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Dex Coolant Question

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Old Mar 8, 2024 | 07:49 PM
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Default Dex Coolant Question

what is the effect/consequences of only using 4 qts of Dex instead of the 4.5 recommended amount?
i cannot imagine half a quart makes a difference.
i live in San Diego, so i am not worried about freezing temps.
i drive in the desert, where it is often 110 to 120 degrees.
would the car overheat at speed?
thx
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Old Mar 8, 2024 | 10:44 PM
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I don't think it would be a problem.
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Old Mar 8, 2024 | 11:22 PM
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Originally Posted by BluRace
what is the effect/consequences of only using 4 qts of Dex instead of the 4.5 recommended amount?
i cannot imagine half a quart makes a difference.
i live in San Diego, so i am not worried about freezing temps.
i drive in the desert, where it is often 110 to 120 degrees.
would the car overheat at speed?
thx
Car is trashed. I'll take it off your hands for $5000.

Capacity is 11.8

Specification is 40% coolant and 60% water.

What you have is 4 quarts which gives a 33.898% vs 40.67. Sorry. Engine is wasted.
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Old Mar 9, 2024 | 07:34 AM
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You will be fine ........

Dave
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Old Mar 9, 2024 | 12:55 PM
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Is this because you don't want to purchase another quart of DEX?
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Old Mar 9, 2024 | 01:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Dcasole
You will be fine ........

Dave
Thanks a bunch. Now I have to offer him $10000.
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Old Mar 9, 2024 | 04:50 PM
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in response to kodpkd,
who asked,

Is this because you don't want to purchase another quart of DEX?

several answers for you.

1. no, i originally purchased two gals of Dex because i cannot find it in quarts at any of my local auto stores

2. was simply curious if and why half a quart would make a difference.
many people on the forum are apparently physics and chemistry professors,
so i was hoping for someone to educate me

3. i do not look forward to either wasting 3.5 quarts
or
letting it sit in the garage for 5 years.
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Old Mar 9, 2024 | 05:02 PM
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Originally Posted by BluRace
in response to kodpkd,
who asked,

Is this because you don't want to purchase another quart of DEX?

several answers for you.

1. no, i originally purchased two gals of Dex because i cannot find it in quarts at any of my local auto stores

2. was simply curious if and why half a quart would make a difference.
many people on the forum are apparently physics and chemistry professors,
so i was hoping for someone to educate me

3. i do not look forward to either wasting 3.5 quarts
or
letting it sit in the garage for 5 years.
I don't think it is that severe a drop as far as additives in the coolant go for lubrication of the pump, cavitation, etc so how **** are you? If you are very ****, get it and toss the extra away. If not, I don't see any issue.
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Old Mar 9, 2024 | 06:41 PM
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Originally Posted by BluRace
what is the effect/consequences of only using 4 qts of Dex instead of the 4.5 recommended amount?
i cannot imagine half a quart makes a difference.
i live in San Diego, so i am not worried about freezing temps.
i drive in the desert, where it is often 110 to 120 degrees.
would the car overheat at speed?
thx
If you have the standard cooling system the capacity is 11.8 quarts, if you have a 2019 with RPO V08 Heavy Duty cooling system the capacity is 12.7 quarts. So 40% of the capacity can run between 4 3/4 and 5 quarts. Since you live in San Diego and you want to run 30% Dex the numbers change to 3.5 quarts and 4 quarts. If you decide to run 4 quarts no matter what then you should be fine. There will be sufficient antifreeze to provide both some below-freezing protection and some boil-over protection. The engine will cool better with more water in the mix so you don't have to worry about overheating.

To make sure I get the ratios correct in the cooling system, I repeatedly drain/refill with water/run the engine until the thermostat opens/drain until the drained fluid runs clear. Then I close the petcock and add the amount of Dex I calculated and top off with water. Then I run the engine at 2500 rpm for a couple of minutes after the thermostat opens to burp out any air.

Bill
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Old Mar 10, 2024 | 09:18 AM
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I always use an AirLift to remove any trapped air in the system.

If air is trapped, running the engine will develop hot spots and can warp the Al heads.

AirLift assures that all the trapped air is removed.
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Old Mar 10, 2024 | 09:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Bill Dearborn
…….The engine will cool better with more water in the mix so you don't have to worry about overheating……..

Bill
Bingo. Heat capacity of water is 1.0 BTU per lb-degF. Only 0.60 for pure EG. So a typical 50/50 mix gives you 0.80. So more water than EG has greater heat transport capacity than increasing the EG content.
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Old Mar 12, 2024 | 09:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Tinkertech
I always use an AirLift to remove any trapped air in the system.

If air is trapped, running the engine will develop hot spots and can warp the Al heads.

AirLift assures that all the trapped air is removed.
The service manual also recommends vacuum filling the system. I just use a knock-off kit with tons of adapters.
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