Bren Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 How often do you check it's concentration? Do you change it every couple of years? I used to change mine regularly - this defaulted to doing when replacing a rad etc. Now it does'nt get touched. However, I noticed the coolant on.my audi looked a bit weak so I checked it - only good down to - 17. In autoshite fashion I bought 1 L to add to the system after siphoning a litre which I will do tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beko1987 Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 Check its concentration? What's that then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC Rebel Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 I never check concentration as I don’t have the means. Most of my shite seems to need a new radiator etc regularly or leak enough that it doesn’t need a formal change Junkman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walter White Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 I change mine every couple of years. Hopefully it's worth the effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfella2 Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 The concentration shouldn't really change unless it's been leaking and been topped up with water. If it looks weak/old just change it, syphoning a litre out to top up with fresh is pretty pointless IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthecapriman Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 I usually test concentration once a year. Complete antifreeze changes I just do when it starts looking shitty or weak. I’ve found the blue antifreeze for old cars does last longer than the two years it says on the bottle. The blue in my Transits been in there a good 5 years so far and still looks good and tests out well so I leave it. No point just doing it for the hell of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeR Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 I take a sample and bung it in the freezer to see if it freezes , if not its ok ! myglaren 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiltox Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 You can buy a tool to check it, it’s quite cheap The cheapest tool only works for the blue stuff, slightly more expensive one will do all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiC Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 I bought a tool from Lidl to do if for a couple of quid. Seems to do the trick alright. Basically a floating weight in a glass tube with a pipet bladder on top. Kiltox 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiC Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 The blue in my Transits been in there a good 5 years so far and still looks good and tests out well so I leave it. No point just doing it for the hell of it.Isn't it the corrosion inhibitors wear off/down/out that needs to be concerned about, rather than loosing it's ability to resist freezing? myglaren, mat_the_cat, Dippy and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonedagain Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 The glycol in antifreeze is corrosive, so corrosion inhibitors are added to it. Over time, the corrosion inhibitors lose their effect, allowing the glycol to corrode the water galleries. Twiggy and SiC 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigstraight6 Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 The glycol in antifreeze is corrosive, so corrosion inhibitors are added to it. Over time, the corrosion inhibitors lose their effect, allowing the glycol to corrode the water galleries.Holy crap, I need too change some antifreeze... myglaren and MikeR 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sierraman Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 The red oat stuff lasts minimum 5 year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthecapriman Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 Isn't it the corrosion inhibitors wear off/down/out that needs to be concerned about, rather than loosing it's ability to resist freezing?Yeah, but my thinking is if it still looks relatively clean then it should still be ok. Surely if the corrosion inhibitors are losing their strength you’ll start getting particles and dirt floating around in it?Tbh I should probably think about changing the stuff in the Transit by now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcitroen Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 Over to Foghorn Leghorn to explain :- Ahhh say boy, ahhh say boy........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilA Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 I change mine when it's turned brown (starts out fluorescent yellow). Usually every 2 years or so. Not much threat of freezing here but it's slowly cleaning the gunk and crud out of the system from it having been run by previous owners with only water in. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercrocker Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 Put some in an ice cube tray (but not in the Martinis) that will tell you if its doing its job. Some engines (I am looking at you, T25 van) apparently need a bi-annual coolant change to stop cylinder head studs corroding themselves to buggery. I tend to do the Morrises every other year as well as they are prone to getting cruddy and its a good time to really check the hoses etc. I don't actually bother doing the T25 that often because it is a fucking arse to bleed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainagain Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 I normally change the coolant when I buy a car to red OAT and then sell it within five years so I never have to worry about changing it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommotech Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 The usual guidelines are two years for glycol based products and four years where OAT (organic acid technology) products are used. Glycol are usually blue or green and OAT usually red / pinky green, but don’t trust colour alone. Glycol products are starting to be phased out and most manufacturers have already moved to OAT based products, don’t mix them though as a sticky gel forms that blocks radiators and heater matrix, leading to overheating and OMGHGF. When replacing antifreeze / coolant the system needs to be flushed, drained and run with clean water then drained again before moving to OAT. There are expensive flushing agents but a dishwasher tablet, without the ball, or Daz non bio work equally well. Not changing the coolant could lead to corrosion and steam pockets (cavitation) in extreme cases. I have some useful bulletins if you need anything, just let me know. Skizzer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbz2079 Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 When OAT Antifreeze is used by manufacturer it seen to have a four to five year life.When it degrades it starts to eat the head gasket and the edges of the cooling channels in the head. The Glycol type has a far shorter life span, perhaps too years maximum, then it becomes corrosive to engine internals and radiator core.Constant topping up with plain water weakens the strength of both the corrosion protection. Running without Antifreeze make an unbelievable mess in the cooling system of moderns and I reckon coolant is better at removing heat thanjust water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiperCub Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 ^^ This. I check mine twice a years (testers are cheap so no excuses). The concentration and freezing protection doesn't change if you don't dilute it down with water due to leakage/loss. The reason you replace anti-freeze is that it's the corrosion inhibitors that, for want of a better phrase - wear out and that becomes an issue the longer you leave it in your cooling system. As said above, anti-freeze is not just to prevent freezing (& corrosion), it actually transfers heat more efficiently so improves cooling. I use the non-OAT blue stuff in all my cars and my bike as they are all of the age that were intended to use it and change it every two years, it's hardly expensive or a big hassle to me. The newer OAT (red or green usually) can apparently cause problems on older stuff, not sure why, presumably the chemicals react with some older materials in some way but essentially, they often don't play well together. It does last longer though, 5 years is common. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiperCub Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 Over to Foghorn Leghorn to explain :- Ahhh say boy, ahhh say boy........... Glad I'm not the only one who thought exactly this! (That dawg, Ahh say that dawg). Yes, your YouTube stuff is quite interesting, I know you're from Texas but FFS - STOP SHOUTING AT ME! myglaren 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayts450 Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 TBF his vids are pretty good for auto-thickies like me. But,as you say Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiperCub Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 Some of the more indepth ones I meant were quite interesting and well produced. (not really watched the basic ones!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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