vic z

I have been reading some interesting articles regarding antifreeze and the 50/50 ratio or just water with a antirust lubricant . It was stating that water with an additive mix was the better of the coolant capabilities.
Any good thoughts or comments would be welcomed.

Powershift

Water will provide slightly better heat transfer, but it won't protect those expensive ($$$) and hard-to-find aluminum and brass parts. Also water pump impellar may experience greater corrosion and block cylinder jackets may get pitted.

SUMMARY: Don't do it except in an emergency.

Larry

1snake

Equal parts of Zerex G-05 and distilled water. Don't use the "green crap".

Jim

Kensmith

What's wrong with the Prestone green stuff?

1snake

Do a search on "distilled" in this forum. There's lots of reading. The green stuff MAY be okay if you change it at least every 2 years, HOWEVER, no radiator makers recommend it (including Tom DeWitt) and no car makers use it. It is old technology. I like my $1000 radiators and want them to last so I use what the manufacturer tells me.

Jim

capevettes

I've been using the green stuff mixed 50/50 with distilled water for 38 years and have had great luck with my aluminum radiators. I do change it every 3 years. You certainly can't go wrong with what Tom Dewitt recommends though. I like technology, to a point. I guess you can't teach an old dog new tricks .

Kensmith

I have always thought the green stuff was correct for these older cooling systems along with distilled water. I also replace the coolant every 2-3 years.

Powershift

Ken:

I don't think that Prestone still markets the "old" inorganic technology green antifreeze any longer. The AF they sell now that comes in the bright yellow bottle and has a light green-yellow tint is a HOAT-type antifreeze.....similar to Zerex G-05. HOAT = Hybrid Organic Acid Technology. This is good stuff.

Check on your antifreeze jug, and I think that it lists the organic component in the antifreeze. I can't remember the exact name at this time, but it should be Sodium xxxx.

Now if you are still using the antifreeze that came in the metal Presone cans from the 1960's, than you should probably update.

You DO NOT want to use in your older cars the Prestone that comes in the gray jug that says DEX-COOL or DEX-COOL compatible. Prestone also sells an environmental friendly antifreeze....but you don't see a lot of it around.

ZEREX, on the other hand, has the "old" green type, the G-05 HOAT type, and the DEX-COOL type.

Larry

EDIT: The xxxx above is 2-ethyl hexonate

Kensmith

I use the Prestone 50/50 comes in the yellow gallon plastic container and is safe for all cars. But the color is a greenish/yellowish color. Not sure about the GREEN stuff. I'm old but I don't remember buying coolant in cans, but then there are several things I don't remember.

magicv8

I still have a gallon of old green antifreeze in the garage. Since mice prefer it, I leave a few dishes of it under work benches to accomodate their tastes.

capevettes

What I have been using in recent years is green and sold by Car Quest. It is Ethylene Glycol based and is designed for use with aluminum radiators.

Nev Williams

From what I've read, pure water is a better coolant than anything else.
The antifreeze is there for just that to prevent freezing in cold weather. A side effect is also raising the boiling point and also additives to prevent corrosion.
If change out the coolant on my engine I go to my local battery man and get some de-ionised water to mix the antifreeze with. This was a tip I picked up from a couple of big car rally teams - seems to be quite cheap as well.

avideo

and distilled water along with a bottle of Red Line Water Wetter in our 1966 Convertible. It keeps the car running mostly below 200 degrees even in slow parades in hot weather when there is a good chance for many big block cars to boil over. I might add, that our car is a 327 with a full load of stock accessories including AC and Power Steering - which tend to run hot anyway.

Mike Ward

Water boils at 212*

50/50 antifreeze boils at 225*

70/30 boils at 235*

Antifreeze contains all the same 'water wetting' stuff that Water Wetter does


I'll never understand why straight water is better.

Plasticman

DeWitt's warranty says only to use Premium Coolant and distilled water.

Part of the actual statement is:

DRI radiators require a correct proportion of quality coolant, which contain aluminum corrosion inhibitors in the formula and distilled water.

See entire warranty here: http://www.dewitts.com/download/Warranty.pdf

It does not specify the chemistry of the coolant. I agree completely that the "green stuff" should be changed every 2 years.

Plasticman

Plasticman

Water is "better" at transferring heat. As the coolant to water ratio is increased (IE: from the recommended 50/50 to 70/30), heat transfer takes a dive.

Water is not "better" in overall cooling system protection (especially below freezing, has a lower boiling temp at a given system pressure, and much poorer corrosion protection).

Plasticman

1snake

I personally talked to Tom and he said to use G-05 & distilled water, so I do it. Anything, including the old green crap, will get you through a warranty period without problems. I prefer my rads. to last longer than 3 years.

Jim

65 vette dude

Living in South Florida, and in spite of this past winter, I have changed from 50/50, and I am now using 2/3 distilled water, and 1/3 antifreeze. My car runs nice and cool. Since I have small grandchildren, and pets, I use Sierra coolant.......and it's getting very hard to find.

JohnZ

That's because no OEM has ever used it (propylene glycol), and most specifically advise against it in the owner's manual; it has 12%-15% less effective heat transfer than ethylene glycol coolant based on our OEM testing.

capevettes

I must be on borrowed time or lucky . I've been using the green "crap" in both the 61 and 65 for 10 years mixed 50/50 with distilled. Both are Dewitt's aluminum radiators purchased in the summer of 2000. No leaks and they both run nice and cool. My 68 still has the original radiator in it.