Antifreeze type?

[aero3113]

I will be going out to pick up some antifreeze for my rebuilt engine, what type/brand do you think I should use. Keep in mind that the block is as clean as can be and I am using a aluminum radiator.

[55 Fargo]

How about plain ethylene glycol based antifreeze, maybe Prestone brand, either premixed or you mix the ratio you want, with distilled water and the non-premixed antifreeze, to get the mix you want, IE 30/70.......

[Don Coatney]

I would use ethylene glycol with a rust inhibitor. Alcohol based anti freeze will evaporate and myst be refreshed frequently.

[aero3113]

I read in a earlier post that 1.5 gallons of antifreeze and the rest distilled water is a good mix? Is this true?

[Al B. Bach]

I realize that propylene glycol based anitfreeze is maybe not as good for our engines but it is the only thing I will use because I have pets. It only take a few licks of traditional antifreeze to poison an animal.

I have been using pet safe antifreeze for many years and have never had any trouble. If you have pets or have free roaming animals around I would seriously consider safe antifreeze.

http://www.arkanimals.com/propylene-glycol-anti-freeze-pet-safety/

[Don Coatney]

I read in a earlier post that 1.5 gallons of antifreeze and the rest distilled water is a good mix? Is this true?

Depends on the capacity of your cooling system and your local climate. A mixture of 50% water, 50% straight anti freeze will protect your engine to -30F and will not boil until the temperature reaches 225F. A mixture of 20% water and 80% anti freeze will protect your engine to -50F and will not boil until the temperature reaches 255F. Pure ethylene glycol has a specific heat capacity about one half that of water. In other words the higher the concentration the less heat the mixture can absorb and remove. So you might consider a winter blend of 50/50 for freeze protection and a summer blend of say 10% antifreeze and 90% water for better engine cooling.

[aero3113]

What do you think is a good mix for all seasons? I don't want to have to drain every winter and summer.

[desoto1939]

Also add a bottle of rust inhibutor. This will help with protecting the water pump beraing and also help keep the rust inhibtors active inthe antifreeze.

With a cast iron block as the antirust inhibortors break down over the year then the antifrezze will go from a green yellow color to a brown. This is why they want you to flush and drain your cars approx every 3-5 years or after specific milage.

I had a caravan and checked the Af with the gage to see how far down I was covered and I was well below -30 and the AF was still green. In about several weeks later I had the AF flushed and becasue the AF had turned brown. It lost the antirust protection and it did it very quickly. Then the engine developed a leak at a freeze plug.

Put the Rust inhibtor in your regaualr car and also your old car and chnage the AF according to your manual. Always watch this area.

Rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com

[TodFitch]

What do you think is a good mix for all seasons? I don't want to have to drain every winter and summer.

I run a 50/50 mix here.

One of the joys about living in an area with one of the best climates in the world is I really don't have to worry about very cold or very hot temperatures. But I do like to be able to drive into the central valley during summer where the temperature can easily be over 100F and into the mountains where it can be in the 10F to 20F range at night in the winter. And the antifreeze contains anti-corrosion and water pump lubricants too...

[Niel Hoback]

Regarding rust inhibtor and any other coolant additives; "This will help with protecting the water pump bearing....". No coolant or additive should be able to reach the bearing in any way. If it does, there is a leaking seal and will ruin the bearing.

[desoto1939]

Regarding rust inhibtor and any other coolant additives; "This will help with protecting the water pump bearing....". No coolant or additive should be able to reach the bearing in any way. If it does, there is a leaking seal and will ruin the bearing.

Neal.

i did not mean to say that it gets into the bearing but the inbitubor solution also acts as a lubicant. I made a mistake but just rying to be helpful for the person that did the original post to add this to the AF as an additional protection agent.

Rich Hartung

[captden29]

how about products like wetter water? i have tried it and it dies let the cooling system work better. i got about 10 degrees cooler for normal operation. dennis

[Niel Hoback]

Rich, please forgive me if I come off like a jerk. I am curious what is there to lubricate? I can see it getting to the seal lip, but anything else that moves?

[RobertKB]

My preferred mix has always been 50/50 and usually add straight antifreeze if just topping off, but that's me. Just my..............

Ditto

[desoto1939]

Here is the literature from the GUNK Company about their water pump rust inhibutor and lube product that I was talking about. I use this in my 39 Desoto.

Hope this explains why I posted the information.

Rich Hartung

C1012 water pump rust inhib and lub document.pdf

[Captain Neon]

I realize that propylene glycol based anitfreeze is maybe not as good for our engines but it is the only thing I will use because I have pets. It only take a few licks of traditional antifreeze to poison an animal.

I have been using pet safe antifreeze for many years and have never had any trouble. If you have pets or have free roaming animals around I would seriously consider safe antifreeze.

http://www.arkanimals.com/propylene-glycol-anti-freeze-pet-safety/

While I simply let my antifreeze pour out on to the ground to soak in to my crushed rock driveway, I have always had pets (barn cats, farm dog, spoiled house dog, spoiled house cats), and even a cat that supervises my work, but I have always used regular Prestone ethylene glycol based antifreeze. I've never so much as seen any of the critters go up to sniff the stuff much less take a sip. Folks that are more environmentally conscious than me can just put a cover over their antifreeze pail before introducing in to the sanitary sewer.

BTW, even living in the frozen tundra of Minnesota, I have always used a 50/50 blend of antifreeze year a round, and have never had a problem.

[Niel Hoback]

Thanks Rich, thats the info I was looking for. Apparently it lubricates only the seal surface. I appreciate your ability to educate me.

[greg g]

I have been using a 30 and 70 water mix since I have instaled my rebuilt 230 in my car.

Since it doesn;t go out in the winter, stays in the garage where it seldom goes below 30 degrees. As was mentioned, Water has a better heat transfer efficiency that coolant or the mix. the 30/70 provides what I think is a good compromise of cooling effectiveness, system protection, and boil over protection.

Remember you need to leave some expansion room in you radiator. I don't kow about the aluminum deals but the stock radiator will seeks it own level by burping out excess when you shut it down from a heat cycle. Seems everyone's reaction is to refill it, and replace what has been expelled, but don't.

It only needs enought to cover the cooling tubes by about 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

Where is the new radiator vented?? Are you considerig running s pressure cap???