With almost 30 years’ experience in the oil and lubricants industry, Morris Lubricants’ Automotive Product Manager, Adrian Hill, is perfectly placed to provide his expert insight and analysis.
Q. I have a problem with my engine over-heating and was wondering if there was an antifreeze that could help?
ADE’S ANSWER:
If an engine has started over- heating, it usually indicates there is either a mechanical or electronic issue. Quite often, especially if the vehicle is used off-road, the radiator matrix may be fouled by mud, grass, etc. and the required air-flow may not be possible. If the cooling fan is an electric type, it is worth ensuring all is OK here. Low antifreeze level in the system can also cause this as there will be insufficient fluid circulating.
As far as using a different type of antifreeze, this will not fix the issue. Quite often you’ll see the term ‘antifreeze/coolant’ used; the coolant part of this description is attributed to the water that is added to antifreeze to make a solution. Adding extra water will improve the ability of the solution to cool, but the antifreeze is there to protect from frost and freezing and stop corrosion in the system. In essence, it’s a balance and using straight water would be detrimental. Always use the correct type of antifreeze and the required solution strength as specified by the manufacturer of the engine.
Q. How long can oil last before expiry, as I have some stock dated 2010?
ADE’S ANSWER:
If product is stored in a sealed container and kept in an environment where there are no extremes of temperature, the integrity of the oil won’t be affected. Certainly, standard automotive products will be OK for three years (possibly longer) if kept in the conditions outlined above. The biggest exceptions to look out for are water-based metalworking fluids that would have a three-month shelf-life. If there is any doubt about the age of any stored product, a batch number will provide all the necessary information.
If you have stock that is over six years old, it may be worth checking with the supplier about its suitability after this time and a sample may need to be checked.
