine driven fan and fit an electric one.
An electric fan is not going to solve your overheating problem.
Plenty have advised that you get the cause of the overheating diagnosed and fixed but you seem reluctant to want to do this, and are clutching at straws hoping that waterless coolant and an electric fan will be an instant cure.
Get it fixed!
There any number of reasons that your engine is overheating, from a blown head gasket, to a blocked radiator, to a silted-up engine block, to ignition timing, lots of reasons. Get it fixed!
Then you will be able to run with the thermostat fitted.
Plenty have advised that you get the cause of the overheating diagnosed and fixed but you seem reluctant to want to do this, and are clutching at straws hoping that waterless coolant and an electric fan will be an instant cure.
Get it fixed!
There any number of reasons that your engine is overheating, from a blown head gasket, to a blocked radiator, to a silted-up engine block, to ignition timing, lots of reasons. Get it fixed!
Then you will be able to run with the thermostat fitted.
EXKAY120 said:
Ok, point taken, i suppose if i'm honest i was reluctant to take the original fan off (i love the look of it) and put an ugly elecrtic thing on, but if it means the car running properly then maybe i'll have to :-(
I'm not suggesting that the electric fan is the answer to your current problem, it isn't, just something you may wish to consider once you've got the car sorted.Being engine speed dependent, a mechanical fan delivers maximum cooling effect (and absorbs most power) when it's not needed and almost none when it is.
mph said:
I'm not suggesting that the electric fan is the answer to your current problem, it isn't, just something you may wish to consider once you've got the car sorted.
Being engine speed dependent, a mechanical fan delivers maximum cooling effect (and absorbs most power) when it's not needed and almost none when it is.
Unless a thermostatically and viscous coupled mechanical fan...............Being engine speed dependent, a mechanical fan delivers maximum cooling effect (and absorbs most power) when it's not needed and almost none when it is.
1) Flush the engine
2)Take the radiator out and have it checked. if flushing it isn't achieving the desired result
3) Fit an expansion tank
My E-type has a new engine, radiator and a Cool Cat electric fan in place of the old windmill and on a run never reaches 70C, but still struggles in traffic but less so than before. I can't see that waterless coolant is anything but putting a plaster on the problem. Every XK I have seen that is properly used has a blower fan in front of the radiator, but for heaven's sake do NOT use a Kenlowe that is attached to the matrix. I have seen too many cars broken down because of that. In my case the Cool Cat bolts on to the picture frame in place of the old windmill, but they don't make them for an XK, but Guy Broad has a replacement. But that is the last in the chain for now.
The question also arises as to whether the engine has been rebuilt in your tenure, because if not and poorly maintained previously (no antifreeze) the block could need a head-off descaling. Hydrochloric acid may help though so try that first. You might be surprised at just how much crud will come out.
I suppose it isn't the sender giving a bad reading by any chance
2)Take the radiator out and have it checked. if flushing it isn't achieving the desired result
3) Fit an expansion tank
My E-type has a new engine, radiator and a Cool Cat electric fan in place of the old windmill and on a run never reaches 70C, but still struggles in traffic but less so than before. I can't see that waterless coolant is anything but putting a plaster on the problem. Every XK I have seen that is properly used has a blower fan in front of the radiator, but for heaven's sake do NOT use a Kenlowe that is attached to the matrix. I have seen too many cars broken down because of that. In my case the Cool Cat bolts on to the picture frame in place of the old windmill, but they don't make them for an XK, but Guy Broad has a replacement. But that is the last in the chain for now.
The question also arises as to whether the engine has been rebuilt in your tenure, because if not and poorly maintained previously (no antifreeze) the block could need a head-off descaling. Hydrochloric acid may help though so try that first. You might be surprised at just how much crud will come out.
I suppose it isn't the sender giving a bad reading by any chance
Assuming the water level is right etc then if this is suddenly happening after a winter of storage then it suggests a rad or engine with sludge.
I’d get it flushed as a minimum but frankly I would prefer to get it re-cored to give a higher cooling capacity.
Everything else is a little bit of a sticking plaster affair to be honest and 9 times out of ten a nice new, higher capacity rad sorts everything out.
I’d get it flushed as a minimum but frankly I would prefer to get it re-cored to give a higher cooling capacity.
Everything else is a little bit of a sticking plaster affair to be honest and 9 times out of ten a nice new, higher capacity rad sorts everything out.
I recently had an XK engine rebuilt.
The car wasn't overheating but the amount of sludge in the water spaces around the block was truly shocking.
Electric fans for the XK are available off the shelf, the cheapest I found was from Moss. They look a decent bit of kit and come with a dedicated mounting brackets. I bought one for my XK150 but it isn't fitted yet.
Kenlowe are no longer supplying fans for classic cars.
The car wasn't overheating but the amount of sludge in the water spaces around the block was truly shocking.
Electric fans for the XK are available off the shelf, the cheapest I found was from Moss. They look a decent bit of kit and come with a dedicated mounting brackets. I bought one for my XK150 but it isn't fitted yet.
Kenlowe are no longer supplying fans for classic cars.
Morning guys....
Thanks for all your valued comments, i will set about getting some of these things done.
A few months ago i had a new "upgraded" water pump fitted and all the core plugs replaced, the system was flushed out, and lots of crud came out of the engine.
I did think at the time whether i should have taken the original fan off and replacing with a better more efficient one as Tony mentioned earlier, but just like the originality of that old alloy fan, but i guess its a balancing act as to using the old girl, as i do a lot in the summer, or letting it sit there as a show piece, i know which i'd sooner do ! so i spose i'll have to get the thing cooled down somehow, this is the first time i've had this problem since i had the engine/car rebuilt 10 years ago now.
Anyway, onwards and upwards, just annoying when these cars of ours wont behave and do as there told !
Have to use that E Type sitting next to it, what a nuisance :-)
Thanks for all your valued comments, i will set about getting some of these things done.
A few months ago i had a new "upgraded" water pump fitted and all the core plugs replaced, the system was flushed out, and lots of crud came out of the engine.
I did think at the time whether i should have taken the original fan off and replacing with a better more efficient one as Tony mentioned earlier, but just like the originality of that old alloy fan, but i guess its a balancing act as to using the old girl, as i do a lot in the summer, or letting it sit there as a show piece, i know which i'd sooner do ! so i spose i'll have to get the thing cooled down somehow, this is the first time i've had this problem since i had the engine/car rebuilt 10 years ago now.
Anyway, onwards and upwards, just annoying when these cars of ours wont behave and do as there told !
Have to use that E Type sitting next to it, what a nuisance :-)
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