what cooling system additives do you guys use in your radiator?

[toadster]

aside from regular coolant, do any of you use Water Wetter or other items?

I've used WW and HyPer Lube in my daily drivers and they do tend to keep the temps 5-10F cooler than without...



Rislone Hy-per Cool Super Coolant, 16 oz.

Red Line (80204) Water Wetter - Coolant Additives - 12 oz Bottle

Royal Purple 01600 Purple Ice Super-Coolant Radiator Additive - 12 oz.

Mishimoto - MMRALC Liquid Chill Radiator Coolant Additive


I plan on just adding distilled water for the first start, and will probably add one of these to the mix. Any feedback?

[Jim1855]

Red Line WW or Royal Purple Purple Ice

[Ted G]

Hey Todd,

Interesting that you posted this. I've been running distilled water in my go-kart stage and now thinking about what to use. Honestly, I just thought a good brand name mix with water would be good. My temps have never even reached 200 thus far.

Following...

[BEAR-AvHistory]

None. Regular gold 50/50 mix. Last batch was FORD house brand concentrate into distilled water. Typical operating temperature oil/water 180*F. Idling in NC summer heat oil/water 180/205*F. Back to 180*F in two blocks of moving. Flushed & refilled during late year 4.

[Jeff Kleiner]

None. Regular 50/50 glycol antifreeze since 2008. No leaks, no corrosion, no problems.

Jeff

[Railroad]

50/50 and Water Wetter.

[Ford & Jeep Fan]

put me in the 50/50 and nothing else group. and then to make sure there is no corrosion a complete flush every 3 years.

[Dgc333]

FWIW, assuming your cooling system is properly sized and in good working order the thermostat is going to control the temperature of the coolant. Adding water wetter will make no difference in the temperature of the coolant.

In a marginal system you may see a benefit with water wetter.

[Blitzboy54]

None. Regular 50/50 glycol antifreeze since 2008. No leaks, no corrosion, no problems.

Jeff

Same, I use 87 octane too. It’s A pushrod V8.

[Hoooper]

100% distilled water and a bottle of water wetter

[emac]

Distilled water and antifreeze

[Gilmore]

Distilled & Antifreeze

[Avalanche325]

50/50 water / antifreeze and Water Wetter, not that I knew I needed it. I am in Florida with a fairly snotty engine. It never ever runs hot.
I change it every other year. Due this weekend.

[GFX2043mtu]

None, if you need additives beyond those in normal coolant for your motor type then you need a different radiator.

[Railroad]

None, if you need additives beyond those in normal coolant for your motor type then you need a different radiator.

Maybe, As I understand the water wetter products, it reduces the film strength of the water, like a water softener.
This allows the coolant to have better surface contact inside the engine and radiator, improving heat transfer from the surfaces to the liquid.
It may not be needed, but the advantages are there.
If you run no or low percentages of antifreeze, the wetter products contain anti corrosion agents.
What's not to like.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Believe its a case of "if it ain't broke don't fix it". If a distilled water & antifreeze mix maintain the proper operating temperature for the car under all conditions you experience why add anything else? What is the benefit?

[Railroad]

Believe its a case of "if it ain't broke don't fix it". If a distilled water & antifreeze mix maintain the proper operating temperature for the car under all conditions you experience why add anything else? What is the benefit?

Probably nothing, if all your information comes from the needle on the gauge.
If the additive might reduce hot spots in the cooling jackets, I will spend the $10 and time to pour it in.

[toadster]

Maybe, As I understand the water wetter products, it reduces the film strength of the water, like a water softener.
This allows the coolant to have better surface contact inside the engine and radiator, improving heat transfer from the surfaces to the liquid.
It may not be needed, but the advantages are there.
If you run no or low percentages of antifreeze, the wetter products contain anti corrosion agents.
What's not to like.

Believe its a case of "if it ain't broke don't fix it". If a distilled water & antifreeze mix maintain the proper operating temperature for the car under all conditions you experience why add anything else? What is the benefit?

as railroad said, it improves the surface contact of water, not saying anything is broke, but I have had favorable usage in my daily drivers for years

that being said, I'm curious why everyday coolant manufacturers don't add this already to their 50/50 mix (or even concentrate) - maybe some do?

[Jeff Kleiner]

… I'm curious why everyday coolant manufacturers don't add this already to their 50/50 mix (or even concentrate) - maybe some do?

It comes right back around to if it ain’t broke… Quite simply, the question isn’t “why don’t they” but rather “why would they?” to which the answer is because it’s not necessary.

Jeff

[toadster]

It comes right back around to if it ain’t broke… Quite simply, the question isn’t “why don’t they” but rather “why would they?” to which the answer is because it’s not necessary.

Jeff

very true, many race vehicles just use water with this stuff and no coolant

[Hoooper]

Yeah, I dont know why you would run it if youre running any antifreeze. If youre having cooling problems in a roadster I think youve got a bigger problem with your system and water wetter would be just a bandaid if anything

[JohnK]

very true, many race vehicles just use water with this stuff and no coolant

That's primarily because many tracks don't allow ethylene glycol because it's very slippery so leaks on track can be a problem.

[Hoooper]

That's primarily because many tracks don't allow ethylene glycol because it's very slippery so leaks on track can be a problem.

