|
200 Series General Forum for the Volvo 240 and 260 cars |
Information |
|
Best type of Antifreeze for Vovlo 240?Views : 4889 Replies : 8Users Viewing This Thread : |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
Oct 29th, 2013, 16:28 | #1 |
New Member
Last Online: Nov 3rd, 2013 10:38
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Selangor
|
Best type of Antifreeze for Vovlo 240?
Hey Guys,
This is my first post on this forum, so please be kind! I have a fleet of three Volvo 240GL's and one Volvo 244. I live in a humid country with temperature running from 30 to 40 degrees c. It has just reached the peak of the hot season now, and the volvo's are getting hotter then preferable. Slightly below the half mark on the temperature gauge. (Usually it goes up to a little over quarter at max) I usually just use plain water for filling up the radiator's but i guess this wheather calls for something more now. My question is what type of antifreeze would fit best for the volvo 240/244 radiator? And what ratio to mix with water? |
Oct 29th, 2013, 16:57 | #2 | |
Master Member
Last Online: Mar 28th, 2023 17:33
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Aberystwyth
|
Quote:
Engine temperature will be a feature of a number of things, how well its running (for example; if the valve clearances are too tight or the fuel/air mixture to lean it can run hotter than normal), whether the thermostat is okay, whether the fan's doing its job or whether there's air in the cooling system. Each of these might have a bearing on where the needle shows up on the dial. "Anti-freeze" does a number of things in addition to lowering the freezing point of the coolant. It acts as a corrosion inhibitor most specifically between the aluminium cylinder head and the engine block/head gasket and should always be added to coolant for this reason alone. It also has lubricating properties that help the water pump to function more smoothly. If you've been running on tap water for some time your issues could be consequential blockages in your system. If I was coming at this situation for the first time I would change the water adding a cooling system cleaner to a fresh refill and run the engine to clean it. After leaving the engine to cool a while I'd then remove the hoses and the thermostat then, setting the heater to max, blast a hose though the engine, the radiator, the water pump … in both directions, until it runs clear. I'd then replace the thermostat (Volvo mostly sells 92C thermostats but you might be able to find cooler ones locally; there were official 82 and 87C ones I recall), refit the hoses and very slowly refill the system with 50/50 anti-freeze/water mix. The car takes about 10L (check your handbook) so 5L of anti-freeze should work. Under these circumstances I'd get A/F from the Volvo dealer if I were you. |
|
Oct 29th, 2013, 18:59 | #3 |
VOC Member
Last Online: Today 13:31
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: telford
|
Blucol 50/50 mix
__________________
1998 945 Torslanda estate named Wendy wood dash,Half leather. rear spoiler electric front windows, wind deflectors electric mirrors and egg crate grill all fitted by me. One life live it Volvo style |
The Following User Says Thank You to wrinkles For This Useful Post: |
Oct 29th, 2013, 19:46 | #4 |
Stay gold baby!
Last Online: Jul 24th, 2022 17:15
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Bristol
|
Use blue-coloured glycol based antifreeze. Don't mix it with any other colours, this can either corrode the aluminium parts of the engine or turn to sludge. Use a 30/70 to 50/50 mix of antifreeze/water (volvo recommends 50/50) Using de-ionised/distilled water rather than tap water is best, especially if you live in a hard water area.
By the way, the temperature gauge reading halfway is absolutely normal and where it should be sitting at normal operating temperature. If it's consistently reading colder than that your engine's not reaching normal operating temperature, increasing wear and fuel consumption.
__________________
Click to see 240 parts I want to give you money for! |
Oct 29th, 2013, 20:08 | #5 | |
Experienced Member
Last Online: Today 12:34
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: L/H side
|
Quote:
Also your thermostat wiill need replacing the engine is overcooling , it should ALWAYS be half way up the scale ...
__________________
My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience . |
|
Oct 29th, 2013, 21:19 | #6 |
Trader Volvo in my veins
Last Online: Today 00:48
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Anglesey
|
These engines should not be run on pure water as the water ways in the head corrode up and end up needing welding.
|
Nov 1st, 2013, 09:53 | #7 |
Not an expert but ...
Last Online: Today 09:16
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Boncath
|
Is it always hot where you are, and do you actually need the antifreeze properties of the mixture? You certain need an anti-corrosion additive, but perhaps in hot countries there is a more dedicated product?
In any case, 50/50 sounds unnecessarily strong - that would be more appropriate for Alaska or northern Norway. Remember that antifreeze does not have such good cooling properties as water, so it is a mistake to use too much. |
The Following User Says Thank You to Clifford Pope For This Useful Post: |
Nov 1st, 2013, 10:02 | #8 |
Master Member
Last Online: Jan 21st, 2018 17:48
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Nottingham
|
Water has a high specific heat capacity, true, but that also means it hangs on to gained heat and is less efficient at dumping it in the radiator. Antifreeze cools off more rapidly as it travels through the finned core. You have to lose heat somewhere...
__________________
rollin' rollin' rollin' |
The Following User Says Thank You to Michael J For This Useful Post: |
Nov 3rd, 2013, 14:32 | #9 |
Not an expert but ...
Last Online: Today 09:16
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Boncath
|
I must be wrong then. When I had a Triumph Stag, an engine renowned both for corroding and overheating, we were warned not to be tempted to use stronger than 50/50 because the impaired cooling effect would come into play, with no advantage in corrosion resistance.
|
Tags |
antifreeze, coolant, radiator |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|