Volvo 440 1.6iLe (petrol) - What kind of AntiFreeze to use on old Volvo 440?

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Sun 21 Aug 2011 14:07
Volvo 440 1.6iLe (petrol) - What kind of AntiFreeze to use on old Volvo 440? - Quicksilver

I have to change the antifreeze on my old Volvo 440 1.6i (petrol). The coolant capacity is approximately 7 litres.

I always use concentrated coolant when I change the antifreeze and have noticed that the price of standard ethylene glycol based antifreeze is now only marginally cheaper than the newer OAT based antifreeze. The OAT antifreeze lasts for much longer and is a better bet from a reduced maintenance perspective.

My question is would it be OK to use the newer coolant in an older car? I would obviously thoroughly flush out the old coolant and gunge using a hose. Are there any risks in using the OAT coolant with this older engine which has a cast iron block and alloy cylinder head? The water pump is external and is driven by the alternator belt.

Anything else to be aware of?

Thanks in advance Q.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 21 Aug 2011 14:29
Volvo 440 1.6iLe (petrol) - What kind of AntiFreeze to use on old Volvo 440? - SlidingPillar

OAT antifreeze is not recommended for older engines. It can cause leaks if a engine was not designed for it. FBHVC (Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs) covers it somewhere on their website and so do others

Whether the 440 engine is safe, I could not say. I'd not class a 440 Volvo as an old car myself.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Looking for a garage you can trust? Honest John's Good Garage Guide has thousands of reader recommended garages, plus how-to guides and tips on servicing.

The Good Garage Guide