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jimlagos

United Kingdom
205 Posts

Posted - 14 Jul 2020 :  21:32:32  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I've just had to remove and replace the radiator on my series V rapier.
Despite major work a year ago, the water was very "murky brown" and a lot of sludge in the bottom of the radiator had to be hosed out.
When I refill the system can anyone recomend the correct anti-freeze and rust inhibitor for the system please? I'd used a standard anti-freeze, but it didn't appear to be very good on inhibiting the rust.

jim

Sunbeam-mike

United Kingdom
164 Posts

Posted - 19 Jul 2020 :  10:47:59  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi,

I did a little reading before re-filling my system a few years ago.

An ethylene glycol based coolant (IAT) was around before the 1990's so I went for that.

Not very scientific...

Just did a quick search now:
https://www.autoguide.com/top-10-best-engine-coolants

Hope this helps.

Mike Hooper
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jimlagos

United Kingdom
205 Posts

Posted - 20 Jul 2020 :  08:01:02  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Thanks Mike
I'll study that. It's all a bit of a black art!

jim
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rapier123

United Kingdom
17 Posts

Posted - 27 Jul 2020 :  21:24:21  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
It Seems to me that the rootes engines suffer a lot with rust in the cooling system, which leads to a clogged radiator then overheating, probably mainly down to a lack of maintenance or incorrect anti-freeze used. I believe the correct anti-freeze for most classic engines(as others have stated) is the blue 2 year anti-freeze, which means it should be changed every 2 years maximum, as that's how long the corrosion inhibitors last. Think i would be tempted to use a cooling system flush in your case, to get it back to a clean state. Not had any experience with radiator flushes myself, but the only thing i would be worried about would be the core plugs, as if they are already weakened with rust, a acidic flush may push them over the edge? would be interested to hear if anyone else has used these cooling system flushes with any success ?
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JPSH120

United Kingdom
1168 Posts

Posted - 28 Jul 2020 :  09:21:14  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I'm not sure about the flushing products. I think I would be inclined to just flush the system through with water, using a hosepipe. If you remove the heater hoses from the thermostat and water pump, you can send water round the system and should clear it out, unless you have a serious blockage somewhere. The block can get silted up too, which would be a little more difficult to sort out, but if you open the drain tap and keep flushing with clean water you should be able to get it pretty clean.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.
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828CC

United Kingdom
55 Posts

Posted - 28 Jul 2020 :  15:14:40  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
'Back Flush' was the order of the day, back in the day, no?
To paraphrase Cpl Jones: 'They don't like it up 'em!'

Edited by - 828CC on 28 Jul 2020 15:15:12
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