2.0L Zetec black top antifreeze

[Mark Levett]

Hi all just getting car ready for the hopefully sunny days ahead just have a question regarding antifreeze. I usually don't use the car in the winter and have noticed over the oast couple of years my antifreeze goes a rusty brown colour and stains the header tank.  Just removed the tank and given it a good swill out with cold water washing up liquid and rice and has come up clean. I want to flush the system out with fresh water and replace with new antifreeze, please can any one recommend a ready mix solution to go best with cast iron block and does any one know the amount required to fill the system i currently have a std westfield rad metal core plastic sides. Thanks in advance.

[SteveB21]

Hi Mark - the 2.0 Zetec with standard radiator will take about 5.5 litres of antifreeze mix. I don't know about ready-mix, but the neat antifreeze supplied with my kit by Westfield was blue AutoChem Antifreeze & Coolant. CarPlan BlueStar is directly equivalent if you can't find AutoChem. They need to be changed every 2 years. If you don't know what antifreeze/coolant is currently used make sure you give the system a VERY good flush so you don't end up with incompatible antifreezes.

 

[Matt_S]

I use Halfords OAT anti-freeze & coolant, it does the job and it’s cheap, we had 40+deg heat in the summer in Europe and had no issues. If you buy the concentrate, 5L’s should do, as you can make up as much as you need. The amount in the system will be different as it depends on what radiator you have, if you have a heater plumbed in, if you have a water rail or not……..etc. I put about 5L in mine as I don’t have a heater

 

[evosteve]

I use Prestone suitable for all engine types, pre mixed and 10 year life.Use in my everyday car and plan to use in my Westfield at next change.