Recommendations for Anti Freeze

[nigel1]

Good day,
Can anyone recommend an anti-freeze suitable for a Volvo Penta TMD22.
Dont want to pay the silly prices quoted by Volvo, but on the other hand, dont want to put the wrong type in

 

[tonijon]

try german swedish www.gsfcarparts.com if their other branches are like our local very helpful and by far the cheapest place for antifreeze.

 

[akyaka]

What's special about Volvo anti freeze. We just use Halfords or similar and have had no problems.

 

[Cantata]

Yes, Halfords or (probably cheaper) any motor-factors. Regular motor antifreeze. Bluecol used to be a popular brand but I'm not aware it's anything special.
And don't buy 'ready-mixed', you are paying a lot for water, and the mix may well be 33% antifreeze where for a boat engine it should be 50%.

 

[savageseadog]

I would use one of the more advanced AF's like G12 rather than ethylene Glycol type as they are better with mixed metals.

 

[akyaka]

as they are better with mixed metals.

In what way?I'm a simple soul isn't it the water we are stopping freezing?50% mix using Halfords cheapest worked fine at -16C last winter.

 

[VicS]

There are twomain types of ethylene glycol based antifreezes.
They use different types of inhibitor:

• The traditional low silicate type, suitable for older egines
  
• The long life / advanced antifreeze which uses "Organic acid technology" or "OAT", and is only suitable for modern engines

You should therefore check the Volvo recommendations and only use the OAT type if it is specified.
I can see no mention of OAT antifreeze in the owners manual so I assume that you should use the traditional, non OAT, non long life type.
I'd expect to use a traditional antifreeze for an engine design the age of the MD22 seies

Under no circumstances mix the two!

( if in doubt about an existing antifreeze it can be topped up with a "universal" to up mixture)

If you want to move to a more environmentally friendly and non toxic antifreeze you should look for a propylene glycol based one.
I know nothing about the inhibitors used in these or their suitability for the engine I am afraid


BTW Don't exceed the recommended concentration. The effectiveness as an antifreeze diminishes again if the glycol concentration is too high.

 

[pvb]

In what way?I'm a simple soul isn't it the water we are stopping freezing?

Modern antifreeze also contains corrosion inhibitors. Some are better than others in engines which contain mixed metals.

 

[VicS]

I would use one of the more advanced AF's like G12 rather than ethylene Glycol type as they are better with mixed metals.

Are you sure that G12 is not an advanced ( OAT) ethylene glycol based antifreeze?

Are you sure it is suitable for the MD22 series engines?

 

[nigel1]

My concern is based on using a coolant/antifreeze not suitable for the materials in the MD 22 engine and coolant system.
I've got a container of Volvo Penta anti freeze on the boat, I'll see if that shows the specs for the antifreeze.
All I know so far is that the VP anti freeze is green in colour. The long life anti freezes I have seen are yellow.

 

[savageseadog]

Are you sure that G12 is not an advanced ( OAT) ethylene glycol based antifreeze?

Are you sure it is suitable for the MD22 series engines?

All I know is it's better corrosion inhibiting

Link: http://www.bluecol.co.uk/index.cfm?page=75