I see on here we are obsessed with coolant issues and have never really worried about it before. But now after luckily noticing coolant dripping from the rad and detecting that the rad had indeed gone, I am now having a new one fitted today.
My garage has said not to worry he will put in standard anti freeze mixed with water as usual. But I seem to remember that a while back I read that it has to be special coolant... Am I being thick or is this the case????
Must get one of those coolant loss indicators I was lucky this time, The heater gague really does not tell you until it is too late. Whats that all about then?
What coolant to use?
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- Bongonaut
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:49 pm
- Location: Dartmoor, Devon
What coolant to use?
Mark and Julie
1998 Aquamarine Ford Freda
2.5td 4wd aft
1998 Aquamarine Ford Freda
2.5td 4wd aft
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- Supreme Being
- Posts: 10637
- Joined: Fri May 13, 2005 11:58 am
- Location: Ince Lancs
Re: What coolant to use?
Many on here have incorporated a "mason alarm" to re-calibrate the temp gauge to indicate a more accurate temperature reading. It also has the added benefit of an audible alarm if the pre-set temp parameter is exceeded.
Pop "Mason and alarm" into the search facility, (but without the speech marks
).
The main issue of adding coolant is ensuring that ALL (possibly Japanese in origin) the old coolant is well and truly flushed out, give the old stuff a good kicking for good measure too,and call it a few nasty names.
I used a good quality red coolant for my bongo, though pretty much any decent brand coolant can be used really. It needs to be dropped out every two years anyway, in keeping with the service interval.
It's advisable to have the radiator flushed, then "back flushed" too whilst fettling, and don't forget the good old important bleeding of the system afterwards.
Pop "Mason and alarm" into the search facility, (but without the speech marks

The main issue of adding coolant is ensuring that ALL (possibly Japanese in origin) the old coolant is well and truly flushed out, give the old stuff a good kicking for good measure too,and call it a few nasty names.
I used a good quality red coolant for my bongo, though pretty much any decent brand coolant can be used really. It needs to be dropped out every two years anyway, in keeping with the service interval.
It's advisable to have the radiator flushed, then "back flushed" too whilst fettling, and don't forget the good old important bleeding of the system afterwards.
ビッグダディケイン RIP Big Bank Hank (Imp the Dimp) 1957-2014
- missfixit70
- Supreme Being
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Re: What coolant to use?
Make sure your garage are conversant with the bleeding procedure for the bongo, if they're not using a vacuum fill system, print out the bleed instructions from the factsheet & make sure they do it properly or you will have much worse problems.
You can't polish a turd - but you can roll it in glitter.
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- Bongonaut
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:49 pm
- Location: Dartmoor, Devon
Re: What coolant to use?
Thanks for the advice. Er...... where are the fact sheets located???
Mark and Julie
1998 Aquamarine Ford Freda
2.5td 4wd aft
1998 Aquamarine Ford Freda
2.5td 4wd aft
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- Supreme Being
- Posts: 11354
- Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:15 pm
- Location: Norwich
Re: What coolant to use?
In the Member's Area 

John
(Evidence that intelligent life exists in the universe, is that it hasn't tried to contact us)
(Evidence that intelligent life exists in the universe, is that it hasn't tried to contact us)