Technical Antifreeze chaned colour

[Catastrophe]

I have a 1999 Hymer E650 on a Fiat 2.8 base with just over 100,000 kilometres on it.
A week ago the radiator developed a leak and was replaced by the local Fiat dealer.
At the time I saw that the water leaking out was green but the water in the expansion tank was pink ( watered down red 50% mix) but thought nothing of it.
Now with the new radiator the same situation exists, pink in the expansion tank and green drips appearing underneath from yet another leak (yet to be found)
What is happening? What is changing the colour of the antifreeze?
I am concerned that there might be a problem with the head gasket.

Many thanks

 

[PeterM]

Its a fluorescent dye. In bulk it looks reddish/brown. When diluted/small volume, it fluoresces and looks green. No worries ! - except that you do have a leak!

 

[Catastrophe]

Thank you so much for that, we thought we were going mad.
Is the idea to assist with leak detection?
Just for your info prices here...Toulon, France € 350 for the rad and two and a half hours at €75 per hour labour.

We have now washed off the engine run it up and watching it.We are thinking they just spilt some and the change of colour where it had got into nooks and crannies threw us

This is some site you've helped me three time in as many days

Thanks again

 

[PeterM]

Is the idea to assist with leak detection?

Yes, just for leak detection.
And to temporarily repair a leak read the following from an Australian colleague:

"One of the best emergency radiator repairs kits going is the small plastic container of black pepper. I think it's the Saxa brand one.

Once the pepper gets to the hole in the radiator it seals it up and sets like concrete. Need to keep the pressure off for a while whilst it sets though.

I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it 1st hand myself with my own eyes.

I used to help on the Careflight Ventures on their rallys (bash's) - a friend of mine used to organise it all, he now does it for Telstra Childflight, and we used to go out and survey the courses and then do pre trip checks to make sure all was in order etc and then run the 'Venture' after that.

Anyway one day we were in his Nissan Patrol in the middle of nowhere when we holed the radiator. He got the pepper out poured about a tablespoon in and let it work its way through and lo and behold I watched the leak slowly ease up to a very slight trickle and then completely stop. We travelled another 5 days like that before we got home and he had it repaired - never leaked a drop throughout this whole time before we got home after putting the pepper in.

He told me a story of one of the competitors on the rallys, who had an old HR Holden and had the same problem with their radiator - put the pepper in and had it in there for over 2 years and was as good as the day he bought it - not a leak to be found. BTW both these guys are mechanics too.

Surprising how good these little 'bush' remedies are."

 

[Catastrophe]

Re: Antifreeze changed colour

Hi

Amazing !! We will now make sure we have some pepper on board, not sure what the French equivilant is but we'll find one.

Great site, I wish I was able to help others like that but I know nothing helpfull but I know when to say thanks!!!
maybe if ever you need a contact in France please do PM me

 

[PeterM]

Re: Antifreeze changed colour

Hi
... but I know when to say thanks!!!

That is reward enough!