C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Antifreeze??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 25, 2019 | 07:41 PM
  #21  
interpon's Avatar
interpon
Le Mans Master
Supporting Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,654
Likes: 2,469
From: Indiana
Default

I did exchange the universal antifreeze to the 50/50 green for pre 1995 gm etc...
i feel better now thanks!

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b...specific&pos=1
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2019 | 08:04 PM
  #22  
resdoggie's Avatar
resdoggie
Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 5,338
Likes: 1,213
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
Default

Originally Posted by interpon
I did exchange the universal antifreeze to the 50/50 green for pre 1995 gm etc...
i feel better now thanks!

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b...specific&pos=1
Is that compatible with your aluminium rad?
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2019 | 08:47 PM
  #23  
titanle's Avatar
titanle
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 963
Likes: 57
From: Vancouver, BC
Default

I had my lower rad hose spring a leak the other day. So I flushed out all the coolant and replaced it with Prestone 50/50 which says on the jug is okay for aluminum rads, the guy behind the counter said he uses the same stuff in his nova that has an aluminum rad. So lets see what happens, oh and I also put in a bottle of Lucas water wetter.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2019 | 09:18 PM
  #24  
interpon's Avatar
interpon
Le Mans Master
Supporting Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,654
Likes: 2,469
From: Indiana
Default

Originally Posted by resdoggie
Is that compatible with your aluminium rad?
lol i had to look..i think so...


Reply
Old Oct 25, 2019 | 09:24 PM
  #25  
leigh1322's Avatar
leigh1322
Old Pro Solo Guy
Supporting Member
Community Builder
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 8,082
Likes: 4,431
From: Marlton NJ
Default

The cooling point of water at 15 psi is 250* and the cooling point of 50% common antifreeze is 268* at 15 psi. 100% A/F would boil even a little higher. But 100% is not recommended because it does not cool as well as water, which is one more reason race cars run 100% water, it just cools better. I almost forgot about the water wetter trick, that works well too, with either one, and helps the cooling rate. Us Vette and BB guys need all the cooling help we can get in that regard. Gotta put that on my to-do list. Straight distilled water, with water wetter and corrosion inhibitors for protection would cool the best. But I don't know if you can get a good enough corrosion inhibitor package without the antifreeze. And even a slow leak, that bleeds off the pressure, can make many cars boil over.

A slow leak can cause other problems as well....I remember well the problem with the dex-cool was oxidation of the organic corrosion inhibitor caused by air getting in the system. It should only be used on a clean air-tight system that has no air space. Somewhere there was a warning that it should not be used on a rad that has a fill-line on the rad, like one with an inch of air space at the top. Most C3 small blocks have this type of rad system. Even the big blocks, or C3s with a metal expansion tank, have a pressurized expansion tank, and trap air into the pressurized system and it gets into the anti-freeze. Meaning you should not use dex-cool. I dislike the stuff so much I would not even recommend it be used it on a plastic non-pressurized expansion tank system like I have seen on the later C3s. Any air intrusion could cause the dreaded jello effect. Oh and that air kills the corrosion inhibitor BTW too. I only ran it in my brand new "dex-cool" car while the car was still brand spanking new. A couple years after that it got standard green.
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2019 | 10:36 AM
  #26  
jackson's Avatar
jackson
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Default



Primary Problem w/ Dex-Cool ... Air + Dex-Cool = Bad

Green-Stuff is relatively immune to effect (oxidation) from Air

CLEAN out the crud ... see this thread and particularly posts by noonie & my # 17

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ner-flush.html
Reply




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:11 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE