Cooling...just a thought

[helen&tony]

Hi
just had a thought (well, there's a first I hear you say). A year or two ago, there was much talk of changing the coolant as soon as the Bongo came into the UK., as Japanese antifreeze is not compatable with the glycol - based antifreeze used in much of Europe. It was found that if people topped up the coolant with glycol antifreeze mix, then serious overheating episodes occured.....now I haven't seen much information on the forum lately regarding this subject, and I wonder if this advice has been overlooked, as qute a few Bongos have been brought in, and there seems to have been more episodes of overheating recently.....are the two linked, I wonder?
Cheers
Helen

[bigdaddycain]

I think the two are most definitely linked Helen, i mentioned it a few weeks back on a cooling problem thread...it appeared to go unnoticed...

There also appears to be a preconception that different coloured anti freeze cannot be mixed with each other,this isn't the case, the different colours denote the different additives in the anti-freeze, but all are glycol based (in the uk at least) so are compatible....

Of course its desireable to maintain the correct colour of anti-freeze, but not as essential as it would at first appear.

Mixing of the two would be fine in an emergency...

[lindeelu]

You could well be right, & you could be onto something here.

I found the following information about US/Japanese coolants:

In many US and Japanese antifreeze formulas, phosphate is added as a corrosion inhibitor. European vehicle manufacturers, however, recommend against the use of phosphate containing antifreeze


European automobile producers feel that these benefits are achievable with inhibitors other than phosphate. Their main concern with phosphate containing products are the potential for solids drop-out when mixed with hard water. Solids can collect on cooling system walls forming what is known as scale. This concern comes from the fact that European water is much harder than water in the US. Because phosphate "softens" water by forming solids of calcium or magnesium salts that can drop-out of solution, there is potential for cooling system blockage.

That might explain a thing or two.

[bigdaddycain]

Thanks lindeelu, that would also rule out the latest thoughts on having to use de-ionised water in the bongo cooling system,if the correct type of anti-freeze is added, de-ionised water wouldn't be required.

[helen&tony]

Hi Ste
I'm one of those that genuinely "unnoticed" it , then, It's just made me wonder about cooling , as I had the radiator problem, and although I don't know whether mine had been overheated before I got it, when I went to buy some antifreeze a while back, the shop owner said it looked like there was no antifreeze in, so it looks like some cheapskate importers just drop the coolant and fill with water Anyway , it's good that we have jogged the collective memories, so to speak
Cheers
Helen

[helen&tony]

Hi again
Just seen lindeelu's post, and your reply, Ste., I've always been told that it's OK to use tap water and glycol mix, although I'll probably use local spring water here, as the tap water is bad, and full of grit!!! I also go to the antifreeze manufacturers website to check the specifications of the antifreeze, and its' certification, as it gets to minus 25C. over here, and colder in a bad winter!!!
Cheers
Helen

[bigdaddycain]

Oh aye, it's gotta be up to the job over there in those harsh conditions.... Well, gotta go, got the pennington flash meet to get to...then work....