Hi, sorry that my first post is a request for help, but since owning my first Punto back in August (now onto a 2001 Mk2) I've always found this site to be really helpful, so a belated thanks for that.

However, I now find myself faced with a problem that I can't find the answer to here, or elsewhere for that matter.

I want to drain and refill my cooling system (as I've no idea what's in there at the moment and it needs slight topping up) and both the manual and a sticker under the bonnet are telling me to use 'Paraflu 11'. The trouble is, I've never heard of it, my tutor at my mechanics class (with 40 years experience in the trade) has never heard of it and I can't find it for sale anywhere except ebay for £7 a litre plus postage.

The Haynes manual says to use a 'monoethylene glycol' mix which was fine until I looked at the Haynes manual for my wife's Micra which uses simply an 'ethylene glycol' mix, which is also the wording on all the antifreeze I've ever seen. Is the mono important? My meagre chemistry background is warning me that it could be.

So basically, if anyone could tell me (specifically) what a suitable alternative to 'Paraflu 11' is I would be immensely grateful.

Ahh it shouldn't matter majorly. Try to get a red one! lol that's a technical as you need. If you can't find red anti-freeze get the blue one (very common) but make sure you change it yearly at least!
I read paraflu and it sounded like some sorta flu tablets!

You'll find Paraflu in Italy no problem, but here... no. I believe that the 'mono' part just means one part ethylene to one part glycol, and has probably been dubbed redundant. Ask at your local motor factors which is the right one. I am pretty sure though that 2001 should be on the red 'longlife' stuff.

OK thanks for your help

But erm, what or who are 'motor factors'? Are they a chain of shops?

yeah! Just a general car shop

It's the general term for smaller, independent motor parts and accessories stores. Usually less expensive and with far more experienced staff than the likes of Halfords and Motor-World.

Ah right, thanks again

Had my Punto Mk1 outta the local fiat today after a HG change, they put new antifreeze in "Paraflu 1" perhaps it might be an alternative for you

Thanks

Kris

You should find Paraflu at your local FIAT. Failing that, any inhibited anti freeze will do just fine.

Will say on the bottle whether it's inhibited or not.

Try online mate at SHOP4PARTS, I just got some from there about £ 5.50 per ltr plus delivery which was o.k. because ordered loads of other bits like filters, wiper motor and 10 ltrs of Selenia 20k for my MK1 60S and wifes MK2 Active sport, so then you get value from 10 quid delivery charge.
Last time I asked at Fiat dealer it was extortinate (like £10/ltr for Selenia 20K) but often worth asking as sometimes they can compete.
By the way looking on the back of the bottle the contents lists it as containing ethylene glycol so not sure where the mono bit comes from:shrug:
Don't forget to give the system a good flush through before putting in the new stuff

hammer man said:

Try online mate at SHOP4PARTS, I just got some from there about £ 5.50 per ltr plus delivery which was o.k. because ordered loads of other bits like filters, wiper motor and 10 ltrs of Selenia 20k for my MK1 60S and wifes MK2 Active sport, so then you get value from 10 quid delivery charge.
Last time I asked at Fiat dealer it was extortinate (like £10/ltr for Selenia 20K) but often worth asking as sometimes they can compete.
By the way looking on the back of the bottle the contents lists it as containing ethylene glycol so not sure where the mono bit comes from:shrug:
Don't forget to give the system a good flush through before putting in the new stuff

Click to expand...

Sorry For Hi-Jacking But Can You Tell Me How I Would Flush The System ?

Cheers

Tambo have look in PUNTO GUIDES for "How to empty and clean a Punto mk1 1.2L 8v FIRE (or similar) radiator system"
It gives a lot of detail on how to drain, flush and refill the cooling system and is pretty much common to most engines. Also links to how to bleed system correctly.

Theres a lot of good stuff on this site once you know where to look

Always use an inhibited coolant otherwise the aluminum and steel react and the steel corrodes, causing a build-up of crud in the waterways = blown head gasket more likely.

If the old coolant looks dodgy, its worth using a suitable flushing chemical to make sure everything is clean. Follow its instructions to the letter.

Right, well, I'm going to get some Halfords Advanced (it won't let me post a link), that way I can always get some easily if I need to top it up.

Thanks for all the help.

In case anyone is interested, I flushed both my Punto and the wife's Micra at the weekend. Fairly smooth going apart from having to wrestle a clip off the top radiator hose (which may have holed it... see below). The fluid I got out of the Punto was fairly clear, but the coolant I took out of the Micra was dark green and smelt of fish! God knows when that was last changed.

Now however, when the engine gets up to operating temperature I get a burning smell through the heater. Now I'm thinking this could be one of two things, either I've holed one of the hoses and once pressure builds up it's leaking coolant onto the hot engine (although I can't see any signs of a leak) or I've removed (or simply moved) an airlock I had in the heater matrix and so it's the smell of dust and so on being burnt off the outside of it as the heat can get to places it couldn't previously.

If anyone knows better I'd be grateful for their opinion.

Did you bleed the system right? Is it overheating at all? Could have an air lock in the matrix?

Well, I followed the Haynes manual to the letter so I'm presuming so. It's not overheating (although I haven't taken it on a run longer than 10 miles since the weekend).

When I start the car I hear a bubbling sound from underneath the console (which is where I'm assuming the matrix is), but then it's always done that so I don't think it's ever not had an airlock since I bought it last year.

Right, I think I sorted it. The back bleed plug (near the heater matrix) wasn't fully tightened, after I tightened it I've had no problems even after taking a long drive last night. I'm hypothesising that under pressure some coolant was getting out of the bleed plug and spraying onto the engine block creating the smell which was then taken into the airflow to the cabin.

It now heats up to operating temp. quicker and (from feeling the pipes) cools more efficiently than before, plus the bubbling seems to have gone also (perhaps the air got out of the bleed plug?) so I'm quite pleased at the moment (fingers crossed ).