MtB Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 I called into a motor factor a few days ago to get some antifreeze and to my surprise, they had a new type of antifreeze on sale which claims to be totally universal. No more stressing about what antifreeze is in the engine now, blue, pink, OAT, or whatever, just bung this stuff in and it will be totally compatible. Apparently. Yippee. https://prestone.com/product/prestone-all-vehicles-antifreezecoolant-ready-to-use/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pearley Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 Seems to be available to Screwfix and Toolstation to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyG Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 (edited) The guys who were servicing my boat (£500), told me about about this and told me they would top my engine with this, that was about four months ago, but they forgot to do it, what's new So I need some, I'm near Screwfix, what is it called? Do I dilute it, I guess I need a litre of fluid, but concentrated. Edited November 26, 2022 by LadyG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eeyore Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 (edited) 4 hours ago, MtB said: I called into a motor factor a few days ago to get some antifreeze and to my surprise, they had a new type of antifreeze on sale which claims to be totally universal. No more stressing about what antifreeze is in the engine now, blue, pink, OAT, or whatever, just bung this stuff in and it will be totally compatible. Apparently. Yippee. https://prestone.com/product/prestone-all-vehicles-antifreezecoolant-ready-to-use/ I can see that they claim compatibility with "all engines" following a full flush and refill with their product. But just to clarify your post is there a link to any mention of it being compatible with other types of antifreeze? Edited November 26, 2022 by Eeyore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyG Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 16 minutes ago, pearley said: Seems to be available to Screwfix and Toolstation to. What a surprise. 2 minutes ago, Eeyore said: I can see that they claim compatibility with "all engines" following a full flush and refill with their product. But just to clarify your post is there a link to any mention of it being compatible with other types of antifreeze? Anything wil be "compatible" if the engine cooling system is drained, flushed, and replaced Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eeyore Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 2 minutes ago, LadyG said: What a surprise. Anything wil be "compatible" if the engine cooling system is drained, flushed, and replaced Not strictly true as some products are material/manufacturer specific, but I take your point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 24 minutes ago, pearley said: Seems to be available to Screwfix and Toolstation to. I guess it depends how much you need. But Screwfix seem to e only selling in a 1 litre size, and as far as I can see it is "ready to use", which seems to mean it comes already diluted 50%/50% with water. Is so that's £7 for just (effectively) half a litre. I don't think I'll be using it in my cetral heating system! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frangar Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 I wonder how it copes with copper/iron/alloy etc....as I understand it one of the issues with OAT type antifreeze is that no one has said it's OK for older engines which often have a mixture of these metals...theres certainly some reservations in the classic vehicle movement for its use on older machines...Id love to use a longer life antifreeze in my boat as Ive got a rather large skin tank I need 83 litres of mixed coolant so the cost saving not to mention time saving would be great...however the cost of a component failure wouldn't be cheap either....and no manufacturer of antifreeze seems to want to put in writing that their long life product is suitable for a vintage engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyG Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 (edited) What is OAT? What do I have? Where do I buy neat stuff? 50 50 seems very strong for a boat, I have no idea what the volume is in my boat . I know I was adding a lot of water in summer, so I expect it's dilute I think I can add a litre Please do not make suggestions unless you have a scientific understanding, ie no hunches. I will read the instructions. Edited November 26, 2022 by LadyG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 3 minutes ago, LadyG said: What is OAT. What do I have. Where do I buy neat stuff? 50 50 seems very strong for a boat, I have no idea what the volume is in my boat . I know I was adding a lot of water in summer, so I expect it's dilute I think I can add a litre If you buy ''neat stuff'' don't mix it with tap water especially if it's hard water. Buy distilled water or use rain water which is distilled and just filter it through a cloth first. Or thawed ice from a fridge. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momac Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 I don't think Prestone antifreeze is particularly new. I haven't used it but no doubt it is okay . I believe Prestone can be used for top up with any antifreeze type. I expect the Prestone at Toolstation etc is the ready to use (readmixed) type. I decided to use concentrated Ethylene Glycol antifreeze (not Prestone) for a very recent coolant change (following flushing with water ). I had used ready mix previously for a coolant change which was short lived and this was probably because of dilution due to liquid that is retained in the system. By using concentrate I made allowance for retained flushing water by making it a 60%coolant to 40% water mix (or thereabouts). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyG Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 So, to summarise, Universal is not "universal" or compatible. For most engines, and heating systems it is best to drain and flush completely before refilling with a diluted antifreeze, provided it is not excluded by the engine manufacturer, and it is good stuff! If you don't know what you have already, the above knowledge won't help if you need to top up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 12 minutes ago, LadyG said: So, to summarise, Universal is not "universal" or compatible. For most engines, and heating systems it is best to drain and flush completely before refilling with a diluted antifreeze, provided it is not excluded by the engine manufacturer, and it is good stuff! If you don't know what you have already, the above knowledge won't help if you need to top up. Wow, 4 hours and now you are an antifreeze guru too. 1 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob-M Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 4 hours ago, pearley said: Seems to be available to Screwfix and Toolstation to. And sold in Tesco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momac Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 3 hours ago, LadyG said: 50 50 seems very strong for a boat, I thought 50/50 normal for the UK? 27 minutes ago, LadyG said: So, to summarise, Universal is not "universal" or compatible. Demon Cool claims to be universal . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 35 minutes ago, matty40s said: Wow, 4 hours and now you are an antifreeze guru too. You are correct - 'wow' - it normally only takes her an hour ! (must be ill) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philjw Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 If you can get in there, Costco sell Prestone concentrate in 5 litres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momac Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 By the way the antifreeze is nor just for frost protection. It increases the boiling point and helps protect the cooling system against corrosion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Brooks Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 Don't know about the Prestone stuff but it normally also reduces the specific heat capacity of the water in the system, so more than a certain concentration is not a good idea, Especially on narrow boats than might well have an undersized skin tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewIC Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 4 hours ago, MartynG said: I don't think Prestone antifreeze is particularly new. I haven't used it but no doubt it is okay . I believe Prestone can be used for top up with any antifreeze type. I expect the Prestone at Toolstation etc is the ready to use (readmixed) type. I decided to use concentrated Ethylene Glycol antifreeze (not Prestone) for a very recent coolant change (following flushing with water ). I had used ready mix previously for a coolant change which was short lived and this was probably because of dilution due to liquid that is retained in the system. By using concentrate I made allowance for retained flushing water by making it a 60%coolant to 40% water mix (or thereabouts). Remind me, is ethylene glycol the old blue stuff? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frangar Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 Just now, AndrewIC said: Remind me, is ethylene glycol the old blue stuff? Its most commonly blue...but best to check the packaging as manufacturers dont always stick to a colour code Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewIC Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 Just now, frangar said: Its most commonly blue...but best to check the packaging as manufacturers dont always stick to a colour code Ta. The last lot I had was Holt’s blue concentrated, but it appears that Holt’s and Prestone are now part of the same family. incidentally, that Prestone link does claim compatibility with “all fluid colours”, and “all engines, new and old”, and suitability for a complete flush or for topping up (i.e. mixing fluids). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momac Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 9 minutes ago, AndrewIC said: Remind me, is ethylene glycol the old blue stuff? The smith and alan product I used is blue and pictured above is old school ethylene glycol. Be aware there is no common ground regarding colour as its just a dye. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenA Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 Been using it for years.... seems pretty good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackrose Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 59 minutes ago, MartynG said: By the way the antifreeze is nor just for frost protection. It increases the boiling point and helps protect the cooling system against corrosion. It also enhances the heat transfer properties of water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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