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Blue antifreeze turned green

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 9:47 am
by cmm303
Drained old green coolant and refilled with blue 2yr stuff from Eurocarparts..

I reckoned it was thoroughly drained after replacing all 17 hoses, pump, stat and flushing rad and both heaters. Maybe 2 litres max of old left in.

In the first stage of bleeding, before running the engine the coolant in the jug (funnel replacement) started to turn green!

The coolant that I drained was almost a flourescent green but I know nothing about it as it came with the Bongo.

The LCA was a bit undecided about going off this morning even though expansion tank is full. Add it in here just in case it means anything, because I thought this a/f type didn't coat the screw.

The new coolant says it must not be mixed with type D a/f. I presumed that was the red stuff.

After bleeding the leftover in the jug is clear green, not cloudy.

Should I be worried?

Re: Blue antifreeze turned green

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 10:21 am
by haydn callow
The LCA is not supposed to go off if all is well.

Re: Blue antifreeze turned green

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 10:45 am
by Bob
Battery could be a bit low after sitting a while, this could upset the LCA. :wink:

Re: Blue antifreeze turned green

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 11:03 am
by cmm303
haydn callow wrote:The LCA is not supposed to go off if all is well.
possible air lock?
Wondered about voltage but not previously a problem after standing. Engine ran for nearly 2 hrs yesterday during and after bleeding.

PS. By "going off" I meant going silent.

Re: Blue antifreeze turned green

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 1:55 pm
by Northern Bongolow
this is the one ive just bought from them, really good value, you can get concentrate and ready mix.
the thing for me is that its O A T technology.

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-a ... &0&cc5_866

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-a ... &0&cc5_866.

they even do 20 litrs if yer bongo leaks a bit. #-o #-o #-o #-o

Re: Blue antifreeze turned green

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 2:33 pm
by cmm303
Leak a bit? All those 34 new hose joints? Perish the thought!
That red stuff is only marginally more than the blue. Good deal! I bought one concentrate and one ready mix to give me 15l made up. Spot on for Bongo's 13l.

Fassi, thanks for tip about fact sheet. Didn't think of checking for fact sheet on flushing. [edit] just read the sheet and answered my own question about cold water. Great idea to avoid bleeding and get it for flushing out the old. Struggling to grasp how it achieves the right concentration when adding new antifreeze.

Re: Blue antifreeze turned green

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 2:50 pm
by Simon Jones
If you're going to changing to the pink OAT stuff you will need to do a really thorough flush as it doesn't mix well with glycol. I use Halfords Long Life which is good for 5 years.

Re: Blue antifreeze turned green

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 3:42 pm
by mikeonb4c
I'm pretty sure its normal for the blue stuff (ethylene glycol presumably) to turn green once diluted and heated in the cooling system. My lca is prone to the occasional murmour even after new screws were fitted. Suspect its viltage related :roll:

Re: Blue antifreeze turned green

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 4:01 pm
by cmm303
Simon Jones wrote:If you're going to changing to the pink OAT stuff you will need to do a really thorough flush as it doesn't mix well with glycol. I use Halfords Long Life which is good for 5 years.
definitely! I had read that colours and type aren't universally consistent. So wasn't happy that mine was showing traces of old.

Re: Blue antifreeze turned green

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 5:00 pm
by cmm303
mikeonb4c wrote:I'm pretty sure its normal for the blue stuff (ethylene glycol presumably) to turn green once diluted and heated in the cooling system. My lca is prone to the occasional murmour even after new screws were fitted. Suspect its viltage related :roll:
Prior to the cooling system transplant the LCA behaved impeccably, going quiet after its self test. My voltage isn't as good as it could be but has not caused any problems to date. Also this morning the LCA blipped when I switched the aircon on. May be the coolant change has highlighted an electrical problem that previously I was getting away with.

Re: Blue antifreeze turned green

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 5:11 pm
by Bob
New long life coolant can coat the screws, easily sorted with a small wire brush. :wink:

Re: Blue antifreeze turned green

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 9:50 pm
by cmm303
Blue / Green. Twitchy LCA aside. 20 mile test drive this evening was a resounding success :)

My gauge is modified and this was its normal position before new pump, stat, hoses, coolant and no. 1 stud fix:Image

And now:
Image

Don't know what that means in degrees but gotta be good. Also a lot slower to rise on hills.
Guess we'll never know which bit made the difference.

Re: Blue antifreeze turned green

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 9:54 pm
by Bob
Cooling the engine down has done wonders for your fuel. :lol:

I'll get me coat. :oops:

Re: Blue antifreeze turned green

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 9:58 pm
by cmm303
Bob wrote: I'll get me coat. :oops:
no need Bob.

There's peeps queuing to give it to you :lol:

Re: Blue antifreeze turned green

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 11:36 pm
by mikeonb4c
cmm303 wrote:
Bob wrote: I'll get me coat. :oops:
no need Bob.

There's peeps queuing to give it to you :lol:
Bob doesn't even wear a coat as far as i know :lol:

Great news about the refurbished cooling system =D>