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MG MGB Technical - Antifreeze

Would any kind of blue antifreeze be suitable for my roadster. Thanks
Trevor Harvey

Probably. Look at the label and make sure it is glycol based, not OAT (organic acid technology) which is usually pink.
Mike Howlett

Don't just go by colours as different manufacturers use different colours for different types of anti-freeze/coolants as Mike has put check the type rather than the colour.

Older coolants that used Inorganic Additive Technology (IAT) were usually blue or green in colour but now it's best to check.
Nigel Atkins

There was a very long discussion about anti freeze not so long ago.

I use Bluecol. For what it is worth!!
Colin Parkinson

Don't mix OAT and older glycol-based as the result is a crystalline sludge.


paulh4

I have ordered a blue Hexeal antifreeze. The product has got good feedback from people who use it in there classics. I will give the system a good flush out before refilling. Thanks for the advice.
Trevor Harvey

Trevor, I've used Forlife Coolant from MGOC Spares for years now. Not the cheapest on the market, but it does last for 10 years and changes colour from red to yellow if you have a head gasket problem or a combustion seal problem.

https://4lifecoolant.co.uk/

Andy
Andy Robinson

Trevor,
I have some notes for a simple but thorough, or very thorough, system(s) of coolant/heater system cleaning that can make the system more effective at cooling and mean future changes are easier and retain the effectiveness more. Just email me if you want them.
Nigel Atkins

Hexseal seems to be ready mixed which is an expensive way of buying water.

The combustion leak detection of 4-Life is questionable. A pal had a cracked head which manifested itself as coolant being blown out of the overflow but it didn't change colour. Someone else piped exhaust gas through a sample and that didn't change colour either.

paulh4

Trevor, sorry email address.
Nigel Atkins

Andy,
I've been using and recommending 4-Life for decades (once given a small roll of the labels) in modern cars and classics so I can give a few notes from experience. Sod's Law just about every time I fill with it shortly after I have to do something that means empty it out which can be a lot of spillage and wastage with syphoning and just removing the bottom hose, so it more 4-Now with me.

It's best not to use 4-Life in engine that have just been rebuilt or are susceptible to coolant leaks as it does find the smallest of leaks, one of its benefits to me.

It doesn't always turn yellow with all coolant HGF, I can assure you of that.

I still recommend and use it for its long life (for others) and because if you do have leaks you can use it to diagnosis the source of the leak if it's not obvious.
Nigel Atkins

Paul posted whilst I was typing and I missed his post.

In the past at least, I can assure Paul and others that 4-Life did change colour with HGF as I have experience of this, I've used it in modern and classic cars so I have decades of real world on the road experience rather than just test bench experiments. - But - I'm not disagreeing, as I put in my post addressed to Andy, before seeing Paul's post, it doesn't always turn yellow with all coolant HGF, I can assure you of that, from decades of real world on the road experience.
Nigel Atkins

Nigel, your tips on thorough cleaning of the system would be useful, could you post them on here, others might find them useful also.
Trevor Harvey

Trevor,
I've expanded on them but they're on various models forums on here in various forms and lengths in the various Archives. But I've just realised I can put them here for you or anyone else to download as a PDF.

I assume most of the people I've sent them to find them to OTT or only do the basics, only two or three have reported back to say how they got on and whether or not they found the very basic and simple but thorough methods any good or effective (one put it possibly made the cooling too cool ?!?). It will also help with the heating but won't beat all the cold air that can come in with a B, the smaller Spridget cabin without fresh air vent can get too warm (well on your feet or head).

I present to you the wheel. -
Nigel Atkins

Nigel, interesting comments on Forlife coolant, but I can only speak from my own experience, which has been ok. If the colour change indication didn't work for some, then I would have thought that it should have been taken up direct with the manufacturer?

I guess another alternative would be Evans Waterless Coolant, but then you are looking at a lot of expense!

Andy
Andy Robinson

Andy,
as I put I recommend 4-Life and have done for decades, you'll find evidence on this site and I've purchased quite a few (5) litres of the stuff over the years. I was just giving some balance as there are a lot of others against its use.

I put 4-Life in my present midget 4 months after getting the car and that's 15 years ago, but don't worry there won't be a drop of the original fill in the car or any that's anywhere near 10 years use.

Evans Waterless Coolant is an entirely different product and some confuse 4-Life as being the same sort of stuff so if you put in on some forums here the two in a Search you may well find posts from me in the thread.

MGOC have it manufactured, the licence/manufacturer(?) changed a number of years ago.

Yes somebody should mention it to the supplier/manufacturer, too late for me as it was very many years ago so I have no proof or much memory of it. Perhaps the bench-testers could provide proof and pass it on but I suspect they may prefer to whinge and celebrate against a product they don't approve of - or I might be doing them a total disservice and they have passed on their findings to the supplier or manufacture in which case I apologise.

Nigel Atkins

Some engine rebuilders will not guarantee their work if Evans Waterless is used. Peter Burgess seemingly not keen on 4-Life either http://www.peter-burgess.com/indexstart.html
paulh4

"Peter Burgess seemingly not keen on 4-Life either" - it does not say that at all, it is addressing WATERLESS coolants, i.e. Evans Waterless Coolant.

As I've taken my Midget to Peter's (or Burgess as you would call him as he wrote a reference book) and had it on his rollers a number of times over the years and in all that time it has been filled with 4-Life which he would have known from my posts on the BBS and the stickers in the engine bay and that has never caused any problems or comment made.

If you won't take my word for it you can ask Peter Burgess, perhaps he was humouring me but he wouldn't risk the engine blowing on his rollers. I don't know or speak for Peter but I'd guess anyone with Evans Waterless Coolant in their vehicle he'd either not want the vehicle on his rollers or make them sign a special or amended disclaimer.

Looks like I've been going there since 2011 by the website.
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 28/07/2022 and 30/07/2022

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.