| Author |
Message |
    
Rans (Rans)
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 10:51 am: | 
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When I bought my D2 in 1999 the Dealer told me that the coolant in the truck was "special". He told me never to mix it with standard coolant. Sounded like another Dealer retention ploy, but as I've never had a need to add to it or change it I just forgot about it......until now. Now I have a coolant leak, seems to be coming from the bottom of my radiator, but I can't see in clearly enough to isolate the spot. The plan is to get it to the Dealer on Monday when he next has an opening (It's still under warranty). In the meantime, the leak is slow, and I've added a little water twice now to avoid it running too low. I've been afraid to add more coolant due to the advise mentioned above. So what I want to know is, whats the truth to the Dealers original claim? If it is true, can I use any other kind of after market coolant? Does someone sell the same stuff LR uses? Or can I mix it? |
Paul T. Schram (Paulschram)
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 11:01 am: |
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Rans:
I am in the middle of a top end rebuild due to insufficient glycol in the coolant. Add some of whatever you can find! Worst case, they can flush it out and put their special voodoo juice back in. Right now, I'd be more concerned about the actual freezing point of the solution you now have. I foolishly assumed that the dissolved salts and the little glycol that was present would be sufficient to depress the molal freezing point of the solution below ambient temperatures and now have an almost $600 repair and I've done all the work myself.
Awful expensive to replace the valve cover gaskets if you ask me (they needed replacement due to leakage). Oh yeah, I also painted my valve covers.
Expensive lessons are the best. This one will be remembered for a long time to come.
Paul |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 11:32 am: |
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RANDY - This is what I found. I'll email you about my source on the Philly Rovers Group.
Coolant specification
Use ONLY a 50% mix of water and Havoline
Extended Life Coolant (XLC) or any ethylene
glycol based anti-freeze (containing no
methanol) with only Organic Acid Technology
(OAT) corrosion inhibitors.
In an emergency - and only if this type of
anti-freeze is unavailable - top-up the cooling
system with clean water, but be aware of the
resultant reduction in frost protection. DO NOT
top-up or refill with conventional anti-freeze
formulations. If in doubt consult a Land Rover
dealer. |
Paul T. Schram (Paulschram)
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 11:45 am: |
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I stand corrected.
Hopefully it won't get too cold and he won't exceed the capabilities of his coolant (anti-freeze). However, it was topping up with plain water that caused my meltdown.
Given a choice between needing a complete engine teardown (ok, so maybe I didn't pull the crank) versus using what's available, I'll take the available.
Weren't these vehicles supposed to run in the middle of nowhere with little more than a hope and a prayer? Oh, that must have been my Series...
Paul |
Rans (Rans)
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 12:38 pm: |
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Thanks everyone.
I've only added 16oz of water, and I'm sure that hasn't diluted it beyond the 20 degree temps this week. It's garaged overnight as well, but I really do appreciated the warning and the dangers of a freeze up.
I'll pickup some XLC with OAC on the way home tonight. |
todd slater (Toddslater)
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 02:41 pm: |
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In further support of the OAT corrosion inhibitors...I was at my local machine shop a few weeks ago getting an aluminum intake welded up...don't know exactly how we got onto the subject be he told/showed me the effects of years of regular antifreeze on aluminum (heads in this case). It isn't pretty. As Paul says, if in a real pinch it's better than freezing and cracking, but after the emergency is gone flush it out and put in the OAT antifreeze. |
Paul T. Schram (Paulschram)
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 17, 2002 - 03:07 pm: |
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Cracking wasn't the problem. The radiator is apparently OK, with luck, tonight, I'll know if the block was damaged.
The damage was visible in the loss of head gasket integrity, the loss of two exhaust valve guides, and finally, the warping of the heads.
The water in the block not only remained liquid, but did nothing to the freeze plugs, although, I have seen many SBC with busted water jackets and intact freeze plugs.
Man, I hope I don't need a new block.
Paul |
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