One Last Question: Anti-Freeze

mmindling

mmindling

Senior Member
Hi this is Martin in Ohio.

Have reviewed the many posts on anti-freeze and related topics like a vinegar treatment on installing water-wetter. going back three years.

Over the winter, I put new hoses in the 28, rebuilt the water pump and put new gaskets around the water outlet and inlet. Until now, my engine has not leaked a drop of coolant. I am getting ready to re-fill it with three gallons of coolant.

My idea is to put in a 50/50 mixture of distilled water and anti-freeze.

Noticed a fair amount of corrosion when I removed the old hoses, but it doesn't seem fatal. The car did not overheat before I did the work.

Does anyone know a good reason why I should not follow the plan above?? As you can tell, I'm being cautious about the water-wetter and even stronger chemicals and coming down on the side of the same old thing. Read a lot of posts where the chemicals get messy and could lead to more damage.

Any opinions/thoughts are gratefully accepted.

Looking forward to spring and summer driving in gorgeous SE Ohio, where the fracking wells are sprouting like dandelions.

Regards,
 
My 31 Roadster runs better with just plain water w/rust inhibitor, if i run 50/50 at times it will get hot, radiator was replaced with the correct one but i still had the problem at times. just be sure if you run water w/rust inhibitor in the summer, you put antifreeze in for winter storage. i replaced the pump/radiator but still had the problem, an old timer told be they run cooler w/water. hope this helps!!
 
I use antifreeze and tap water. We get our water in Southern Oregon from Big Butte Springs, some of the purist water in the world. If it's good enough for me it's good enough for the A.
It doesn't get terribly cold here so I'm around 25% antifreeze or a tad bit more. Pale green.
 
50% to 60% antifreeze and tap water works fine for me. If you see a lot of rust then I'd use the vinegar treatment to clean it out. My car was doing OK until the accumulation of rust broke loose 1 1/2 years ago and plugged the tops of the radiator tubes.
 
I've been running 50/50 mix of Peak yellow type 100,000 mile antifreeze and distilled water. Not a trace of rust anywhere! Car runs nice and cool too.
 
They do run cooler with water and I believe thats what they were suppose to use. It doesn't get very cold here. When I drove the coupe as a daily driver, I used antifreeze in the winter. I ran one gallon of antifreeze with two gallons of water, Antifreeze will leak in places that water doesn't. If you don't have a pressurized system it will leave puddles of antifreeze from the overflow tube when its parked. If your dogs or cats drink it, the vet won't be able to save them..Our model A's are only fun cars and don't get driven a lot. I use water with a bottle of water pump lubricant and drain them in the coldest of winter. They are all kept inside and I don't think that it has gotten below fifty degrees in our buildings so far this year.
 
If I remember right there was a question about paint damage if the hot antifreeze got on the paint as the reason some use plain water.

You will find (like which oil) that different owners use different brands and dilutions all with great results.

As for "One Last Question" if you have questions please keep asking.
 
Coolant will leak where water WON'T???? NAW! Water is like a SECRET AGENT that doesn't leave his little GREEN calling card!! Bill W.
 
Regarding the use of alcohol: It was the antifreeze of choice before ethylene glycol came on the scene. BUT, alcohol slowly but steadily evaporates at operating temperature. So, you had to keep replacing it. Ethylene glycol doesn't evaporate, so it came to be called PERMANENT antifreeze.
 
I would use the low tox antifreeze. will not foam at high speed and will not damage paint. the big dogs say it is also safe on babbit, in case it gets into oil pan . have fun modelAtony Lafayette,LA
 
We have found that Red Line Water Wetter enables our cars to run cooler, but we do not need anti-freeze. This is an anti-corrosive product
However you can add antifreeze in winter as well.
Some in depth research in Australia discovered that a well known antifreeze/anti corrosion product reacted with some waters and caused a sediment to build up, ultimately causing the rear cylinder where coolant flow is usually weakest to seize.
(Not Model A)
 
i use sierra brand 50/50, year round with napa brand kool engine, similar to water wetter.

As for anti freeze leaking where water won't, IT DOES. A few springs ago I was using different methods to clean the coolong system, worked real well. ran straight water that summer, with out loosing any. Was getting close to fall, opened the petcock, drained water, closed petcock, added anti-freeze, and before I was finished filling the radiator I had three leaks at the hose connections. If there is a way out antifreeze will find it.
 
Most of us in southern Az don't add anti-freeze. I personally use tap water,one bottle( @ pint) of anti rust/lube, one bottle of Water Wetter. I change it every 2 years. Here , we are more concerned about high temps in summer than cold in winter. Plain water is a better heat tranfer agent than anti-freeze coolant, and it's no comparison when WaterWetter( or competitive brand) is added. When I drain the mixture, I find no evidence of rust in the fluid. PS I run an inline thermostat.
 
steve s said:
wow--old school! :)
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Yup. I don't trust antifreeze when it comes to a babbitt bearing engine. I have to check it from time to time, but I check everything on my cars from time to time, and coolant level isn't that difficult. And denatured alcohol is cheaper than anti-freeze.
 
Mike V. Florida said:
If I remember right there was a question about paint damage if the hot antifreeze got on the paint as the reason some use plain water.

You will find (like which oil) that different owners use different brands and dilutions all with great results.

As for "One Last Question" if you have questions please keep asking.
Click to expand...


Antifreeze or water pump lubricant isn't good on lacquer or some enamels, neither is gasoline. It doesn't usually have any effect on single stage urethanes.
 
I use the Sierra brand anti-freeze too. One gallon only and the rest distilled water. Prestone use to foam up to much is why I switched.
Also, the Sierra brand is easier on the paint. However, just this week
I drained the radiator on the '29 roadster to do some hood alignment
work. Afterwards I found that when I drained the radiator through the
water pipe petcock. It left a very light stain the whole length of the
engine splash pan.:eek: Probably caused by the rust inhibitor I had added
earlier. I have since looked at the label of the Sierra a little more closer.
And it states it has rust inhibitors already in it.:o This summer I'm only going to run distilled H2O and....maybe....a rust inhibitor if I can find one
that won't damage paint.:)

Bob-A:D
 
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