Capacity of the Cooling system

[Loubaruch]

On the Griffith 500 the cooling system is stated as having a capacity of 12 litres .

While giving the system a good clean using central heating ( CH) cleaner that is safe for all metals including aluminium I decided to catch the drained water and measure it. I only managed to collect about 5 litres, there was some loss due to the sudden gush when releasing the bottom hose but would estimate that could only be a further 2 litres at most. This is a long way short of 12 litres. Does anyone know the definitive answer.

During 18 years ownership I have regularly changed the Ethylene Glycol (EG) anti-freeze but I noticed quite a considerable build up of a white deposit around the aluminium parts i.e. swirl tank, thermostat housing etc. that leads me to doubt the efficacy of EG in inhibiting corrosion of aluminum.

Members of the VSCC running Vintage and PVT cars have concluded that CH antifreeze such as Fernox Alphi 11 is far superior in preventing corrosion and several use it with excellent results. Fernox states that it is designed to be used with all metals found in CH systems including Aluminium.

I shall be filling with Alphi11.

[Zener]

I have filled from empty in the past 11 litres plus fill I would stand by 11-12 litres all day long

[Loubaruch]

Thanks Zener,

Measuring by filling by far the more accurate method, I must be losing it !

Later:


After fully draining the system again even removing the thermostat to ensure that was not holding any coolant back I could only manage to refill the system with about 8 litres, everything seems OK and engine does not overheat, Fans switch on and off. So I am completely puzzled!

Edited by Loubaruch on Friday 27th November 15:41

[Aussie John]

I never managed anywhere near 12 litres and also found my radiator which was only in for 6,000 miles was blocked with white crap which had caused all my overheating problems. I opted to now use deionised water in case it was limescale.

[Classic Chim]

I’ve emptied and re filled mine at least twice and both times it took over 11 litres.
If you don’t raise the front of the car most of the water in the heater matrix will stay there.

Edited by Classic Chim on Friday 27th November 16:57

[Loubaruch]

Thanks Alun, that must be the answer. I probably made the situation worse by draining the car in an old cow byre with its downward sloping base.

Amazing what you learn every day!

John, If the " white crap" you found in your rad was like the stuff I have found on several occasions I believe it could be Aluminium Hydroxide, I am not convinced that even fresh Ethylene Glycol inhibits Aluminium corrosion.

See pics of my swirl tank and expansion tanks from years back





Apparently Fernox Alphi 11 has far superior corrosion inhibitors and being propylene Glycol(PG) it is not poisonous to animals/plants etc. and it lasts considerably longer. The OAT antifreeze that modern cars use is also PG based but the problem with OAT is that the corrosion inhibitors are not designed to protect yellow type metals e.g. brass , copper so no good for TVR Copper /brass rads. I wonder if you have fitted an Aluminium radiator to your Chim/Griff whether OAT would be better as modern engines are full of Aluminium. Probably not though if head gaskets are Copper.

Edited by Loubaruch on Friday 27th November 21:14

Edited by Loubaruch on Friday 27th November 21:16

[Aussie John]

Paul, that is really some corrosion, I should have taken samples of the stuff and maybe had it tested. I did pull the water pump and thermostat but didn't see any white stuff in either area. I have drained down my rad probably 15 times at least and never managed to put in 12L or anywhere near; maybe the block holds more that doesn't drain. cheers, John.

[Zener]

Actually Phazed and myself agreed on the 11 litres plus thing some time back but we also both run the heater pipes under the intake manifold meaning that when we drain the cooling system we also drain the heater loop inc matrix which wont be the case on the stock serp cars with the coolant pipes over the O/S rocker cover maybe the missing capacity reported on this thread