Interesting article on COOLANTS

[Diplomat]

Hi, Triple/R.

I,too, have had thoughts like yours on Bongo ownership.

However, they are nowhere like as complicated and full of traps for the unwary as modern life!

Frank

[mikexgough]

A note to MikexGough~~think i will buy another MONDEO

I knew you would see sense Ray.... still you will be okay as Ford use a Motorcraft Branded OAT coolant the same as Mazda FL22....

[Triple/R]

I can really appreciate the time & effort people have put into this thread but i'm not that technically minded.

Having read & not absorbed the info could someone please summarise,eg~what sort of antifreeze should i put in my Bongo~a plain & simple answer would be appreciated.

[haydn callow]

Simple ?? nothing is quite as simple as it looks....First....you need to know what sort you have in there at the moment.....
If you know that then put the same in.

If you don't know whats in there...I would defo get it ALL drained out (13 liters) a good flush with a hosepipe....then personally I would go a get some Blucol or equiv . (get this done at a BONGO friendly garage)


Other will be along....with more techie answers... but I don't think thats what you are after

[Ron Miel]

Not too techie - I would just add this to Haydn's answer.

If you want longer coolant life, less money spent at Bongo friendly garages in draining flushing, refilling and air bleeding coolant every two years, you could safely use a non-silicated red extended (three years) life coolant, such as Carplan Premium Red, Comma G30, or Mazda FL22 Extended Life. Costs a bit more but lasts longer, so less hassle. Key, as Haydn says, is change the lot - and also make sure you've then got a leak free system, so you don't have to top up - if you top up regularly, you a.) spend more money, and b.) extend the coolant's service life (as long as you use the same stuff) but you can't tell by how much.

[teenmal]

I can really appreciate the time & effort people have put into this thread but i'm not that technically minded.

Having read & not absorbed the info could someone please summarise,eg~what sort of antifreeze should i put in my Bongo~a plain & simple answer would be appreciated.

You would have thought that would be plain and simple

[mikexgough]

Reply from Car Plan ( well Tetrosyl who make Car Plan and Bluecol)

"Hi Mike,

Thank you for your enquiry.

Our Premium Red antifreeze is Organic Acid Technology & contains no silicates, phosphates or nitrates.

I would advise that our product is suitable for your vehicle & is a direct replacement for the other fluids you mentioned.

It is also perfectly fine for aluminium parts,

Regards

Richard Woodward
Product Manager
Tetrosyl Ltd"

[Northern Bongolow]

comma superlonglife red is also good ,this is free from the bad stuff.according to there product data sheets.

[mikexgough]

comma superlonglife red is also good ,this is free from the bad stuff.according to there product data sheets.

I am sure it is..... Ron Miel has contacted Comma to check...... I would think it's a similar/same chemistry to Premium Red....

[Ron Miel]

Mike - I've only asked Comma about the degree of adverse silicone hose interactivity with their 3 years extended life silicated G48 Glysantin anti-freeze, the stuff I've got in at the moment.

Ady - yes, Comma's Superlonglife Red, their aftermarket OAT seems very similar to their G30 Glysantin-based X-Stream stuff, although according to their data sheets, the specific gravity of the Superlonglife is higher, so they're not entirely the same. Both are free of the bad stuff though - unless that is, Superlonglife is actually one of the earlier OAT formulations which are known to have caused some long term problems with aluminium engine components. Comma G30 Xstream's data sheet (an OEM-tested/approved product for a number of vehicle makes) specifically includes the statement "Designed to protect modern aluminium engines", whereas that for their Superlonglife red, does not.

I was in error, of course, saying that all three of the "reds" I previously listed were three years extended life products. They are, of course, all five years long life full OAT products - in fact, according to Mazda's U.S. data sheet, their (pre-mixed only!!) FL22 is good for 10 years in a new engine, although only 5 in an old one.

David

[Northern Bongolow]

thanks for that guys,according to their data sheet it says suitable for all engines, but as the G30 sheet says designed for ally engines,may be worth the upgrade next time.

[Ron Miel]

thanks for that guys,according to their data sheet it says suitable for all engines, but as the G30 sheet says designed for ally engines,may be worth the upgrade next time.

That's what I would do also Ady. As per PM exchange, I don't think Comma has ever formulated anything as dodgy as the original, early 90's, GM Dex-Cool, the abrasive content of which wrecked a lot of ally components, particularly water pumps, leading to legal class actions in the States.

I just think the jury's still out on any abrasive silicate/borate coolant inhibitor content in ally engines, and that's why only their G30 Glysantin silicate/borate free OAT is OEM approved by those cautious vehicle makers - who saw what happened to GM. It's probably OK in the presumably reduced proportions now used - when related to the likely service life of most cars anyway, but Bongos are precious, and I for one want mine to run for ever!

[dandywarhol]

Not just in the States Ron - PSA group (Citroen/Pug) got a batch of highly corrosive antifreeze in the late 80s which was corrosive enough to rot the water pump impellor blades off!
They were still paying well out of warranty claims of new head/radiator/waterpump etc.

Only seemed to really affect the turbo diesels too.....................

[Ron Miel]

Not just in the States Ron - PSA group (Citroen/Pug) got a batch of highly corrosive antifreeze in the late 80s which was corrosive enough to rot the water pump impellor blades off!
They were still paying well out of warranty claims of new head/radiator/waterpump etc.

Only seemed to really affect the turbo diesels too.....................

There you go then! I'm sure nobody's daft enough to market stuff like that any more, and that it's mainly a much longer-term potential for any problems, if silicate/borate mixes are used nowadays.

[Timnz]

I've been using Prestone 5 year long life coolant in mine for 4 years, 3 with silicone pipes and no problems to report, after 80,000km, but I still noticed sediment built up in the top of the radiator. probably best to go with cheap 2 year green glycol anti-freeze and flush/treat your system at every change..
I've just changed it and gone back to standard 2 year stuff.