Thread: Hose leak/Coolant level change???

I'll have to go and dig out some of my older bottles, They've got the % rates on them where the contents data is...

Id got the l of xtra cool into 10l of water.

I've always been intrigued by the crap people put in their radiators in the sure knowledge that it enhances cooling and reduces corrosion. The funniest place is Perth where people feed the tap water to their kids but won't put it in their radiators.

European car manufacturers are big into putting Ethylene Glycol into cooling systems (to be different the Spanish put it in their wine) as this decreases the freezing point of the coolant. This is probably a good idea because if you're silly enough to live where the temps get well bellow zero you don't really want your engine block to split as the coolant freezes.

But, really, in Australia ? Sure if you're one of the few who live in Alpine areas or mad enough to actually ENJOY visiting snowfields this (Ethylene Glycol coolant mixture) is a good idea. But for the 99.9% of Australians who have more sense their cars are never going to get anywhere near to freezing the coolant, especially coastal dwellers in the land of the Big Banana.

In Australia it's the other end of the temperature scale that's more important. You're more likely to overheat an engine than freeze its bollocks off, especially with crappy euro spec cooling systems designed by people whose idea of a hot day is one where the snow melts. A cooling system full of green dye and Ethylene Glycol is going to make bugger all difference here. The important characteristic here is cooling system pressure. As pressure increases so does the the boiling point of the coolant.

So what's left ?, corrosion inhibition that's what. A decent corrosion inhibitor in a clean cooling system filled with de-mineralised water is what's required. RMI corrosion inhibitor is probably one of the best around though there are probably others that are effective as well.

So don't waste your money on useless euro-trash spec 33-100% Ethylene Glycol mixtures, a decent inhibitor in clean de-mineralised water is what's required for most Australian conditions.

Deano

Tectaloy exceeds AS2108.2004 Type B, exceeds ASTM D4340....and is made in SA Is that Aus enough for you

thanks DeanoH, but I have to ask, do you only feed your kids Demineralised water

on a serious note, Im guessing there are good corrosion inhibators in Tectaloy, or am I wrong? I also was under the impression that there is something in it that aids cooling???

Originally Posted by uninformed

thanks DeanoH, but I have to ask, do you only feed your kids Demineralised water

Nah!.............................the buggers are more likely to drink my beer these days.


I've nothing against Tecalloy or other products but I can't see the point of running anti freeze (Ethylene Glycol) when there's no chance of the coolant freezing.

Being a cynical sort of bloke I wonder how much of this expensive green stuff we are conditioned to put in our cooling systems is really just clever marketing.

When I say de-mineralised water I mean water without crap in it. Rain water would be fine but I'd be concerned at the alkalinity if it came out of a newish concrete tank but I'd be OK with a plastic or gal tank. Certainly wouldn't be happy with bore water (Perths water is shandied bore/rain water).

A mate of mine who was the local radiator repairer put me on to RMI 25 about 15 years ago. It's a 'cooling system treatment' that's added at 80:1 to clean water and it really works well. I've seen radiators 10 years old looking good as new, clean and corrosion free when RMI 25 is used. It's an American product distributed by Smoke-Less Diesel service in NSW. It's very good.

Deano

the ethylene glycol is more than just an antifreeze, more accurately its just a generic name for a style of coolant. Coolant has more properties than just to raise the boiling point and lower the freezing point off of the top of my head it also provides

Corrosion protection
Anti foaming properties
PH stabilization
Lubrication
Surface Tension control

I recall its got some other properties but cant remember what they are.


The major players when it comes to styles of coolant are

Ethylene glycol, they contain more than just the Ethylene glycol these are considered your old school coolants or "the green stuff" Its cheap and it works. But its got a higher demand on maintenance in terms of flushing and renewing.

OAT, Organic Acid Technology aka "The Red stuff". a very good coolant IMHO if you use it correctly, dont contaminate it and are prepared to actually do the required work on the cooling system rather than just gooping up leaks. Its a bit more expensive but if looked after correctly has a lower maintenance cost in terms of flushing and renewing which pays off in the long term.

HOAT, Hybrid Organic Acid Tech. A compatible with everything coolant, It mixes with both OAT and the Ethyl glycol stuff IT offers a little of the best of the other 2 coolants and a little of the worst. This is typically an Orangey colour but its also comes in blue and green that I know of.

ok so I did my flush, I removed the return hose from the heater (closest to front of vehicle and runs into the metal pipe that runs across the top of the head). I made up a length of 19mm radiator hose with a standard garden hose male fitting. This allowed me to use a quick connect with incorperated tap on the end of the garden hose from the rain tank. I also ran a length of hose from the heater outlet into a big tub. I dumped what I could be removing the expansion tank 19mm hose and dropping as low as possible. Then I ran the tank water and engine until it flowed clear.....it takes a while.

Fitted hose only to find that since I have a 2.8tgv the stock LR Def 300tdi hose doesnt fit right...it pulls hard against the alternator and its fan ...in the end I find out its a OEM Disco 300tdi hose. Pick one up and with a little trimming here and there I get it to be a good fit with 8mm clearance from the reservoir...

Now when I do my refill I dump 5lt of Demineralised water into the expansion tank, then add the 1lt of tectaloy...now put the rad brass plug back as its full. I then start to dump another 5lt bottle of demineralised water into the system....when the thermostat starts to flow I cap it and fill some more.

In the end I only got 8lt total in the system. LR state 11.1lt...... I ran the engine until it got to 80c on the temp gauge. I took it for a 5km run. The expansion tank is still over full

is it a case of when I flushed it I didnt get all the water out? is it normal for there to be about 3lt left in the system???