Which antifreeze

[rob07]

I have a 1963 sprite (cast iron engine) and a 1973 lotus Europa (alloy head cast iron block) which I would like to buy some antifreeze for. I'm looking for the standard blue concentrate stuff, but I am finding that some of the "modern" antifreeze is also referred to as "blue antifreeze" thereby making the choice more difficult.
What are the ingredients that it should and shouldn't contain to be compatible for my cars.

[abzmike]

... on the hottest day of the year....

[larrylamb11]

ethylene glycol antifreeze

[Evil.soup]

I may be wrong, but from experience, this thread is going to become a minefield of conflicting answers and opinions.

I have no idea why antifreeze seems to be such a complex topic!

[witko999]

abzmike said:

... on the hottest day of the year....

In hot countries it's called anti boil, not anti freeze.

[FlyVintage]

This is what I buy; also available in 5ltr size. Dilute to 30-50% antifreeze to deionised water (available cheaply from Wickes amongst other places).

Don’t be tempted to under dilute - pure antifreeze is less effective at heat transfer than a properly diluted solution.

https://ebay.us/m/qUlwoT

[FarmerJim]

A number of people in the vintage car world, including me, use 25% Fernox Alphi-11. It is a central heating anti freeze and corrosion inhibitor, but works well in a car, too. I know people who use it in vintage RR Phantoms, and if it is good enough for them it is good enough for me.

[Ardennes92]

witko999 said:

abzmike said:

... on the hottest day of the year....

In hot countries it's called anti boil, not anti freeze.

And an important part of use is as an inhibitor especially when you have alloy head and cast block along with various metals in the system

[GAjon]

My Engine is cast steel with aluminium heads.

I use standard blue ethylene glycol pre mixed.
I would recommend flushing out any old mixture with deionised water ( fill , run, drain) prior to putting the anti freeze in.

[//j17]

witko999 said:

abzmike said:

... on the hottest day of the year....

In hot countries it's called anti boil, not anti freeze.

Even in the UK while it's colloquially referred to as "anti-freeze" it's usually labelled "Anti-freeze and Summer Coolant".