Antifreeze?

[Ed Csoltko]

I'll be changing out my FFR antifreeze in the next few days. Haven't done it for three years, I think I'm over due.

I bought Prestone 5/150 (5 Years/150,000 Miles) Extended Life GM DEX-COOL approved coolant. Anyone use this stuff? The label reads for aluminum radiators, and I got aluminum heads as well.

Also I'm told to mix distilled water 50/50 with the antifreeze.

Any advise or recommendations before I start changing fluids.

[Blake Olson]

All I know is don't let your dog near it...

blake

[Jeff Frigo]

Stay away from it, it eats rubber hoses gallore. If you must use anti freeze, use the traditional green stuff. Better yet, don't use any at all, just drain the system at the end of the season.

You may want to add water wetter if you use straight water. It has conditioners in it and will normally reduce temps. by 10-20 degrees.

[427 S/O]

Jeff's right, nothing beats water for dissipating heat., you can add a rust inhibitor.

[Rick Parker]

Will the inhibitors added allow straight water to be used in a cooling sytem with a lot of aluminum, radiator, surge tank, heads, waterpump etc with out causing corrosion?
I've used the conventional glycol based green coolant in the past but wonered if the above was acceptable.

Rick

[Ed Csoltko]

So what are the rest of you using these days? I've got regular Prestone in my FFR now. I also got a jug of Advance coolant I could use. Give me your recommendations Cobra owners!

[mustangmendez]

Do not change from green to orange or orange to green stay with green Ed 50/50 water wetter and a conditioner change it out every 3 years a must for Aluminum heads .Just keep it simple
T

[Bud Man]

Amen.................

Bud

[Ed Csoltko]

Okay guys, your talking to a driver not a mechanic. The term "water wetter" has come up twice. Please explain!

Also, I'm assuming you mean stay with the regular Prestone (green) and not the Prestone 5/150 (5 Years/150,000 Miles) Extended Life GM DEX-COOL approved coolant (orange).

Please advise.

[Bob In Ct]

Keep in mind that antifreeze not only lowers the freezing point of water but it raises the boiling point as well. Without it you may be in for some steamy moments this summer.

Bob

[fordnut]

all anitfreeze will work in todays engines with any radiator aluminum or brass just don't leave it in forever, change it every couple of years. Plain water is not good for the engine and other components it will cause corrosion and rust,and has a lower boiling point than antifreeze water mix. You should use atleast a 20% mixture of anitfreeze to stop the rust and corriosion. Water will cool better than antifreeze but it will cause too many problems. Water wetter will help with or without antifreeze. Distilled water is best. If you can catch the water from the condensation line of your air conditioner it is distilled water

[Boudy]

Sorry Ed. We tend to ramble on don't we. Water Wetter is a product from Red Line Sythetics. It has additives to drop water temp by as much as 20 degrees. Just pour a bottle in your radiator. I'm not much on antifreeze so I use the Water Wetter in my systems. Street cars really should have an antifreeze blend but all of my stuff has been track only.

By the way, judging by your oil change experience, don't pick up a 12 pack before you get started on the radiator.

Boudy

[fordnut]

Water wetter is a chemical that breaks down the water molecules to make better heat transfer. Red Line makes a good one. Radiator Relief is another one

[Ed Csoltko]

Thanks to everyone for your inputs. Summing it up:

1. Continue to use the conventional glycol based green coolant/antifreeze.
2. Do a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and distilled water, (or a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and Red Line Water Wetter).

Tony made the comment: "Do not change from green to orange or orange to green stay with green". My next question is why?

There are many antifreeze products available, which are green and which are orange?

Advance - ?
Peak - ?
Prestone (Regular) - Green
Prestone (Extended Life GM DEX-COOL) - Orange

[rdorman]

I don't use any except in the winter. Then just plain old green prestone. Once it warms up I drain and flush the whole mess pour in a couple bottles of water wetter and top off with distilled water. It likes this combo much better on those real hot days.
Rick

[Mr.Fixit]

50/50 green stuff and water, then add a bottle or two of water wetter.

pure water plus wetter is what I use on my hot rod, but I don't recommend it to everybody.

[Rick Parker]

There was an extensive discussion on this a few months ago with a lot of good information. Suggest you do a search. The majority of the extended life antifreeze/coolant is not compatible with many of the silicones & elastomers used the "high performance" gaskets that we tend to use . The long life coolant was designed for the newer vehicles (to prevent boilover) that normally operate at much higher temps but have compatable gaskets.

Rick

[dalola]

Gentlemen,

A couple things to keep in mind:

If your car is never subjected to freezing temps, there is no reason to use antifreeze. It is a poor heat transfer agent. When WaterWetter is used, any more than 15-20% antifreeze/water mix will effectively reduce it's performance. It is recommended to use pure distilled water, IF you don't have to deal with freezing temps. If you do, use only enough antifreeze to reach desired protection. Boil over temp is more a result of the system pressure. A 16 lb. system with straight water yields approx. 250 degree boil over temp. The WaterWetter does not effect boil over temp. Antifreeze will only raise it slightly. And for what is costs, it's cheap insurance to flush and change it every season.

Just my $.02 (Also, check out RedLine's website for more technical details)

Dave

[rdorman]

What Dave said and how he said it!

[Dave24]

Red Line Water Wetter is a great product. I have used it in a couple of cars myself. It has dropped the operating temp by at least 8 degrees in both of them. Just my 2 cents worth.