Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi Folks

Does anyone know if the Halfords 5 year coolant (pink stuff) changes colour if exhaust gas leaks into it ?
Tries the obvious of asking Halfords but their web site won't play with me.

thanks in advance

Bob

I'm sorry I can't answer your question, but isn't the general view that you shouldn't be using the long life pink stuff on an Elan because it will be OAT based not IAT ?
Of course, maybe your question doesn't refer to an Elan.

The pink (OAT) coolant reacts with copper and brass, and can damage the radiator, heater, head gasket and any brass taps / unions in the system. Drain and flush the system and replace with blue or green coolant, and replace every 3 years!!
Mark

Ethylene glycol (blue) is the one to use.

Most are, but ensure it is aluminium friendly!!!

I have used 4-Life coolant in my MGB V8 (aluminium engine and copper/brass radiator) for seven years, and now also have it in the Elan. It has performed really well and didn't boil even when stuck in traffic in 36 degree temps in France last summer. The label says it is safe for cast iron, brass and aluminium and that the boiling point is 180 degrees C. It claims it is good for 10 years. It is red in colour and changes to yellow if there is a head gasket failure (I assume this is a pH change that is detected). You will have to make your own minds up about it, but I'm a fan. Demon Tweeks stock it and can send it mail order. http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/coolant-additives/demon-tweeks-4-life-advanced-engine-coolant

Mike

Talking of Demon Tweeks, I've seen this on their website before. Anyone tried it?
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorcycl ... er-coolant

Hi Folks

Thanks for all the info. There is a lot of discussion about different types of coolant and from what i can read on other posts some people do use the Halfords ( or similar) 5 year pink stuff. My interest is that I want to know if there is a exhaust gas leak into the cooling system does this make the Halfords stuff change colour.

Regarding the comments on how suitable folks think it is for the twink. I did an experiment a few years back and I have attached a note on the results. It is only part relevant because it was not under hot conditions ( I am thinking of repeating it under hot conditions where chemical reactions get a lot more aggressive -- Doubling about every 5 to 6 degrees C I believe) I have used the Halfords stuff for around 8 years in my 7 ( 1600 cross flow sprint spec) after its last rebuild and so far so good.

any way further comments re coolant would be of interest but really want to know if the Halfords stuff changes colour !

cheers

Bob

Sorry, your original question got a bit lost.
Good experiment and it'll be interesting to find out the effects of engine temperature. Do you use the 50:50 ratio in your car?

Hi Lorraine
yes I use the 50/50 mix in my cars ( 7 and Elan) and also added a Bars leak capsule

cheers

Bob

LorraineLH wrote:Talking of Demon Tweeks, I've seen this on their website before. Anyone tried it?
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorcycl ... er-coolant

That stuff is popular among the high-performance crowd here in USA and I've yet to hear of a problem with it. I certainly had no problem when I used it in my Turbo Esprit. How much difference did it make? Difficult to say, given how well-damped temperature gauges are.

I used water wetter for quite a few years in my Elan when I was running the standard narrow S4 radiator with a full race 170+ hp engine. On hot 40C+ days the engine would get to hot and approach boiling especially when I slowed down at the end of a race. The water wetter dropped the peak temperatures i would reach by about 10C giving me an acceptable margin from boiling

I put in the wider S3 style radiator and no longer need the water wetter as the peak temperatures have dropped by 20C+ now without it.

cheers
Rohan