Why you should use good coolant

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 8:47 pm

In the process of EJ20G-ifying my RX, I have modified the radiator bottom an top supports to house a WRX 25mm radiator.

I have 2 secondhand radiators, one with a few holes in the core but good end tanks, the other had a good core, but the drives side end tank has signs of being too hot and the inlet had a crack in it.

So I decided I would take my chances and pull the endtanks off and make 1 good radiator.

This is what I found.

The cores were over 50% blocked and there was a heap of powdered gunk in the end tank.

This is the cracked inlet on the good core (externally)

This is the damaged core that had the good end tanks. It has obviously had good coolant throughout its life.

So I hooked up the cold end to a hose and with water flowing, I used a hacksaw blade to clean the cores on the hot end (usually the only end that blocks up)

Once I had finished, there was clean, even water flow from every core, but I didn't take any more photos cos it got too dark

Now I just have to re-attach the end tank to the core

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 11:46 pm

Interesting and good work, You should now buy Subaru coolant:p

But more interesting, Plz show and tell us how you mod to fit the WRX radiator.
Planning to do a ej20 conversion to my vortex and it would help:)

Post by **Alex** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 12:07 am

The powdery stuff looks like chemiweld?

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

Post by **Alex** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 12:07 am

Very impressive effort to remove them end tanks also!

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

mud_king91 · Post by **mud_king91** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:54 am

another reason is cheap and nasty coolant can destroy head gaskets

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 5:05 am

To make it fit, I cut the bottom radiator support out and replaced it with a piece of 50x50x3mm angle

And then massaged the top support with a large hammer till it fit

Alex wrote:Very impressive effort to remove them end tanks also!

Nah not really, I only used a flat bladed screwdriver to pry the little tabs up.

The impressive part will be putting it back together without it leaking.

Phizinza · Post by **Phizinza** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 5:10 pm

Or another reason is good coolant doesn't really cost that much anyhow...

Post by **Alex** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 5:46 pm

what everyones favourite coolant?

i use tectaloy gold concentrate with demineralised water

i think its good cos its never let me down and its all ive ever used.

pitrack_1 · Post by **pitrack_1** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:16 pm

( Pics deleted for brevity )

Gannon wrote: In the process of EJ20G-ifying my RX, I have modified the radiator bottom an top supports to house a WRX 25mm radiator.

I have 2 secondhand radiators, one with a few holes in the core but good end tanks, the other had a good core, but the drives side end tank has signs of being too hot and the inlet had a crack in it.

So I decided I would take my chances and pull the endtanks off and make 1 good radiator.

This is what I found.

The cores were over 50% blocked and there was a heap of powdered gunk in the end tank.

This is the cracked inlet on the good core (externally)

This is the damaged core that had the good end tanks. It has obviously had good coolant throughout its life.
...

The beauty was only skin deep. Actually things were rotten to the core.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:21 pm

Alex wrote:what everyones favourite coolant?

i use tectaloy gold concentrate with demineralised water

i think its good cos its never let me down and its all ive ever used.

I used to use that, until I froze my block in the snow last year. I was meant to grab this stuff - Tectaloy Anti Freeze Anti Boil:

Goes well.

Cheers

Bennie

D3V1L · Post by **D3V1L** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:53 pm

i now use toyota red in my cars.

romoured be the best, even nissan,
holden, and ford now use it rebadged as their own

davo

90brumby · Post by **90brumby** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 10:09 pm

i use cat red coolant we use it in everything at work so whats the difference to a car at home

NachaLuva · Post by **NachaLuva** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 10:55 pm

Is the Subaru coolant anti-freeze too?

mud_king91 · Post by **mud_king91** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 4:57 am

D3V1L wrote:i now use toyota red in my cars.

romoured be the best, even nissan,
holden, and ford now use it rebadged as their own

davo

i use mercedes as tectalloy ate my head gasket... FAIL!

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 5:04 am

Any one try Whisky??? I know where to get tones of Canadian Clubs:p

sublime · Post by **sublime** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 12:48 pm

The important part for Subaru engines in terms of coolant is not what the product is called but how much etheylene glycol is actually in the solution.

Years ago this was always listed on the bottle (but seems to have now disappeared from most...) as an amount such as m/mol per litre. Anything over 1080 m/mol per litre is what a Subaru needs (So do V6 Commonwhores and others).

Smokey · Post by **Smokey** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 2:43 pm

I have used Castrol Anti-Freeze Anti-Boil in the past. I am happy with the results over time. Comes in a 2.5L concentrated form. Mix with water at 33% coolant to water. You can mix more up to 50% but 33% (rough 3L juice bottle measure method) has worked well for me so far. Then there are corrosion additives but I have never used these.

Agree with sublime, higher the glycol the better value for money your getting.