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[TheBoy]

I don't do a huge mileage (98,000 miles now), so it has always had a roughly annual service at 10,000 miles or a bit less, and has had Mobil 1 oil from its first service.  
 

Hmmm, that doesn't sound too great to be honest.  Did this 'servicing' include bi-annual coolant flushes (and not just drop what was in rad and top up)?

Poor coolant servicing is a killer to HGs.

Oh dear. Wish I could turn the clock back. Too late now I guess

As far as I know, the coolant should have been changed in accordance with the service schedule. I know the coolant is not orignal as it is now green, but was pink when the car was new. (I thought the pink stuff was supposed to last forever.)

It would have had to be drained when the aircon condenser was changed two or three years ago, but it was green before then so it had obviously been changed at some time.

How do you fluch these systems? Is there a chemical treatement (like a central heating system) or does it have to be done with a special machine?

I guess that apart for the cost of replacing coolant, and the time taken to do it, garages probably have to pay to dispose of old antifreeze nowadays so they only do it when they have to.

NN

Red is supposed to last a max of 5yrs. Blue a max of 2 years.  Obviously you'd be daft to believe that, and would change either far more regularly.

[NaughtyNigel]

OK, but what is the flushing proceedure?

NN

[bigdods]

Green...hmm then you definately need to check the oil cooler. My 3.0  had blue in when I bought it, quicky swapped for red but it was too later, the oil cooler had corroded and failed in short order. I was told that the red stuff has different anti corrosion properties and that the oil cooler is already a bit of a weak link, using different coolant can push it over the edge.

[Entwood]

OK, but what is the flushing proceedure?

NN

My system is fairly simple .. but common I believe.

Empty from radiator drain as much as possible .. just a tad over half comes out


Fill with fresh water, run for 5 minutes, drain ... repeat 3 times.

Fill with fresh water, run until up to temp with heater set to max heat, allow to cool, drain, repeat 3 times.

With system "empty", close radiator drain, add 5 litres neat red Vx antifreeze, top up with fresh water, run with header cap off and "burp" the large hose until up to temp, with heater on max, topping up header tank as level drops.

Switch off, allow to cool, top up with fresh water. Replace header cap, run until on temp, check that heater gives good heat. Allow to cool, check level.

From this point on if any coolant needs to be added to system always ad  50/50 mix of antifreeze/water.

HTH

[NaughtyNigel]

Thank you. I didn't know whether a chemical flush was reccomended. The radiator is fabricated from very thin wall alluminium so one would need to be carefull.

NN