type of antifreeze

[myglaren]

It's an education!


If only I could remember 1/100 of it

[Stickyfinger]

So, it an Engine we have in contact with water

Steel
Iron
Rubber
Silicon
Butyl Rubbers

Do we have: ?

Aluminium
Brass

[white exec]

Yes, and probably.
And copper, maybe zinc, possibly the odd bit of magnesium alloy . . .

All those mixed metals also form the basics of a battery, and electrolytic reactions (whereby metals disappear, and gases are produced), and so one of the functions of coolant mix is to stop this dead. (Actually, I believe it's worse in CH systems, with the vast amounts of copper there.) With coolant mix, the anti-freeze function is the least of jobs it does - depending where you live, of course.

[Mandrake]

Fernox F1.....that's the stuff to use. We will not guarantee our radiators without it's use. (And we can test for it)....Avoid Sentinel

Hmm...

As someone who already has two bottles of Sentinel X100 and X200 sitting in the garage for use later this year, would you mind explaining what you think is wrong with Sentinel ? Or is it just one of those "I prefer this brand of oil" opinions... ?

[Stickyfinger]

Experience.

I have never in 15 years had a problem with Fernox, I have had quite a few with Sentinel, I do not sell either.

[Mandrake]

Well that's annoying, when I've already bought it.

Did a little googling of Fernox vs Sentinel, didn't really find anything other than people's opinions although I thought this test was quite interesting:

http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/Corrosion_Inhibitor

[Stickyfinger]

Well that's annoying, when I've already bought it.

Did a little googling of Fernox vs Sentinel, didn't really find anything other than people's opinions although I thought this test was quite interesting:

http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php/Corrosion_Inhibitor

That is interesting esp as "our" systems have a large amount of Cast Iron.....more than a system with pressed steel rads. The blackened surface and clear water is exactly what we get. With the "other one" I have found rusted areas and stained water..

I will stick with the Fernox F1 recommendation for a system with Cast Rads on it I think.

[Jaf]

Well I have idea about coolant except when I changed it this year I went from mid range to high range coolant. Green to pink (fully flushed). It has the engine running a little warmer in the winter and a little cooler in the summer, so I am impressed.

[Mandrake]

How would better coolant make the engine run warmer in the winter ?

[Paul-R]

You can make water wetter by reducing its surface tension. This improves its cooling ability.

http://www.superstreetonline.com/how-to ... additives/

Of course you could just have moved a ton of crud when you flushed the system through!