Cooling system
- Thread starter Vetcol
- Start date
Tom Wesenberg
Well-known member
Antifreeze year round works fine for me. I don't like rust in my cooling system, and don't like to take any chance on freeze cracks.
Purdy Swoft
Well-known member
I agree with Jim, this is what I do. I use the anti rust or water pump lubricant and it cools better in the summer. I see no advantage in useing antifreeze in the summer, especially 50/50. Antifreeze is good to prevent freezing, not so good in unpressurized systems in summer. Model A engines have less head bolts (studs) that other engines. It has been shown that the head on a model A engine teeters on the block with each compression stroke. I see nearly every day on the model A forums, where sombody had a blown head gasket or wonders if they do. Antifreeze will leak in places that water doesn't. Antifreeze expands with heat and will leave puddles when you park it and the heat increases briefly when the engine is cut off and the coolant is no longer circulating through the radiator. I've had this kill at least one of my dogs when they drank it. If the head gasket blows, the antifreeze will enter the crankcase and destroy the babbit bearings in quick order, same if you run inserts. If antifreeze spits out around the radiator cap and gets on the hood, it will damage all but the most expensive paints. When I drove the coupe, year round, it was a pain and expense to constantly have to check and add antifreeze. Now that I am older, I only want to drive the model A's when the weather is comfortable. I drain mine in the winter and tape a tag to the steering wheel with DRAINED in bold print so as not to forget.