Antifreeze and coolant

[BobbyMel]

Hi, whats everyone choice of antifreeze and coolant for 1256 engine?
Is blue the preferred option?...there's nothing in the system, so no worry about mixing.

Bob

[1972nail]

It used to be easy to choose antifreeze because type was identified by colour and blue was the one that was good for our cars. Now the colour is no indication of the type.

Older types use IAT technology and is suitable for cast iron engines, alloy fittings and lead soldered copper or brass radiators. This type has a relatively short lifespan of two to three years typically.

Newer developments are OAT and HOAT types. These have a longer lifespan and give better alloy corrosion resistance but are not kind to soldered radiators.

All these types can be found in various colours depending on what the manufacturer chooses. So best to choose one that uses IAT technology from a recognised manufacturer rather than choose by colour. Having said that after a quick internet search it appears that IAT antifreeze appears to be available in blue only. However, there are blue HOAT antifreeze available. These should not be used in our engines.

You will probably buy your antifreeze as a concentrate which you dilute with water. It is recommended that you use distilled water to avoid the chlorine and other additives in tap water which are naturally corrosive or cause scaling.

You can however buy your coolant as a premixed liquid, but be careful of the type as it is not always clear what type these are.

[1972nail]

As a post script to my reply. There are some manufacturers of premixed coolants who claim that their OAT products are safe in classic cars but you need to read the small print too.

[cooperman]

Life is so complicated now!

[BobbyMel]

Isn't it just, we used to just drop a few pints out the bottom of tha radiator, and throw 2 pints of antifreeze in...job done!!

[jgwilliamson]

Hi, whats everyone choice of antifreeze and coolant for 1256 engine?
Is blue the preferred option?...there's nothing in the system, so no worry about mixing.

Bob

I'm on the hunt for a compatible coolant for my 1977 1256 HC. Does anyone have anything/suppliers they would recommend? (web links would be ideal ).
Thanks in advance.
John

[Mike Attew]

I use https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/triple-q ... -523770471 which is ethylene glycol based.

Just search Triple QX Blue antifreeze , you can get it cheaper.

[jgwilliamson]

I use https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/triple-q ... -523770471 which is ethylene glycol based.

Just search Triple QX Blue antifreeze , you can get it cheaper.

Thanks Mike, that looks like what I'm after.
John

[HC Fairley]

There was talk recently, maybe on the Facebook page, of a new type of coolant called 4Life which is apparently pretty good .

I haven't used it and don't know much about it but a quick google would probably tell you all you need to know. I'm pretty sure David Maxwell and Adrain Miller have started using it.

[jgwilliamson]

There was talk recently, maybe on the Facebook page, of a new type of coolant called 4Life which is apparently pretty good .

I haven't used it and don't know much about it but a quick google would probably tell you all you need to know. I'm pretty sure David Maxwell and Adrain Miller have started using it.

Thanks for the info HCF, It looks interesting and the 10 year lifetime especially so.
Cheers
John