[C320-list] Coolant Colour & Demineralised Water

[Rick Sulewski]

Annie,
In my opinion you will likely not have an issue even for a season or two.
However, you could always contact a Perkin's manufacturer's tech at their
website (secure the phone # or email address) and inquire about your
concerns and next steps. I have found that that there are preferred fluids
and acceptable alternatives, depending upon your location and a Perkins tech
rep may help ease your short term concern.  I  had a similar questions about
changing from pink to green antifreeze when I had my Corvette serviced by a
dealer when they changed out my fluids.  What I learned is that today's
antifreeze mixtures are more forgiving/compatible than a decade ago when it
comes to short term mixing or complete fluid changes. While there may be a
preferred schedule/fluid to completely change over from one blend to another
as is the case with an engine & cooling system, now days most antifreeze
mixtures indicate their products are compatible with all others and so you
could also contact the antifreeze manufacturer's tech rep. Because there is
often a manufacturer's preferred fluid or provider does not always mean an
alternative will be harmful in the short term or long term so contacting a
Perkins engine tech may save you some time, money & further aggravation at
this point. 
Rick My-Ria #277

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Annie Bennett
Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2013 7:46 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Coolant Colour & Demineralised Water

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
>