This is what happens to old coolant.....

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Mon May 18, 2015 11:36 pm

Engine sat for 30 years without running. This is what we found in the cooling system from electrolysis;

AriK · Post by **AriK** » Tue May 19, 2015 12:22 am

Incredible! Sitting for that period of time is plain abuse.
Originally, organizers were hopeful that Miss Bevedere would start up with new gas and a battery when they'd uncover her 50 years later after being stored underneath City Hall in a time capsule built as a concrete vault in Tulsa Oklahoma. What were they thinking in 1957? What they uncovered in 2007 was unimaginable. Imagine the insides of that motor.

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2014 ... -in-limbo/

v6spider · Post by **v6spider** » Tue May 19, 2015 2:59 am

Not running em'... Well you might as well just crush em' ! They will be in better shape then!

Cheers!
Rob

DieselSpider · Post by **DieselSpider** » Tue May 19, 2015 5:23 am

Any time after two years that will start happening. By the time you notice its running hotter than it should the damage is already done to one degree or another.

That one is 28 years too late.

Preventative maintenance is required to keep em running cool and smooth. A flush with a mild solution of white vinegar followed by a distilled water rinse can help with moderate scaling but.....

btoran · Post by **btoran** » Tue May 19, 2015 10:31 am

look on the positive side...with all that electrolysis, there won't be any unsightly hairs for a long time.

narfire · Post by **narfire** » Tue May 19, 2015 11:08 am

btoran wrote:look on the positive side...with all that electrolysis, there won't be any unsightly hairs for a long time

Good one, damb near spat my mouthful of coffee all over the computer.....

LarryM · Post by **LarryM** » Wed Jun 17, 2015 10:25 pm

So how often should antifreeze be changed in a Spider that is only used occasionally during the summer months?

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Wed Jun 17, 2015 10:58 pm

every 2 years

DieselSpider · Post by **DieselSpider** » Thu Jun 18, 2015 1:02 am

Every two years is the baseline for vehicles used year round however some manufacturers (Engine Ice for example) will recommend that on seasonal vehicles that are only used a few times during one season per year be flushed and have fresh coolant put in them annually.

Basically the moment you put coolant into an engine and start it up the deterioration begins whether you use it again or not with a stagnant engine potentially having this occur at an accelerated rate.

vandor · Post by **vandor** » Thu Jun 18, 2015 1:41 am

Another option is to convert to waterless coolant and then one will not have to worry about corrosion.

DieselSpider · Post by **DieselSpider** » Thu Jun 18, 2015 5:17 am

I have been considering Evans Coolant for some time although it is a bit pricey at $45 to $50 per gallon plus the $32 a gallon prep and then the $18 conversion kit to help ensure you got all the water out along with $80 refractometer to test more completely that there is no residual H2O left behind. You do have to thoroughly clean and flush out all the sediment and water from your cooling system to get the fullest benefit. It can run you between $150 to $200 to do it 100% right on an system that already has water based coolant in it.

http://www.evanscooling.com/

I will probably wait until I put in new hoses, radiator, heater core and water pump before jumping on it as I can't see putting a $200 coolant conversion in a car while any of those items are questionable. If you've just restored yours and have a new dry cooling system that to me is the ideal time to go for it.

http://www.summitracing.com/search/bran ... =Ascending

Alleycat124 · Post by **Alleycat124** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 12:36 pm

What Coolant would anyone recommend. I am a newbie and I want to change out the coolant, oil, transmission fluid as well as brake fluid. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. The person I bought the car off of died and I have 0 information as to what was changed when. Also of course she is leaking oil just like my 56 Chev.

baltobernie · Post by **baltobernie** » Thu Jul 09, 2015 1:09 pm

Hello and Welcome! I hope you get a lot of enjoyment from your Spider.

Now would be a great time to establish rapport with one or more of the fine parts suppliers you'll find mentioned on this forum. Search "vendors" "sources for parts" etc. When you're on the phone with them purchasing oil filters, brake parts and so on, ask questions such as this and the one you posted on Oil type. Remember that these were not collector cars during their lifetime, and many have bits and pieces from donor cars over the entire 18-year production run. A knowledgeable specialist on the other end of the phone can help you much more than anyone behind the counter at Auto Zone.

Get yourself a shop manual, and start scouring FiatSpider.com for posts on topics as you get to know the car.

This is what happens to old coolant.....

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