Well it's been awhile since i have posted anything, but in the mean time the aluminum radiator on my '72 has sprung a major leak. I am guessing that there was a small leak when I got the car about 2 years ago, but I didn't realize it and now its a lot bigger. There isn't anyone in my area who works well with aluminum so I decided to just buy a new one.

I have a new radiator now (in a box in my front room) waiting to be installed. My question is what type of radiator fluid/coolant should I be using? I have been doing lots of reading of these forums and other internet sources over that past several days and I am just getting more and more confused.

When I first drained and refilled my old radiator last summer (or maybe early fall can't remember exactly), the fluid that came out was highlighter yellow/green. I replaced it with a Prestone universal type from advanced autoparts (about the same color).

In retrospect, I wonder if this was the wrong type of coolant to use and also wonder if the owner before me was not using an appropriate type of coolant leading to early breakdown of the aluminum (or maybe they just didn't change the fluid often enough).

Anyway, do you all have any recommendations in terms of type/brand of coolant to use? And any suggestions on where to get it?

I am hoping to put the new radiator in this weekend. I am assuming I should do a good flush of the engine as well, to get any old coolant out. I don't know how to do this, but I think my buddy does. Either way, any suggestions on how to best flush this system? any good videos out there on how to do this? Any other pit falls I should look out for?

As always, thanks in advance, you guys are a huge help.

 

I've always just used the green full strength stuff and mixed my own water in. Much cheaper than buying the pre-mixed stuff. I have that in my Camaro, the Satellite, and my Jeep and don't have any problems.

If yours has heat, back flush it through the heater core and out the bottom radiator hose. You could refill it with just water, let it idle to temp, shut if off and then drain it and repeat till the water is clear.

Here's a good read:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...oducts/1272436

 

I never use premix antifreeze, and brand hasn't ever been a concern for me. I'm picky about my oil and gas, but not coolant. Flushing an engine is pretty easy since your radiator will be out. Just wrap a rag around a garden hose and stick it in the upper radiator hose (still hooked to the engine) Turn it on and let it run out the lower hose until clear. Then reverse it and run it in the lower until it runs clear from the upper. Let it drain, and refill after the new radiator is in.

 

Make sure you use distilled water when you do the mixing. Most tap water has a certain amount of minerals in it that can eventually lead to corrosion.

 

Good point! I forget about that since our water is so free of minerals. We use tap water all the time here, and don't have that worry.

 

Thanks for all of the advice guys.

Have any of you ever had an experience with Zerex G-05 (Valvoline.com > Products > Zerex > Antifreeze Zerex > Zerex G-05)?

My buddy keeps on insisting that because this is an all aluminum radiator with an aluminum core that it needs a special kind of coolant? Any thoughts?

 

Deionized distilled water. Stops electrolysis that happens between iron and aluminum. Well slows it down.

 

Ive been using be-cool in all my cars for years, no overheating problems at all.


http://www.summitracing.com/parts/bci-25001/overview/

 

Whatever you buy for coolant these days will be approved for aluminum radiators. All the new cars use aluminum radiators, so the antifreeze today is made for that purpose.