Antifreeze yes or no?

V

vangogh

Member
Hi Barners

In talking to a friend today, we mused about if antifreeze really worked in hot weather to keep the engine cool. Another thread mentioned that using straight water did a better job. What do you think? I like antifreeze.

Vangogh
 
The alcohol (Ethylene Glycol) has less heat capacity, so the 50/50 mix carries heat away to the radiator less efficiently. Rust is a problem too. Trade-offs. You can try running a 75/25 mix that will protect you to 10 degrees, probably good enough for VA, and you get rust protection from the 25%. If you want more, you can buy the anti corrosion as an additive. If your car stays cool in hot weather with 50/50, don't fix what ain't broken.
 
If you search this subject you will find it has been discussed as often as oil and whitewalls! Please do a search!
 
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Oh boy, another coolant discussion. Oh boy, oh boy. I'll go with what the Moose said. Except 60/40 is the recommended maximum water to antifreeze ratio to protect against corrosion.
 
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Updraught, thanks for the downdraught on coolants. The Diesel engine in my pickup uses one of the extended life coolants. I think it is the OATs variety. The computer keeps an eye on the level in the overflow tank for me.
 
Here are my two bad experiences with antifreeze/coolant, and plain water.
I acquired a Mercedes 230SL that had been sitting for years. When I started on the cooling system, I found holes in the thermostat and water pump housings from the coolant turning into acid and eating through the aluminum. So far, so good. After repairing, I always wonder what the condition of the rest of the engine might be from someone neglecting to change out the coolant.
Story number two. I purchased a 30 Town Sedan that was reportedly fully restored. After numerous items that I found mechanically wrong with this vehicle, I decided to change out the cooling system. The thing I found, was the idiot who formally owned this car, had evidently let straight water sit in the vehicle for possibly over 13 years. All that came out after multiple flushing was rust! After second thought, maybe I was the fool for buying it since for some reason, I neglected to check the radiator.
In any case, I spent a lot of time and money cleaning up this terrible cooling system. I still wonder, what damage may have taken place in the rest of the engine.
So after this long story, you need to put in a combination of distilled water with either anti-rust inhibitor, or what ever mixture you need of coolant and water for your area.
And by the bye, people need to start using the search function on this forum. Try using the "advance search."

Tom L.
 
Dirtrack49 said:
And by the bye, people need to start using the search function on this forum. Try using the "advance search."

Tom L.
Click to expand...

I agree that people should try and search for answers to their question(s). Most topics have already been covered on Ford Barn over the years. Unfortunately I think Ford Barn has possibly the worst search engine of any Forum I have ever used.

Sometimes it is better to do a Google Search and hope it picks up on a question similar to yours on Ford Barn.
 
I have been down this road and thought 50 50 mix was the way to go but my 1929 Model A thought different. It was ok until we go into the 90's and I then over heated several times when pushing the car. After adding more water and a few bottles of ICE coolant (They clam it lowers coolant temp and I think it works) she appears to be doing fine but the mix is more like 30 70. Going forward I will run water and wetter in the summer and 50/50 mix in winter.
 
50/50 using distilled water worked for me. The tap water here (Tucson, AZ) was too hard and leaves scale on the faucets so I opted for the inexpensive distilled alternative. Chap
 
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I live in Maine so using water is potentially a problem. But, I use water with Prestone Anti Rust and Water Pump Lubricant. When you add antifreeze to your radiator, you lower the freezing temperature, provide anti rust inhibitors but you also lower the specific gravity which makes the coolant leak out easier. The firewall will be dirtier. You may get seepage out the head gasket or past the water pump packing. By using the Prestone and water, there is less seepage and you do raise the boiling point a little. This happens when you add anything to water to get a solution.

However, I always mark the calendar on November 1, DRAIN THE CARS! Ed
 
Courtesy of Detroit Diesel:
 

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