Coolant/Antifreeze Top Up.

[Nige005]

Looks like  I need a slight top up on the coolant.

 

Looking at what is in there right now it appears to be a light orange colour and having done a bit of research I reckon it's an " OAT " type fluid.

 

Thinking of getting the Halfords version of this ( mainly because I have a gift card thingy that I can spend at Halfords which needs to be spent very soon ) but from what I can make out this appears to be a pink colour so I have reverted to my usual state - confused.........

 

Any advice, as usual, greatly appreciated.

[Old Peter]

Hi Nige,

 

I am no expert on the various types of coolant, but being a Lancastrian I am quite expert in getting value for money, so I would be inclined to use the Halford's voucher on getting something useful as the best quality car shampoo or engine Oil.

 

I would also check with Halfords  ---  they do have some useful mechanics ---  if you can mix the various types of coolant, as they all do the same job.

 

Regards,

 

Peter.

[Nige005]

Thanks Peter.

 

A bit more research seems to indicate that a Ford spec Antifreeze is the one that is the same as the Jag one, albeit a lot cheaper than the Jag version. A chat with the previous owner confirmed that this is the stuff that is in there.

 

Just three days before I got the car he had a slight weep from the Tee Piece that is under the Header Tank repaired, or so we thought...... Weeping there again so back to the local Indy who did it. Should just be a matter of replacing the hose clip but it's a very awkward place to get to. If it was out in the " fresh air " I'd do it myself but it looks like eyes in the fingertips and a quad jointed arm is required so I'll pass on that, my deformities may be extensive but not of that ilk !!!

 

I'll be using the gift thingy, actually it's a prepaid cash card that British Gas gave me on contract renewal last year,  to stock up on stuff from Halfords. The card can be used at other places like Argos, John Lewis etc but there isn't anything I really need, I'm obviously a lucky man or just maybe living the minimalist Yorkshire live like what I did when we lived in a cardboard box on the cobbled steets of Barnsley............

[Lord H]

just a thought.....

 

dont know if you have ever done an eBay search for jaguar XF.....

 

but there does seem to be a lot of header tanks on there does this mean its another common fault with the XF that the actual header tank fails.....

or does it just mean that a lot of Jaguar XF's are getting smashed up??

[Nige005]

just a thought.....

 

dont know if you have ever done an ebay search for jaguar XF.....

 

but there does seem to be a lot of header tanks on there does this mean its another common fault with the XF that the actual header tank fails.....

or does it just mean that a lot of Jaguar XF's are getting smashed up??

 

 

Well it's an XK8 that I have Richard so dunno about any problems with the XF.

 

The fault on mine is not the Header Tank itself but a meeting of pipes a little underneath it, no point in posting a pic as it's almost impossible to see.

 

On other cars though I've certainly had at least one Header Tank fail, quite spectacular as it lets go, hot brown showers all round !!!!!

[Lord H]

my error i assumed it was an XF just because thats what i have lol

[Old Peter]

Thanks Peter.

 

A bit more research seems to indicate that a Ford spec Antifreeze is the one that is the same as the Jag one, albeit a lot cheaper than the Jag version. A chat with the previous owner confirmed that this is the stuff that is in there.

 

Just three days before I got the car he had a slight weep from the Tee Piece that is under the Header Tank repaired, or so we thought...... Weeping there again so back to the local Indy who did it. Should just be a matter of replacing the hose clip but it's a very awkward place to get to. If it was out in the " fresh air " I'd do it myself but it looks like eyes in the fingertips and a quad jointed arm is required so I'll pass on that, my deformities may be extensive but not of that ilk !!!

 

I'll be using the gift thingy, actually it's a prepaid cash card that British Gas gave me on contract renewal last year,  to stock up on stuff from Halfords. The card can be used at other places like Argos, John Lewis etc but there isn't anything I really need, I'm obviously a lucky man or just maybe living the minimalist Yorkshire live like what I did when we lived in a cardboard box on the cobbled steets of Barnsley............

I know Barnsley quite well, especially the Crown Courts, as I worked in Yorkshire for 12 years.  A Judge once asked a Barrister [a miner claiming accident compensation] whose client's case was getting worse as it looked like he was to blame for the accident, if  his client knew the principle of Sui Injuria non profitero?  The Barrister quickly replied "They talk of little else in Barnsley, Me Lud."

[Nige005]

I know Barnsley quite well, especially the Crown Courts, as I worked in Yorkshire for 12 years.  A Judge once asked a Barrister [a miner claiming accident compensation] whose client's case was getting worse as it looked like he was to blame for the accident, if  his client knew the principle of Sui Injuria non profitero?  The Barrister quickly replied "They talk of little else in Barnsley, Me Lud."

 

 

Whilst chomping on a Barnsley Chop and slurping Oakwells best. ( The beer, not a footballer........ ! )

 

Rarely visit the place now, effectively left in 1970 and very little family and few friends to go back for.

[Old Peter]

Whilst chomping on a Barnsley Chop and slurping Oakwells best. ( The beer, not a footballer........ ! )

 

Rarely visit the place now, effectively left in 1970 and very little family and few friends to go back for.

The same as me, Nige, but I am going back to a re-union for the 3 villages just outside my home town [Widnes] in November, in spite of the 3 villages being demolished almost 50 years ago.

[Nige005]

The same as me, Nige, but I am going back to a re-union for the 3 villages just outside my home town [Widnes] in November, in spite of the 3 villages being demolished almost 50 years ago.

 

A blast from the past then Peter although it could be a bit lonely and windswept !

[Old Peter]

A blast from the past then Peter although it could be a bit lonely and windswept !

The event, with Compere, Singer [old Irish Songs etc] will be held about a mile from where the villages were.  Al the inhabitants were rehoused right across the town, but the village spirit still continues  ---  the oldest ex inhabitant is now 93.

 

Peter.

[Nige005]

The street where I was dragged up is still there in name only, the new houses run across the hill now instead of up and down. Must take all the fun out of sledging down it and then ending up scooting across the busy road at the bottom !

 

I think they now have 'leccy too.........

[Nige005]

A quick update on this.

 

Had the car into the local Indy to check out the weep and it's apparently from a connection under the RH Bank ( looking from the front ) near the front. It only weeps a very small amount and then only when cold and is not an unusual problem. Told to ignore it for now, just check the coolant level once a week and if only losing a smidgen, as it is now, leave it alone.

 

When the time comes to do something about it the the cure is to replace the pipe itself and also replace the plastic Thermostat Housing with an aluminium one availabe from the USA. Not a huge job but takes a bit of time as the Manifold has to come off to get at all the bits. So for now I'll live with it, just have to locate the correct Antifreeze !

 

Had a heart racing moment when I collected the car after leaving it at the Indy overnight. Started up and then the " Stabilty Control " and Traction Control " warnings came on, s'pose that if this had to happen at least I was in the right place......... The Diagnostics showed that the Sensor on the Front N/S wheel wasn't doing what it should. Checked the connection which happens to be behind the Washer Bottle, removed and then reconnected it and all seems well so can only surmise that this was disturbed whilst looking into the leak.

 

At least I hope so...........;