hey folks,

going to be getting a coolant change in march. ive been reading that the shell coolant seems more than capable for the job

does anyone know how many litres i would need ? also does this contain anti freeze aswell or would i have to purchase this separetely?

thanks

steve

 

Coolant is antifreeze mate

 

Haha oops my bad I'll stick to just the shell then

Steve

 

Hi Steve, I put the Motul antifreeze already to put in with no water in my car a few months back , think I have a quarter left in the bottle.

 

Was that for a full flush?

Been reading that it requires 7 litres for a full flush

Steve

 

7 litres is correct for a hatch WRX. Changing anti-freeze myself, I can never get more than 4.5 litres in, in any one go, without the use of a "flushing" machine.

 

take care refilling, air locks are easy on these engines and almost impossible to remove with out draining and refilling. guides on here if u search.

 

Yes was all flushed out, when I had cambelt done

 

just like the word "hoover" - Coolant covers a multitude of sins................

most cost effective is to simply use a mix of concentrated Anti-freeze and water to the required strength

alternative is to buy factory distilled 'coolant' which is added neat to the system with NO additional water required

we carry both options in stock and can happily advise on required mix, etc.

generally speaking just over 7ltrs will be required

 

Can only repeat the usual warnings:
Don't mix types, and DO refill according to the "how-to's" on here...or risk an airlock.

 

just wondered if anyone can help. ive got a subaru impreza wrx classic and its loosing water out of the header tank... drastically...

 

Sounds like your head gasket gone. but get a sniff test done to confirm,

 

Ive always thought that water is the coolantand the anti freeze is just that . anti freeze. Otherwise, shouldnt anti freeze be sold as coolant ?

 

No, the coolant is water. We mix anti-freeze with it to...stop it freezing

Usual mix is 50/50

Pure anti-freeze wouldn't work as well.

 

yes just what i thought

 

Modern anti freeze doesn't just guard against freezing. It acts as a summer coolant and prevents corrosion.

 

im aware of that thanks. The point i was making was that the op asked about antifreeze and coolant and the reply was that antifreeze is the coolant . Water is the primary coolanr and anti freeze is anti freeze and ,as you said,summer coolant

 

Anti-freeze is to stop it freezing, that's it's primary role.
Yes, it also contains stuff to inhibit corrosion.

Pure ethylene glycol, however, has a specific heat capacity about half that of water.

Even a 50/50 mix is only around the 3600 J/Kg/deg C, compared to pure water at 4200.

 

which is why IMO most people are running far too much "anti-freeze" to the detriment of their cars COOLING..............

 

In this country, we'd easily USUALLY get away with a 25% solution.

But most folk play safe and go for the "down to -20 deg C" bit, which is 50%.

 

but thats my point its not a general 50% mix............different supliers use differing concentrates so you MUST check the bottle
as an example Millers is 33%...........

 

Ah, I see.

I've never come across one that mentions anything but 50% for winter....but I don't have that much experience, admittedly.

 

Especially relevant in places where there is no way of "getting away with sloppy mixing", like over here where it could drop to -20C very quickly (-50C up North ). Two different anti-freeze brands I looked at each had different concentration recommendations according to the external temperatures likely to be encountered.