Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Couple of technical questions.

Nick, if you do manage to do it yourself with or without help at least you'll know it's been done correctly. Believe me most garages think a flush is fill with water and empty then fill with coolant. Despite all that sludge in the header tank I'll bet when you make the initial drain down the coolant will look fairly good, wait until you see what comes out after using a proper flushing agent.

Thanks, and thanks for offering to do it for me....sadly I'm in Hampshire..

When you come to putting in new coolant recommend Mannol AF12+ OAT anti freeze coolant for later cars. It's to G12+ spec but compatible with G11, G12 and G13 standards covering a wide range of engines. Its ready mixed to -40°C and lasts for five years minimum.

Definitely worth reading this post Nick.

https://www.talkmorgan.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/834133/1

For cleaning my plastic header tank I used Sterident tablets, actually I tried many different chemicals including drain cleaner, however, the Sterident tablets certainly worked best

Before embarking on the cleaning process I would see how much a brand new plastic header tank is on eBay, there are lots of options available for very little money, you just need to establish what car the original came from? For example, a brand new tank for my 2012 Duratec Plus 4 was less than £20, I belive it's for a Mk1 Ford Focus. Given how cheap a new one is, and had I not been so succesful cleaning my original with Sterident tablets, I definitely would have just replaced it.

Prestone coolant is the way forward in my opionion, they also offer a good flush treatment that works really well. Obviously the Prestone flush chemical is compatable with their coolant, so if you do the full Prestone flush and refill process with their coolant you know it's done right, you're also left with a cooling system that doesn't need another coolant change for a full 10 years

Dave.

Yep I'm totally with Dave there!

Nick, heads up. a filthy expansion tank is the most significant sign that your engine is in dire need of a flush (a full cleaning) and that a change of coolant might be necessary as well.
Both are evidence of super slack maintenance. What you see in the tank is what you see if you opened up your engine. The dirty tank itself is merely a visible, largely aesthetic warning.

I test my Morgans' coolant once a year (coolant degrades) https://shorturl.at/s5cwL AND flush my Morgan engines once every two years.

It involves removing the thermostat (a minimum) and ideally removing the engine water/drain cocks. Other than it it is not tedious, merely vital though it has not been mentioned.
Google "does a dirty coolant tank indicate a engine flush is necessary?"

Lorne

P.S. Do you wish detailed instructions for an engine? It is all well within the expertise of an amateur, assuming guidance. Otherwise, in the UK, it costs an average of 65 pounds though I have heard some charge 200.

Lorne, They could always take it to a main dealer and they would massage the wallet for you! Main dealers quoting over £1500 now for a main service on a trad plus 8. Surely that's a grand too much!

Really appreciate all your responses, many thanks