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which coolant do i need?
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:57 pm
by Whatersname
Sorry full of questions tonight. Picked up bongo on Fri. Just checked the coolant level and it's half way between Mac and low. No coolant alarm installed yet... 3 weeks time. The chap we bought it off of had a bottle but hadn't used it as it was a different colour to what was in the tank already. The bottle was halfords OAT antifreeze and coolant, is this the right stuff, it's pink. Thanks in advance
Re: which coolant do i need?
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 9:43 pm
by Gasy
If it's a different colour
I woundt use it
Just top it up with water if it's just a little bit
General rule is use the same colour as what's in it already
You can get the strength of existing coolant tested
Loads recomend a flush of all the coolant and new anti freeze every 2-3 years
If it's going in to the garage soon just top it up with water and ask if they can test it
Re: which coolant do i need?
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 10:34 pm
by Whatersname
It's half way. I will be keeping an eye on it over the next few weeks and in 3 weeks it's going in for a service so I can get it changed/ topped up then.
Re: which coolant do i need?
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 10:35 pm
by Whatersname
Sorry.... Thanks
Re: which coolant do i need?
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 11:14 pm
by Bob
Worth having it changed.
The corosion inhibitor runs out of oomph over time, alloy head with iron block is galvanic corrosion in a can.
Re: which coolant do i need?
Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 8:24 am
by mikeonb4c
Bob wrote:Worth having it changed.
The corosion inhibitor runs out of oomph over time, alloy head with iron block is galvanic corrosion in a can.
Agree with Bob. Ask Allans when they're back off hols. And i'd fit a low coolant alarm as much better than having to check.
Re: which coolant do i need?
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 12:47 pm
by Yan
Just thought I'd ask in this thread rather than starting a new one.
I've had the same thing, bought a van and the guy gave me the RED OAT coolant, but the tank has green in it. I'm not going to mix them!
Does any know if G48 coolant is OK to use in a Bongo (2ltr Petrol)?
Thanks!
Re: which coolant do i need?
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 5:29 pm
by cmm303
Yan wrote:Just thought I'd ask in this thread rather than starting a new one.
I've had the same thing, bought a van and the guy gave me the RED OAT coolant, but the tank has green in it. I'm not going to mix them!
Does any know if G48 coolant is OK to use in a Bongo (2ltr Petrol)?
Thanks!
Same coolant for all bongos
This post goes into coolant specs:
http://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/view ... 30#p680714
Re: which coolant do i need?
Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2016 11:45 pm
by Yan
Thanks cmm303.
I must be missing something as I can't find G12+ (as described in that post) anywhere? where does everyone buy their coolant from? as I say it's a green looking coolant that's in it now.
Re: which coolant do i need?
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 6:51 am
by Gasy
Think the best option if you don't know what's in it is
Top up with water, untill you can drain and flush completely
And fill and bleed with new coolant suitably for a engine with steel and aluminium
Halfords or any auto shop
Think you need 6 or 7 litres of coolant most use the red one
Re: which coolant do i need?
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 9:05 am
by haydn callow
Whatersname wrote:It's half way. I will be keeping an eye on it over the next few weeks and in 3 weeks it's going in for a service so I can get it changed/ topped up then.
Make sure the garage knows how to bleed the cooling system after changing the coolant.......if any doubt go to someone who does.....get it wrong and big bills are the result.
See the YouTube vids ' search 'bleeding bongos'
Re: which coolant do i need?
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 9:33 am
by Yan
Gasy wrote:Think the best option if you don't know what's in it is
Top up with water, untill you can drain and flush completely
And fill and bleed with new coolant suitably for a engine with steel and aluminium
Halfords or any auto shop
Think you need 6 or 7 litres of coolant most use the red one
Thanks Gasy. I think you're right, as I don't know what's in there I should look at flush and replace. As Haydn has suggested, I think this might be best left to a bongo friendly garage.
Might be handy if everyone lists what coolant they use so we can see which is the most popular choice.
Re: which coolant do i need?
Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 9:41 am
by haydn callow
If you change to red oat coolant I would suggest you leave it 2/3 weeks before fitting the low coolant alarm LCA. RED coolant of tens coats the inside of the system with a protective layer. This also coats the LCA sensor screw and can cause false alarms. After a couple of weeks it will stop doing this and all will be fine....alternatively you can clean the sensor screw when it false alarms.