Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Zetec Coolant

Hi,

I have a 1995 Morgan 4/4 with an 1800cc silver top Zetec engine. I had a coolant hose leak recently and lost fluid which decided me to flush the system and put in new coolant. I would like to use an OAT coolant but have read somewhere that as a general rule OAT coolants are for 1996 and later cars. As a 1995 car obviously I am close to that 1996 date.

Has anyone any experience or advice on using OAT coolants on this age engine. Thanks for any help provided.

Hi David,

I use a concentrated pink G12 Truck Coolant (1:1) in my 1996 1.8Zetec. G12 is upwards mixable with G12+ (yellow or pink/orange) G13 (purple) but NOT downwards with G11 (blue green).
Also look for your coolant to be FORD compliant.

There is a lot of fuss about coolants but as long as you do not mix up the green-blueish type with the pink-orange stuff (made for motors with aluminum parts) , you should have peace of mind.

Cheers,

Mich

David, as you car should still have a traditional brass/copper/soldered radiator I would not use OAT under any circumstances

I have used Prestone coolant in many engine types/ages. It mixes with any type so safe no matter what has been in there before.

The only supposed benefit from changing to OAT is that it has a longer interval between renewal so a bit less work.

However the 2 definitely do not mix and unless you are trying to increase your service intervals I wouldn't bother.

If you do swap make absolutely certain that you have flushed out ALL the blue stuff because sometimes it can be trapped in some of the galleries or the heater core for example and then you will get some crystals forming which can in the extreme clog up parts of the cooling system.

Also, Silicone hoses prefer the old Blue Ethylene Glycol.

Personally it all seems a bit counter-intuitive to me. Why would one make changes which act to reduce the opportunities to spend time in the garage with your loved one?

Totally agree

As above Bob is correct on the hose damage issue

And don't forget OAT = organic ACID technology ! why would you want to introduce acid, however mild into an old cooling system ?

This thread made me check, and I discovered I'd put OAT in my '72. Spent much of last night flushing, and will do the same this evening!

I have an old Honda Goldwing (1978) - that requires a silicate free antifreeze as the silicate apparently destroys parts of the water pump seals.

Some manufacturers put silicate in the OAT blend, supposed to protect alloys