Which antifreeze or coolant will keep flathead coolest? Suggestions for

[Mark P]

Which antifreeze or coolant do you recommend to help keep my flathead cool?

 

[TJ]

Keeping a flathead cool is totally dependent on a clean cooling system starting with a clean block, heads, and radiator. Don't buy into some fancy coolant that claims it will make your flathead run cooler, etc. etc. Without the clean system there is no coolant that can make your car run cooler.

 

[TomT/Williamsburg]

Keeping it cool, imho, has more to do with removing all of the sand out of the block, your cooling system (radiator) is up to snuff, good water pumps, and your area of the country. That being said, a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water will do it if all else has been done ....

 

[philipswanson]

No antifreeze will allow your flathead to run cooler. Antifreeze actually will make your engine run hotter. It will raise the boiling point but not cool as well as plain water. You can run a water soluble oil additive and a water wetter product to help but water is best if your objective is to cool it off more.

 

[35fordtn]

Just as Phillipswanson said, antifreeze makes them run warmer. I run straight distilled water with two bottles of water pump lube mixed in on al my cars. But it’s one of those topics that “to each their own”.

 

[19Fordy]

Phil: Is it true that using water soluble oil in your radiator will promote the growth of bacteria causing a slimy mess inside your radiator and engine?

Also, what is the difference between water soluble oil and water soluble cutting fluid?
Can both be used in your radiator?

 

[richard crow]

if you have an eng with babit bearings you schould not use ethelene galkol if it gets in the oil it will ruin them i know it,s not spelled right.

 

[Brian]

I have read on here about water wetter [I think it was Royal Purple brand?], possibly used in conjunction with something else, can't remember, however, it left some sort of sludgey build up throughout the cooling passages of the engine.
Personally, I use Prestone mixed 50% with water, to prevent electrolysis of my ali heads, and the water jackets remain clean as a whistle. Engine runs cool at all temps [21 stud, pumps in heads]

 

[Flathead Fever]

If everything is good with a flathead and its cooling system it should run at a normal temperature just like any other engine. If its running hot and your trying to fix the problem by adding water wetter you are just masking a problem.

Without the boiling protection of antifreeze you risk your water turning to steam which will crack your block. Water expands 1600 times when it turns to steam. That pressure is what breaks your blocks.

Without antifreeze you will get electrolysis between aluminum and cast iron parts. If you have aluminum heads it will damage them in just a few years. Same with the copper gaskets between the aluminum heads and cast iron block. The copper gaskets makes the electrolysis even worse. When you sandwich these metals together they create an electrical current. This current transfers aluminum from the heads to the cooling system, basically like a chrome plating shop. Almost all flathead Ford aluminium heads will have "severe" corrosion spots in the aluminum heads from the electrolysis because people ran straight water. In theory, using distilled water helps because distilled water does not conduct electricity as easily as regular water. Its the minerals in water that conducts the electricity not the water. Distilled water has the minerals removed. I'm guessing that any rust in a cooling system will turn that distilled water right back into regular water that conducts electricity.

Modern engines will not have "any" electrolysis damage because of the ant-corrosive additives in the antifreeze. Also, the new composite head gaskets help prevent electrolysis too. If You pull a head off of a 300K mile modern engine with a cast iron block and aluminum head you will see "zero" electrolysis. Don't rely on 80 year old technology (water soluble oil) to protect your flathead's cooling system. Use modern coolant and Felpro composite head gaskets. There is no way I would run straight water. The benefits of it running cooler do not make up for the damage your causing from the electrolysis.

My dad restored Model A's. He would run straight water with water soluble oil. The oil was needed to lubricate the Model A water pump bushings. If you have pumps with sealed bearings there is no need for them to be lubricated.

 

[1936 ford phantom 68]

Anyone have a problem starting your car
Purchased a new car expensive 6 volt
If I put it on a battery charger it works
Engine turns over slow with new battery
Last week the battery went dead
Help

 

[Mart]

Anyone have a problem starting your car
Purchased a new car expensive 6 volt
If I put it on a battery charger it works
Engine turns over slow with new battery
Last week the battery went dead
Help

Hi. Welcome to the barn. You want to post this as a new thread with a meaningful title. This is a thread about antifreeze and coolant. You will get more help with a new specific thread.
Mart.

 

[51woodie]

I'm not sure about your particular car, but in know that missing shrouds and or shroud seal will allow hot air to recirculate in the engine compartment, as was causing the heating problem with my 46' 59AB, until I installed the missing seals.

 

[Tim Ayers]

Like others have said, water is the best coolant. I run purified water and a bottle of No-Rosion in my system.

Since I'm in NJ, I do need to drain it in winter.