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beermonster · 29 Oct 2008 at 18:23

Its usually premixed ie coolant, or antifreeze will say on the bottle, but 50/50 is a good start over the winter.

[TW]Fox · 29 Oct 2008 at 18:24

Why did you need to add it? Normally you shouldnt need to. How old is the car?

Begbie · 29 Oct 2008 at 18:27

As fox said, the anti freeze should very very rarely need replaced.

MrMoonX · 29 Oct 2008 at 18:49

if its a sealed system you really shouldnt be topping it up with anything but coolant, if its an older water/antifreeze mix system replace it with proper coolant

Tomsk · 29 Oct 2008 at 18:52

Aren't there two main types of anti-freeze?
IIRC They shouldn't be mixed.

Clarkey · 29 Oct 2008 at 18:52

MrMoonX said:
if its a sealed system you really shouldnt be topping it up with anything but coolant, if its an older water/antifreeze mix system replace it with proper coolant

huh? You know its the same thing, right?

iraiguana · 29 Oct 2008 at 18:59

Most are pre-mixed I thought these days and so why are you randomly adding more?

Sarduk · 29 Oct 2008 at 19:15

How do you check the antifreeze concentration?

[TW]Fox · 29 Oct 2008 at 19:28

smoove said:
10 years old!
Mate did a quick fix on the motor and said it had no anti freeze in it, so went and bought some.

It's not a premixed one, just antifreeze.

If there was no coolant in it you've got big problems. I suggest you find out why there was no coolant in it.

Foghorn Leghorn · 29 Oct 2008 at 19:32

Just dump the lot and refill with the correct mix, it's not difficult. Beats a burst hose or a cracked block if it gets really cold.

Fog

Puzzled · 29 Oct 2008 at 19:36

[TW]Fox;12795585 said:
If there was no coolant in it you've got big problems. I suggest you find out why there was no coolant in it.

Hopefully it will be an expansion tank.

Mine looks empty until the engine warms up, then you can see the correct level.

If its not then yep could be big problems.

Sarduk · 29 Oct 2008 at 19:39

Foghorn Leghorn said:
Just dump the lot and refill with the correct mix, it's not difficult. Beats a burst hose or a cracked block if it gets really cold.

Fog

How do you dump it? With a pump?

M0T · 29 Oct 2008 at 19:39

[TW]Fox;12795585 said:
If there was no coolant in it you've got big problems. I suggest you find out why there was no coolant in it.

It sounds more like his mate did something to the car that involved draining the coolant and just replaced it with plain water, which is why antifreeze needed to be added.

andi · 29 Oct 2008 at 19:40

[TW]Fox;12795585 said:
If there was no coolant in it you've got big problems. I suggest you find out why there was no coolant in it.

He didn't say it had no coolant, he said it had no antifreeze. You'd notice if it didn't have any coolant, but having no anti freeze, just water in is a bit harder to spot.

andi · 29 Oct 2008 at 19:41

JimpsEd said:
How do you dump it? With a pump?

There might be a drain plug in the system somewhere, otherwise just pull the bottom rad hose off.

[TW]Fox · 29 Oct 2008 at 19:41

andi said:
He didn't say it had no coolant, he said it had no antifreeze. You'd notice if it didn't have any coolant, but having no anti freeze, just water in is a bit harder to spot.

Most people use the terms interchangably. I doubt this 'mate' glanced at the expansion tank and said 'I say old bean, the concentration of water to antifreeze looks a bit awry! Best get that sorted pronto'

He will have meant it was low on coolant.

This is why you don't let chumps fiddle with your car.

andi · 29 Oct 2008 at 19:43

Or he drained some out doing the job and noticed it was just water.

Like I say, you don't need a mate to tell you theres no coolant in it, the massively overheating engine would give it away.

[TW]Fox · 29 Oct 2008 at 19:44

He did a 'quick fix' apparently. What sort of 'quick fix' involves draining all the coolant out?