CossieRich

iTrader: (1)

Last time i changed the coolant in my cossie, i went to Halfords to buy the anti-freeze. They said, dont use out anti-freeze, go to fords and buy their stuff. Im going to put my new pro-alloy rad in today so i thought i would see what people think. Is halfords stuff good enough or do i shell out for ford anti-freeze?

Im assuming they told me not use their stuff because of the alloy head on cossies?

dave green

Any good quality antifreeze is ok, Just dont mix the pink and blue.
(new cars come with pink antifreeze)

Dave

boost mad

iTrader: (8)

mobile make an anti freeze which halfords sell, its about £18 for 5 litres

phil4x4saph

What the fook are Halfords on???

Idiots!

Use an Ethelene Glycol antifreeze - which almost all are and you will be fine.

The new red stuff is organic (car plan 5star or similar). fine if you drain flush and refill, but cant be mixed with Glycol.

The Sludge

i use halfords mixed summer/wineter one at £18.99

SteveB

iTrader: (3)

I use what ever is in the big barrel at work.....

Fozy

i've used both, not mixed obviously. The ford stuff ain't that expensive either. If it is said to be made to a ford specification, then it doesn't who made it as it has to reach the set standard.

SS1

iTrader: (3)

i got the pink from halfords
people forget in the spring summer it has anti rust clog
additives for the water holes
engines do rust from the inside

CossieRich

iTrader: (1)

Thanks guys for your replies. 2 mins after re-filling and on idle, oily deposits became apparent in my header tank. Head gasket has gone. what a waste of money buying anti-freeze

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

You sure its just not flushed round some old crap ??

CossieRich

iTrader: (1)

That was my first thought, but the oil filler cap has mayo type deposits on it, so does the header tank pressure cap and the new pink anti-freeze has the oily film sitting on it. I flushed the system with just water before putting anti-freeze in. Also my standard rad which is corroded at teh bottom anyway, has ballooned out at the bottom too. This would point to a head gasket failure?

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

Not necessarily, clean it all up and see what happens

CossieRich

iTrader: (1)

when you say clean it up, do you mean re-flush the system with just water?

NUTS RuS

iTrader: (35)

No clean off all the old deposits. Could just have been winter condensation

CossieRich

iTrader: (1)

I tried that. And i drove it for 40 miles at the w/e to clear out any condensation that may have been in there. My new anti-freeze looks like its been in there for years and i havent even driven, just started her up to bleed the water through etc.

Disabled Account

cossierich330,

Sounds like winter/cold running condensation (as Nuts Rs said).........

Try running the engine with the filler cap off. Do this on NORMAL IDLE or fast idle only!!!! for at least 30 - 40 mins. You may well find that the mayo/sludge rises to the top of the header tank and can be wiped off........

CossieRich

iTrader: (1)

Ok guys. thanks for all your help. i will try this tonite. If the situation doesnt improve, can i take it that the head gasket has decided to go walkies?

CossieRich

iTrader: (1)

Rigth. Update on headgasket. Spent 6 hours on saturday clearing the system of all the old crap that my old rad had obviously let flow round the cooling system. Flushed her 5 or six times with plain water then put some rad flush in from halfords, drove her for 30 miles and then emptied the cooling system, flushed her once more and no more oily deposits. Everything seems fine now, so looks like my head gasket is fine

Thnaks for your help Doug and Nuts