Gee Whizz Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 OK bit of a newbie when it comes to the mechanicals... if I top up the coolant level with some deionised water what are the effects? is the coolant likely to boil at a lower temperature because there is more water in there than coolant? I guess freezing in winter is the other problem? anything else I should be wary of? Gavin Gee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Top up on an occasional basis is OK (I use tap water) but you should really check the mix with a hydrometer (if glycol based). Do a search in archives - coolant is a can of worms attracting as much religious zeal as oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 anything else I should be wary of? Mixing EG and PG based coolants. Hard to do these days - the vast majority seem to be EG (Ethylene Glycol) based - but the Comma coolant CC used to use was a PG formulation, AFAIK. Oh and: Why do you need to top it up? Where is it going? and: Make sure you top it up when the engine is as cool as possible - certainly try to avoid opening the bottle while the engine is running or shortly thereafter... It's pressurised for a reason... Project Scope-Creep is live... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Edited by - Myles on 8 Jul 2005 09:11:01 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petrolhead Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Out of interest the K series should be topped up with what? NE7Club Web Site R5 no 65 😬 I am after low level tyre rack and jerry can box for Mino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Mill Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Caterham spec Comma Xstream Red at 50% concentration BTW Xstream Red can come pre-diluted. They don't say on the pre-diluted bottles what the concentration is but since CC sell it like that I guess it is the required 50% mix. (Since I just had to swap out my heater for a new, hopefully watertight one I'm wearing quite a bit of the stuff) Edited by - Colin Mill on 6 Jul 2005 16:14:48 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petrolhead Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Is this a caterham only item of can I get it elsewhere NE7Club Web Site R5 no 65 😬 I am after low level tyre rack and jerry can box for Mino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susser Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Wilco do it in 3 and 5 year grades. about 13 bucks a gallon. (Undiluted) Edited by - susser on 6 Jul 2005 18:56:59 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 I used to get mine from Rover - originally branded as Havoline 5-year coolant, they started branding it themselves sometime within the last year or so. ISTR that there was nothing wrong with Halfraud 5-year stuff either - the only trouble (as I found out a month or two ago) is that Halfrauds have a funny idea that 'antifreeze' only needs to be on the shelves during the winter... I asked - and they said they'd cleared it from the shelves as it wasn't a summer product... Project Scope-Creep is live... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petrolhead Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Wilco?????? NE7Club Web Site R5 no 65 😬 I am after low level tyre rack and jerry can box for Mino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Wilkinson's DIY shops, purveyors of top quality tat and occasionally good quality gear across the whole of the North and Midlands. I got some decent semisynth oil for a tintop at 6 quid a gallon - met all the API specs I needed (API SH, I think) so if it's good enough for the API it's good enough for me. It was certainly good enough for a 10 yr old Alfa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petrolhead Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Are that Wilco :) Had a lok on thier web but can't see any coolant What was it called? NE7Club Web Site R5 no 65 😬 I am after low level tyre rack and jerry can box for Mino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 It was certainly good enough for a 10 yr old Alfa what did you do to make the alfa last 10 years ??? ........ did you put the oil on the bodywork 😬 😬 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Mill Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Both my local factors have the Xstream stuff - set me back about £18 for 5 litres of the concentrate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susser Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Petrolhead Wilco are wot used to be Shortis. Maybe they aren't a nationwide co, only Norwichwide. It's a Comma product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Woods Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Out of interest the K series should be topped up with what? Caterham spec Comma Xstream Red at 50% concentration I think this is true only if it has XStream Red in it to start with ! ISTR you shouldnt mix different types of coolant. so if it has Comma Coldstream (which is green and is what Caterham used to use before XStream ) you probably ought to find some more Coldstream, because XStream is Ethylene based and Coldstream is Polypropylene based. I cant find the thread where this was discussed now but will keep looking. Nick Red and Black 1.6K supersport visit Carrotland.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petrolhead Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 Caterham say that Halford so it but re-branded. Any idea whats it called NE7Club Web Site R5 no 65 😬 I am after low level tyre rack and jerry can box for Mino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ged Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 Motorworld sell Comma Xstream, at least the one near me does. About £17.00 for 5l concentrated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinS Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 I suspect the coolant in my K is the same stuff as new (now 10 years old ). Is this likely to be doing anything nasty to the engine? I've never had to top up the coolant once in the 1 1/2 years I've owned her. Cheers! M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fathead Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 *eek*Sounds like you definately need to change it. The coolant usually only lasts for 5 years. I guess after that time it starts to break down and stop protecting the system from corrosion and freezing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puremalt Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 If you used deionised, you will be ok. If you use demineralised, you are looking at a PH of the water of near 4.5-4.8- ie acidic. This will not agree with the alloy K series!!!, unless you buffer it up to 7.5 to 8.5 PH that is. This one goes up to 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 Best off using tap plus proper coolant IMO. The scale from ordinary tap water is insignificant from a single fill. If you are really bothered boil it in the kettle, let it cool and pour it in a bucket for use on the car. 2 kettles full will see it after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petrolhead Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 Got some Comma from Wilko £2.25 NE7Club Web Site R5 no 65 😬 I am after low level tyre rack and jerry can box for Mino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 If your coolant capacity is 8 litres for example, you can use 8 litres of pre mixed antifreeze, do not add water. If you are wanting to use ethanol glycol, it is usually good quality and you will only need a 33% mix, simple, round the 8 litres up to 9 and divide by 3 = 3 litres antifreeze. Do not use tap water, instead use de ionised water. Simply Add say 2 litres of de ionised water to the hot engine to start with, add the 3 litres of anti freeze/coolant and then top up to level with the rest of the water. If you have a heater, leave it in the open position so as to replace the coolant in the matrix, get the engine up to running temp so as to let the thermostat open before doing the change. Coolant can effect the running temperature of your engine, an engine has an optimum running temperature, this effects fuelling, ignition, BHP, etc. Do not waist your time on cheap anti freeze as it is normally alcohol based, flammable and it evaporates. X/FLOW 1700 DD 1990 ROAD USE ONLY..SO FAR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now