Coolant dilution

[Shelbyco427]

Making progress on my build and am wondering about coolant dilution. Being in Michigan I will only be driving this in the few months that this season gives us before it turns like it is this weekend. Balance of the year it is stored in a heated garage. Is there any advantage of diluting down the coolant below the 50/50 premix? Is there better heat transfer when there is less glycol?

[egchewy79]

I'd keep it 50/50. I'd rather deal w/ overheating than a cracked block from my antifreeze not antifreezing. If you are running hot, I'd look into a larger radiator or fan/shroud.

[JJK]

Yes distilled water does a better job cooling the engine than a glycol mix, but as egchewy noted, I would not want to risk a cracked block. And not sure you would actually need the additional heat transfer properties of a lower glycol mix. A properly sized radiator and fan should work fine.

[Railroad]

No advantage, just increased risk. NO

[David Williamson]

And the coolant provides corosion protection so 50/50 is a good idea
David W

[PMD24]

The glycol does impact heat transfer. In my radiant heating system design the manufacturer applied a factor for the glycol. I think it was 15%. Granted, it's a different type of glycol but there is a reduction in heat transfer efficiency.

[BornWestUSA]

Go at least 50% coolant, I just buy the premixed to keep it simple. Otherwise block corrosion is real.

[Avalanche325]

I also add a bottle of Water Wetter. No proof. But the people that sell it say it works. ;-)

[MB750]

I also add a bottle of Water Wetter. No proof. But the people that sell it say it works. ;-)

It does work well. There's multiple test videos online showing the reduction in temps before and after adding Water Wetter.

It's basically a surface tension reducer, which reduces cavitation and promotes more heat transfer from the cylinder block into the coolant. Living in Florida, I have it in everything.

To the OP, I concur with everyone here about going with 50/50 regardless of your storage situation. It's cheap insurance, and what do you think would happen if the heat in your garage failed, in January?