Anti freeze for marine diesel FW circuit

[West Coast]

Re antifreeze products for FW cooling circuits on marine diesels - I take it that standard products are acceptable, or is there anything special to watch out for?

 

[VicS]

Re antifreeze products for FW cooling circuits on marine diesels - I take it that standard products are acceptable, or is there anything special to watch out for?

Yes but;

There are two main types of ethylene glycol based antifreeze

Conventional low silicate type as used by most cars pre mid 1990s.

Long life or Advanced Organic acid technology (OAT) used in later cars.

Check your manual! The low silicate type will most likely be suitable but OAT is specified for some.

The two types are not compatible with each other and must not be mixed.

 

[West Coast]

Thank you - interesting stuff I did not know.

Engine is a VP 2003, installed in 1993. Manual not much use as says 'use only genuine VP antifreeze'

 

[VicS]

Thank you - interesting stuff I did not know.

Engine is a VP 2003, installed in 1993. Manual not much use as says 'use only genuine VP antifreeze'

Conventional type as for "older cars" will be suitable.

 

[West Coast]

Thanks, much appreciated

 

[nigelmercier]

There are two main types of ethylene glycol based antifreeze ...

Is there a way to tell the difference, such as pH? I ask because I'm about to buy several litres of the stuff from a supermarket in Tenerife, and I can't see any reference to the type.

 

[charles_reed]

Is there a way to tell the difference, such as pH? I ask because I'm about to buy several litres of the stuff from a supermarket in Tenerife, and I can't see any reference to the type.

Colour: I understand the organic acid is red and the older variety blue or green. Most antifreeze is now polypropylene glycol based and the formulation variant is on inhibitors. More importantly than not mixing the two types is to regularly drain and change as the base product breaks down to corrosive byproducts as well as losing effectiveness and developing organic contaminants which block waterways.

http://community.cengage.com/Chilto...ich-antifreeze-is-right-for-your-vehicle.aspx

 

[VicS]

Is there a way to tell the difference, such as pH? I ask because I'm about to buy several litres of the stuff from a supermarket in Tenerife, and I can't see any reference to the type.

There may be a small difference in pH but I dont know what and in any case you probably could not reliably compare new with stuff thats been in service for a while.

Colour: I understand the organic acid is red and the older variety blue or green. Most antifreeze is now polypropylene glycol based and the formulation variant is on inhibitors. More importantly than not mixing the two types is to regularly drain and change as the base product breaks down to corrosive byproducts as well as losing effectiveness and developing organic contaminants which block waterways.

http://community.cengage.com/Chilto...ich-antifreeze-is-right-for-your-vehicle.aspx

Individual manufacturers do colour code their products but there is, AFAIK, no universal standard for the colours so you cannot rely 100% on colour.

In the UK I think you will find that practically all engine coolant antifreeze is ethylene glycol based and that you have to go out of your way to find any which is propylene glycol based although it used as a heat transfer medium to some extent in the food industry. I think it may be more readily available in the USA but I have no idea what is available i Tenerife.

 

[Plevier]

Individual manufacturers do colour code their products but there is, AFAIK, no universal standard for the colours so you cannot rely 100% on colour.

In the UK I think you will find that practically all engine coolant antifreeze is ethylene glycol based and that you have to go out of your way to find any which is propylene glycol based although it used as a heat transfer medium to some extent in the food industry. I think it may be more readily available in the USA but I have no idea what is available i Tenerife.

Agree all that, would add that most often, traditional is blue or green, OAT is red but there are exceptions.

Volvo Penta brand, trad is green, OAT is yellow, not that I would use VP stuff at their prices! Conventional (concentrated, use at 40%) is about £3/litre at my local motor factors AFAIR.

There is also now Hybrid OAT which is supposed to be OK for older engines and miscible with traditional! Colour unpredictable e.g. VW stuff is purple.

For a VP2003 I would definitely use traditional. I'm sticking to traditional now for a D1-30B as well although later versions of the manual for it say you can use either.

 

[VicS]

Agree all that, would add that most often, traditional is blue or green, OAT is red but there are exceptions.

Volvo Penta brand, trad is green, OAT is yellow, not that I would use VP stuff at their prices! Conventional (concentrated, use at 40%) is about £3/litre at my local motor factors AFAIR.

.

Interesting that VP OAT is yellow. I did not know/had forgotten that. Charles Reed's link suggests that yellow is trad type. That highlights the inconsistency in the colouring between manaufacturers

 

[Plevier]

Interesting that VP OAT is yellow. I did not know/had forgotten that. Charles Reed's link suggests that yellow is trad type. That highlights the inconsistency in the colouring between manaufacturers

You made me double check, it is correct, and they say do not mix green and yellow.

 

[vyv_cox]

One good point about the traditional type is that it is sometimes sold very cheaply in unexpected outlets. Having seen some in Tesco for something like £10 for two litres I found some in Poundstretcher for 89p per litre. Both were blue.