Coolant
Trying to find the right coolant has taken quite a few hours and I have fired off a few emails to experts.
A simple search of SSM-97B9103-A doesn't produce much useful information except to say the manual for a Ford Granada Scorpio also suggests this coolant as does possibly the Series 2 Escort RS Turbo.
If though you play around with the format, I.e. SS-M97B9103-A you sometimes gets something useful.
For instance the page
https://www.schmier-stoffe.de/en/Total/ ... t-163.html relates to antifreeze from Total called
"Glacelf Plus" which says "Amine, nitrite and phosphate-free cooler protective substance based on of Monoethylenglykol (Meg) with inhibitors on hybrid technology. Colour: Blue green Releases: FORD (SS-M97B9103 A. )"
Another review says
"GLACELF PLUS is a "long-life" antifreeze based upon monoethylene glycol and inorganic corrosion inhibitors (silicates), a long proven coolant and heat transfer technology."
I cannot find that for sale in the UK however a search for the product on Amazon.de finds a few people (who do not ship to the UK) and they state it is a "G11 Antifreeze" which matches the info sheet from Total.
Googling information on "G11" antifreezes brought me to here:-
https://carphrases.com/g12-coolant-and- ... 1-and-g13/
They say,
"Differences between G12 and G11 coolant - The G11 coolant is an older coolant class. This one was used on cars manufactured before 1996 with a large volume of the cooling system. G11 is often blue or green. Its boiling point is 105 ° C (221 ° F) and it does not last more than 2 years or 31.000 – 50.000 miles. G11 contains a small set of inorganic additives, phosphate, and nitrates, and was created using silicate, which covers the inner surface of the system with a protective layer, regardless of the presence of corrosion areas. Although the G11 coolant protects already existing corrosion from damaging, this coolant class has low stability, poor heat transfer, and short service life. After is worn out, the G11 coolant becomes abrasive and can damage the cooling system elements. Unlike the G12 coolant, G11 is not suitable for cars that have aluminium radiators, because its additives cannot adequately protect this metal at high temperatures."
The last couple of lines about how long it lasts, the abrasion and the aluminium radiator (which I have) made worrying reading which was leading me to think about moving away from looking at a G11 product even if that was the right one in 1986 but it seems I need to have a good flush out first.
"Mixing G12 coolant with G11 coolant - You should not absolutely under no circumstances mix a organic coolant with an inorganic coolant."
So what to use.... I then read....
"A disadvantage of G12 coolant - G12 coolant has a big disadvantage, it begins to act only when corrosion appeared. Although this action prevents the forming of a protective layer and its rapid shedding as a result of vibrations and temperature changes, which makes it possible to improve heat transfer and longer use time."
"Differences between G12 and G12 + coolant - G12 and G12 + are both a class of organic “long life” coolant, they are both used in cars manufactured since 1996, and they both use ethylene glycol, but only G12 + is using a hybrid production technology in which silicate is combined with carboxylate technology.
In 2008 the G12 ++ coolant appeared. This coolant has a combination of organic additives and a small number of mineral additives, thus organic and inorganic additives were mixed. This combination made it possible to eliminate the main drawback of G12, not only to eliminate corrosion when it has already appeared but also to perform a preventive action.
Mixing G12 + coolant with G12 and G11 coolant - Although it is “possible” to mix G12 + with G12 and G11, I do not recommend that mix."
This meant I was looking at G12+ or G12++ or maybe G13!?
"Differences between G12 and G13 coolant - The G13 is the newer coolant class that has been made since 2012, because of increasing environmental standards. Tho most common colors of this coolant are light red or violet. The freezing point of this coolant in its final form is -69° C (-92 ° F) and its boiling point is about 175° C (347° F) which obviously has the best cooling and antifreeze performances.
Unlike the G12, the G13 coolant class does not differ that much, the only differences are that G13 has in its composition propylene glycol, which is less toxic, does less harm to the environment, when it is disposed of (about 11% less CO2 emissions than G12), and its price is much higher than G12 antifreeze, and G13 is also excellent for cooling and protection against corrosion and chalk deposits.
G13 has a higher protection for cars that have aluminium radiators but also cast iron and magnesium alloys material.
On the other hand G13 coolant is not recommended to be used on older cooling systems that have copper or brass radiators and heater. G11 and G12 are the best options for these materials."
So G13 sounds good all except the RS200 has a traditional heater core in the cabin which I guess is copper.
This thinking is confirmed here:-
https://www.wolflubes.com/EN_EU/Blog/20 ... olant.aspx
"On the other hand, G13 is not the best choice for older cooling systems with copper/brass radiators and heater cores. It doesn’t work well with the lead solder. Use antifreeze with G11 or G12 specification instead."
So it seems I should be looking at G12 products, I then needed to check, G12, G12+ or G12++ - Told you this was hard work!
Re-Reading all the pages again I think I have settled on G12+ as I cannot see anything to point me to G12++ and to double check my thinking I went to
https://www.opieoils.co.uk who have a good vehicle lookup tool and although the RS200 is not listed there a Series 2 Escort Turbo is and the search produced a mix of G11 and G12+ products. Interestingly a search for the Scorpio brought back the same products minus the G12+ variants.
So I learnt a lot about antifreeze although I think the GXX part bit is a bit VW biased?
I find myself back where I started, is Ford Super Plus Premium going to be ok to use?
Their data sheet
https://www.msds.ford.com/cpc/productDe ... RNo=194810 suggests it is...
Antifreeze/Coolant Super Plus Premium - Features: Longlife, silicate and nitrite free Coolant-Concentrate is an ethylene glycol based fluid that provides protection against freezing and boiling but also against corrosion up to 10 years. Typical mixtures of 50/50, offering frost protection down to -37°C The maintenance-free premium coolant is recommended for all Ford vehicles manufactured in Europe. Meets Ford's requirements according to specification WSS-M97B44-D Effected carlines see ETIS/ECAT"
Interestingly their part numbers are almost the same as the 1986 manual, note the "19544" bit:-
...however, note it is closer to G12 as "silicate free" not the G12+ which offers better pre-corrosion protection which has tipped me towards a G12+ product from somewhere like Euro Car Parts which is not a bad price...
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/triple-q ... -523770481