Coolant

[hoyin]

I did a search and bizarrely couldn't find anything!

My coolant is running low - does it need topping up frequently? The last time it was filled was at its service about 2 months ago.

Anyway - what coolant should I get to top it up?

[lotus160sport]

Think that the manual recommends shell coolant cant remember if it was the shell advance I used I would check it out first cos there appear to be a few different types, I will check the bottle when I get home.

[GC1]

good point I dont want anything to eat pipes etc....

[Jenx]

Playing devil's advocate, the reason for needing the top-up may be because of perished pipes...I'd get it checked if I were you, it is not uncommon. I've had all mine replaced with silicone hoses, and so have many others.

Martin.

[TuxMan]

I,m with Jenks on this one , having just removed all my coolant pipes from the engine bay they are in a shocking state !!! going to have to replace them all !!

[hoyin]

Sadly I went to halfrauds and bought a massive bottle of blue coolant thinking I had a lot to top up.

Apparently the coolant container is quite misleading due to its angle.

I probably poured in about half a cup and it was full again.

So it seems it was not that low. Now I have a full massive bottle of coolant!

[lotus160sport]

Just checked the bottle and it was glycoshell that I topped mine up with it is blue in colour.

[TuxMan]

hoyin said:

Sadly I went to halfrauds and bought a massive bottle of blue coolant thinking I had a lot to top up.

Apparently the coolant container is quite misleading due to its angle.

I probably poured in about half a cup and it was full again.

So it seems it was not that low. Now I have a full massive bottle of coolant!

thats ok at rate of usage you have enough for ........25years

[Urbalizer]

TuxMan said:

I,m with Jenks on this one , having just removed all my coolant pipes from the engine bay they are in a shocking state !!! going to have to replace them all !!

+2, it may be a small drip near the hose clips where it starts Hoyin, but it only means that the pipes are near end of life.
Mine also started by the coolant level dropping slightly,so i started investigation and found all the pipes were shot.

I think its glycol/methanol that should not be mixed? but im not sure, I dont think methanol antifreeze is too common nowadays anyhow, but i heard somewhere you should not mix different colour coolants aswell? not sure why, can anybody in the know please clarify? is it ok to mix coloured coolants?

[mgbond]

I need to flush and refill my system so what should i use?

Bondy

[Urbalizer]

mgbond said:

I need to flush and refill my system so what should i use?

Bondy

Any decent antifreeze and water 50/50 to refill, but you will only be flush part of the system while the thermostat is closed by putting a hose in the header tank.
You could empty it bottom radiator hose, refill system with water, run up to temp and then empty again before refilling with final coolant/water mix, this would flush the entire system, i think?
Make sure when you refill, run the car to temp, turn the fans on hot and then top back up.
I have been told distilled water is better than tap water, to avoid mineral deposits in the system.

Sorry forgot to mention, make sure it is concentrate and not premix for 50/50.

Edited by Urbalizer on Friday 30th October 19:03

[Jim O.]

Urbalizer said:

i heard somewhere you should not mix different colour coolants aswell? not sure why, can anybody in the know please clarify? is it ok to mix coloured coolants?

It's not recommended to mix different colored coolants - certain ones (like Dex-Cool mixed with polyethylene glycol) will create a sludge-like precipitate that can clog coolant passages. There are some coolants out there that are labeled as being compatible with any coolant, no matter which color. However, I haven't tried mixing them - I prefer just sticking with whatever coolant is already in the car. Less chance of any problems that way.

[hoyin]

Is there a reason for the different colours?

Is pink better than blue?

[Urbalizer]

hoyin said:

Is there a reason for the different colours?

Is pink better than blue?

Nah, blue is nicer.

[mgbond]

Urbalizer said:

mgbond said:

I need to flush and refill my system so what should i use?

Bondy

Any decent antifreeze and water 50/50 to refill, but you will only be flush part of the system while the thermostat is closed by putting a hose in the header tank.
You could empty it bottom radiator hose, refill system with water, run up to temp and then empty again before refilling with final coolant/water mix, this would flush the entire system, i think?
Make sure when you refill, run the car to temp, turn the fans on hot and then top back up.
I have been told distilled water is better than tap water, to avoid mineral deposits in the system.

Sorry forgot to mention, make sure it is concentrate and not premix for 50/50.

Edited by Urbalizer on Friday 30th October 19:03

What temp will the stat open?

Bondy

[mgbond]

Also, how much coolant does the noble hold?

Bondy

[F.C.]

Urbalizer said:

TuxMan said:

I,m with Jenks on this one , having just removed all my coolant pipes from the engine bay they are in a shocking state !!! going to have to replace them all !!

+2, it may be a small drip near the hose clips where it starts Hoyin, but it only means that the pipes are near end of life.
Mine also started by the coolant level dropping slightly,so i started investigation and found all the pipes were shot.

I think its glycol/methanol that should not be mixed? but im not sure, I dont think methanol antifreeze is too common nowadays anyhow, but i heard somewhere you should not mix different colour coolants aswell? not sure why, can anybody in the know please clarify? is it ok to mix coloured coolants?

Not so much the colour as the content some mixes can turn your coolant into jelly!
just use like for like you won't go far wrong.
F.C.

[mgbond]

So does anyone know who many litres it takes to fill the coolant system?

Bondy

[Jim O.]

From empty, it takes approx. 3.5 US gallons.

[mgbond]

Jim O. said:

From empty, it takes approx. 3.5 US gallons.

13.25 ltr, wow thats a lot.

Thanks