Peter Pick-Up said:

One more thing:
Go for own experiences, not: "I believe", or I've heard" or "look at Wikipedia" or whatever.
Own experiences on maintenance is what counts, nothing else.

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You are so right.....

I agree experience is essential.

So on that note:

Blue antifreeze (ideally Paraflu) will DEFINITELY NOT damage anything used in a classic Panda for 28 years. Someone counter that with a red OAT based Panda experience over the same period, and I'll accept there is no obvious problem

You have no choice, blue Paraflu is no longer being made by Selenia for some time now.
Maybe you can find some old stock somewhere, but in the end you HAVE to use Paraflu UP G12, I'm afraid.

( At least if you follow the factory recommendations on coolant....)

Peter Pick-Up said:

One more thing:
Go for own experiences, not: "I believe", or I've heard" or "look at Wikipedia" or whatever.
Own experiences on maintenance is what counts, nothing else.

Click to expand...

So based on that, tap water is fine then :spin:

If you prefer to use tapwater over the advised distilled water, go ahead.

:shrug:

Btw, I know of many workshops/dealers that use tapwater as well.
But, they don't expect cars to last, I do.

Peter Pick-Up said:

One more thing:
Go for own experiences, not: "I believe", or I've heard" or "look at Wikipedia" or whatever.
Own experiences on maintenance is what counts, nothing else.

Click to expand...

Sorry i've only been working on cars, industrial/commercial heating, unvented and fresh water system for 15+ years im kinda new to this stuff :shrug:

Could not resist, sorry.

I've looked at the debated thread and could not see RO water noted. I likely missed it though.

I use RO water (reverse osmosis) tested with a TDS meter (Total Dissolved Solids) to be at 0. Its from tap water to begin with but I like it better than anything I've used to date. Costs bugger all (if you have an RO unit) and you can use it for flushing too. I've used it for years on everything from Jap import 4x4s to jap import sports stuff and monsters.

If you dont have an RO unit find someone who keeps marine fish. Thats why I bought mine, then put it to work with the cars as well as with the fish :slayer:

Oh and if you really want that spot free rinse, use a bucket or two of that as well when washing

Oh and tried the red stuff once and didn't like the look of the colour in the expansion bottle, so I dishwasher tabbed and went back to blue, looks loads better.

looks are very important you know

VmanC said:

Unscrew it yes but not all the way out, it has a slot up the threads which allows the air/coolant to escape after undoing it three or four turns. Do this when you first fill up then close when you see coolant coming out, run engine with heater set to hot until fan kicks in, let it cool then top up if necessary. You could then open the bleed screws again and run the engine until coolant runs out etc etc. Eventually coolant will immediately come out of the bleed screws, then you're full .

Expansion tank should only be about half full when done. The lowest place to drain the cooling system is to take the bottom hose off the radiator, this does tend to leave some coolant in the lower part of the block and in the heater, which is why you can't get get all 5.2 litres in, keep this in mind when you mix your coolant ratio.

Sorry most of this is repeating what's already been said.

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Thanks for this guide Vern - it worked a treat.
All topped up and air bled out.
However as the system got up to around 90C on the guage I noticed some steam coming from the radiator in the area of the fan (which has still not kicked in by now).
When I first got her and ran her up to temperature I noticed this steam before, but it was snowing at the time so I thought it might just have been that, but obviously not.
Should the fan have kicked in earlier than 90C, and any ideas on the steam?
When I changed the coolant I did flush the radiator as well and it was running clean.

Steam will probably be water you've got inbetween the rad fins when flushing it, I wouldn't worry about it until you've had the car running a good half hour or so, fan should kick in about 90, some seem to come in slightly earlier, and others slightly later (95 at the latest!).

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Steam will probably be water you've got inbetween the rad fins when flushing it, I wouldn't worry about it until you've had the car running a good half hour or so, fan should kick in about 90, some seem to come in slightly earlier, and others slightly later (95 at the latest!).

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The steam came out last time as well, and I hadn't flushed it on that occasion.
Maybe there is a leak somewhere?
I will fire her up again and see what happens when we get to 95C

They do seem to do that in wet weather - as MEP said water gets in the fins. If it evaporates as it heats up, and then stops, it's ok.

Hey thanks for the encouragement and re assurance guys. It's great to be able speak to people that know these little cars inside out.
I fired her up again and kept the bonnet closed. The fan kicked in somewhere between 90 and 95C. Also the steam evaporated itself away as well (as you predicted)!
Fantastic!
Just a bit off topic for a second - but my son was round here working on his lairy Nissan 200SX Turbo yesterday and he was studying Belladonna with her roofs open and he said:
"Dad, would you let me lower it a bit, put some wheel arch extensions on, some fatter, 13" wheels and a nice Italian steering wheel?" If so, I'll insure it for me as a daily driver to give the Nissan a rest".
I said no, but I was quite pleased he was even considering it.

pooroldcodger said:

I said no,

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Correct answer

Talon is using a mix of colant and RO water... if anyone wants to know its £2.50 for a 25l worth. from a tropical fish shop. i know.. i worked in one

pooroldcodger said:

Just a bit off topic for a second - but my son was round here working on his lairy Nissan 200SX Turbo yesterday and he was studying Belladonna with her roofs open and he said:
"Dad, would you let me lower it a bit, put some wheel arch extensions on, some fatter, 13" wheels and a nice Italian steering wheel?" If so, I'll insure it for me as a daily driver to give the Nissan a rest".
I said no, but I was quite pleased he was even considering it.

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Well it's good that he's at least interested, maybe suggest he sells the Nissan and buy himself a Panda to do up himself

I can't see that happening. I think his Nissan is like his dominant female.
He spends all his money on her and spends a long time lying underneath her!

Looks like I've resurrected an old thread but couldn't find anything more specific.
Any of yous ever come across '4 Life' coolant? My Panda came with it already in the engine and the car took forever to get up to 90 degrees; would often run at a steady 70 degrees and that's in summer/early autumn temperatures! Has all the hallmarks of a permanent open thermostat but I've my suspicions that it might be the 4 Life coolant as I recall reading about some similar stuff years ago that was designed to keep the engine cooler.

Anyway, changed the coolant today for the 50/50 blue glycol stuff along with the 'stat and top hose. 'Stat looked as though it had already been changed in last year or so as it was clean and shiny compared to the rest of the engine. Good result though as car heats up normally and sits at 85 to 90 degrees just as you'd expect.

Didn't want the 4 Life despite its great claims after some Googling found reports that it can leak through gaskets and joints alot easier than the bog standard stuff! Doesn't bother me to change coolant every two years and I certainly don't want unnecessary leaks.

Would like to hear if anyone else had used this and what affect it had?

I've a full 5 litre container of the stuff still sealed if anyone local in N. Ireland wants it for free they can come and get it. It came with the Panda when I bought it and I'll end up selling it on Gumtree or somewhere just to get it away. I hate waste so would rather someone got use out of it.

i never have used it, but was considering it a few years ago.
i personally wish cars used light mineral oil as the coolant.. i guess rubber hoses would be the issue then.. sigh.