Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Jason]

hi everyone, i've not posted for a while but I have been watching the forum from the 'sidelines'.

anyway I've a question for you, I've been to my local auto factors to get some anti-freeze and they have the red one and the blue one.
(the bloke at the autofactors didn't have a clue which to use)
so....
which would be best for my 1949 Alvis ta14?

thanks in advance
jason
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"people with money buy a Rolls Royce, people with taste buy an Alvis".

[Rick]

I tend to go for Blue in the all my cars - usually Bluecol if I can find it. I think - worth checking - that the red stuff can be detrimental to older engines, so I wouldn't be buying any of that!

Probably worth doing a bit of research on.

RJ
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[Kelsham]

I would only use blue anti freeze in an older engine and change it every two years. The additives that stop corrosion have a life equating to this time.
Regards Kels.

[Jason]

thanks for the replies, I'll go for the blue (it is bluecol)

thanks
jason
_________________
"people with money buy a Rolls Royce, people with taste buy an Alvis".

[ukdave2002]

Morris Lubricants make 4 or 5 different types of antifreeze, if you can't get Bluecol , it may be worth sepaking to them as they do cater for the classic market.

Dave

[peter scott]

http://www.bluecol.co.uk/index.cfm?page=75
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[MVPeters]

Just a cautionary note about anti-freeze solutions:

Make sure you know what you are buying & what you're payng for it!

I've only recently noticed that many are marketed as "pre-mixed" or "ready-to-use". These are diluted solutions, usually at 50/50 mix - ie half of what you're buying is cold water & I can't see any significant difference in the price between these & the "concentrated" versions. It's not very obvious from the, perhaps deliberately misleading, labelling either.

So just be careful!!
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[Jason]

thanks for the replies lads,

I spoke to my local autofactors yesterday afternoon on the phone (he was about to close the shop) he has bluecol and its neat (not ready mixed) so I'm going up for a gallon on tuesday when they re-open.

thanks once again
jason
_________________
"people with money buy a Rolls Royce, people with taste buy an Alvis".

[jtypeman]

Just a note on anti-freeze although it's an old topic.
I put the BLUE anti-freeze in my Jag, and it's supposed to have RED....they don't mix, and they coagulate, and turn to gel...that one cost me a lot.

[Rick]

I replaced the a/f in the Minor this week, and did the Dodge today, although the latter had new put in earlier in the year I'm not sure what %age they put in, so thought best do it myself then I know for sure

RJ
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[richardlw]

Color itself it not a good way to go, as it is possible to have different products with different colors. That being said, the greens and yellows are generally the 1 year products with additives in suspension that fall out. They work by coating the entire inside of the engine, reducing cooling by8% or so over some of the newer OAT or HOAT ones, that are usually orange or red. Somewhere I had a color/formulation chart. If I find it I'll post it later

I use HOAT in everything. Although it is good to flush first to get out all the residue, especially when it had a standard anti-freeze, I prefer HOAT formulas as they are more tolerant of everything.

[richardlw]

If you google "coolants_matrix" you will find several color/formulation charts.
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[buzzy bee]

Hi

I was about to say colours are not a good way to decide on liquids, be it additives or oils, alot of companies get oil mixers to make up certain coloured additives/oils so their customers get tricked into just buying their liquids. I rightly or wrongly use one type, can't remember what it is, but there is a 25 l drum of concentrate in the shed which I make sure has some in, ready to be mixed up. As long as the different types are not mixed I can't see any problems, for my cars anyway.

As mentioned above, upon buying a 45 gallon drum of antifreeze a few years back at an extortionate price, we found it to be pre mixed, so it went straight back for concentrate. Dealers do their best to pull fast ones!

Cheers

Dave

[Kelsham]

According to a recent article in Car Mechanics magazine. the OAT formula can attack metal in earlier cars that have not been built with it in mind.

Probably best to use two year anti freeze, Bluecol is my preference.
Good opportunity to use radflush and prolong radiator life.

Regards Kels.

[richardlw]

I'd like to see that article to see which formulas it applies to. Do you have an on-line reference? o can you scan it?
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