[C320-list] Coolant Colour & Demineralised Water

[Annie Bennett]

Thanks very much Stephen.  I'll get the water you suggest from Woolworths and the coolant you gave me the link to.  Do you think what he's done is ok for 6 months or do you think it would be much better to get it changed a.s.a.p.?  I find it rather awkward asking a mechanic to redo what they've just done but I guess the longevity of the engine is more important than offending someone and I want to get him back in the near future to fit a replacement black rubber clip to the engine box in the aft cabin.  One broke off when he was removing the cover and he said he's got some spares.  I didn't think it would matter but a clicking noise now comes from the engine which at first gave me an "Oh no what now!" sinking feeling but it stops immediately you hold the engine box firmly with your hand.  I don't know if he would have flushed out the red or just drained it out.  I assume one 6 litre container of water would be plenty for both flushing and mixing with the coolant?
Annie

On 26/09/2013, at 6:16 PM, "Stephen Cox" <scox at timmin.com> wrote:

>> When my exhaust mixer elbow was cleaned out a couple of days 
>> ago, the mechanic also changed the coolant. 
>> 
>> My two questions are:-
>> 
>> 1. Does it matter that the coolant he drained out was red and 
>> the coolant he's replaced it with it green.  The label on the 
>> bottle was "Zerex G-05 Formula Anti Freeze Anti-boil coolant 
>> concentration requires dilution" 
>> 
>> 2. I noticed after he'd topped up the coolant with tap water 
>> from the galley sink, that the bottle said you should use 
>> demineralised water.
>> 
>> When I asked him, he said there's no difference between the 
>> colours (although my googling seems to indicate that red 
>> lasts longer?) and he said using tap or distilled water makes 
>> no difference (although my googling suggests that tap water 
>> causes corrosion).
>> 
> 
> Annie,
> 
> My reading on the internet indicates that Yanmar recommends the red/orange
> over the green as there have been side issues with the green to do with the
> silicates it contains.  The coolant your mechanic has put in is "low
> silicate" whereas Yanmar recommend no silicate content. See
> http://www.scyr.org/stellablue/Yanmar_Coolant.pdf for the advisory and
> http://www.caltex.com.au/FPL%20PDS/Extended%20Life%20Coolant.pdf for the
> details of the first of the recommended coolants in Australia.  One can't
> help thinking the mechanic doesn't bother to read the Yanmar Advisories or
> else considers himself to be more knowledgeable than Yanmar.
> 
> The two differing types should not be mixed which means when changing to a
> different type you need to completely flush the system including the hot
> water heater hoses and tubes.  This should be done with distilled water
> rather than tap water.  Having said that, Sydney water is pretty good so may
> not be the issue it could be in some areas.
> 
> If you are looking for an easy, cost effective source of distilled water,
> Woolworths carry Moore's Distilled Water in 6 litre containers for around
> $5.  You will find it in the drinks/juice section.  This is the preferred
> steam distilled rather than the arguably problematic demineralised water you
> so often find in most places.
> 
> Stephen Cox
> Tegwen #1141
>