Straight water is also run because it cools more efficiently than antifreeze. Except cars with iron blocks I would expect any dedicated road race car to run straight water regardless of the track or class rules unless it just runs so hot they cant get the pressure high enough to avoid boiling without causing themselves other issues

[RBachman]

I'm trying Evans Coolant for the first time in mine. So far after a couple years I haven't had any issues and everything seems happy, never gets hot even in hot-n'-humid Carolina beach traffic.

[toadster]

I'm trying Evans Coolant for the first time in mine. So far after a couple years I haven't had any issues and everything seems happy, never gets hot even in hot-n'-humid Carolina beach traffic.

very cool, saw that on Jay Leno's garage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7PykrgzWPQ

[Railroad]

Probably good stuff, but I do not think you can top it off with water or reg antifreeze.
I did not watch the video, if this is included.

[F500guy]

Propylene glycol, Check out Wikipedia. I am sure it works, but it is expensive. Looks like it is a de-icer for aircraft as well, low toxicity.

[RBachman]

Probably good stuff, but I do not think you can top it off with water or reg antifreeze.
I did not watch the video, if this is included.

Nope, no water but not sure about antifreeze. But it's unlikely to boil over because it doesn't flash to a gas like water (steam), the system pressure remains lower and nothing vents away. So there isn't really a need to refill or top off unless there's a leak. The engine is an aluminum Dart 347, built by Mike Forte'. Radiator and Fan are both FFR.

[rthomas98]

Nope, no water but not sure about antifreeze. But it's unlikely to boil over because it doesn't flash to a gas like water (steam), the system pressure remains lower and nothing vents away. So there isn't really a need to refill or top off unless there's a leak. The engine is an aluminum Dart 347, built by Mike Forte'. Radiator and Fan are both FFR.

That is correct you can't top it off with antifreeze or water. If switching there is actually a purge liquid you need to use first. When I change my fluids after my engine break in I plan to switch to evans at the same time.

[Hoooper]

Evans is great as long as youre planning on keeping to street use or the drag strip. It does not cool as effectively as a water/antifreeze mix and thus on track or during hard driving unless you have a massively oversized radiator it will run hotter. Thats part of their selling point, that it doesnt boil even when running hotter, but running hotter is somewhat less than ideal on track.

[BornWestUSA]

I just bought some water wetter today, I read the labels on 4 brands and they all said use filtered drinking water, not distilled water.

I have always mixed my 100% coolant with distilled water to make my own 50/50, lately I just buy the 50/50.

[toadster]

very interesting!! https://rislone.com/blog/cooling/why...ooling-system/

[JohnK]

One of my other hobbies (OK, obsessions) is espresso. Pretty much all espresso machine manufacturers recommend against using distilled water in espresso machines as it is corrosive enough that it will damage boilers over time. The whole topic of "proper" water for espresso machines is one giant rabbit hole, but it makes sense that you wouldn't want to use distilled water in your cooling system for the same reason. Count me in the KISS camp - I just used the pre-mixed Motorcraft 50/50 that Ford recommends for the coyote.

[rich grsc]

One of my other hobbies (OK, obsessions) is espresso. Pretty much all espresso machine manufacturers recommend against using distilled water in espresso machines as it is corrosive enough that it will damage boilers over time. The whole topic of "proper" water for espresso machines is one giant rabbit hole, but it makes sense that you wouldn't want to use distilled water in your cooling system for the same reason. Count me in the KISS camp - I just used the pre-mixed Motorcraft 50/50 that Ford recommends for the coyote.

And there you go,KISS

[toadster]

One of my other hobbies (OK, obsessions) is espresso. Pretty much all espresso machine manufacturers recommend against using distilled water in espresso machines as it is corrosive enough that it will damage boilers over time. The whole topic of "proper" water for espresso machines is one giant rabbit hole, but it makes sense that you wouldn't want to use distilled water in your cooling system for the same reason. Count me in the KISS camp - I just used the pre-mixed Motorcraft 50/50 that Ford recommends for the coyote.

ah good point! we have a Miele Super automatic espresso in the kitchen and was hooking up a water filter, and the instructions did warn about RO water as it strips out the minerals - sounds like distilled alone is not good

[Ted G]

Todd,

So what are you going with? That Evan's stuff looks great but expensive!! However, you never need to replace it. I still say KISS.

[toadster]

i'm starting with just water and the Rislone Hy-PerCool additive, can change out later with some 50/50 coolant

[Hoooper]

very interesting!! https://rislone.com/blog/cooling/why...ooling-system/

Keep in mind, that article is coming from someone with something to sell you. You will likely find that all sources telling you that distilled water will attack your engine always come from a company with something to sell you and a wall of words to confuse you. Its not that they are wrong, just that "attack" is used to scare you rather than telling you they will corrode a handful of mcg from the engine (as would filtered water without iron or aluminum in it). If you look on a bottle of 50/50 they all say that they use either distilled water or deionized water (deionized water is far worse for metals than distilled). They will all reach an equilibrium amount of iron and aluminum in the system at an incredibly low concentration, meaning the amount of corrosion compared to the volume of metal in the engine and rad is effectively none, and if the filtered water you are using is very low in aluminum or iron, it will ultimately have the same effect on those metals in the engine as using distilled water as the filtered water will still need to pull a tiny amount of metal from the engine to reach equilibrium.

[Jeff Kleiner]

[/B]
And there you go,KISS

Oh come on Rich, where's the fun in that? You know how it is...if it ain't broke and is working perfectly as is just think how much better than perfect it would be if it had something added to it. And don't ever forget, if it costs more it surely must be better, not to mention that if it's made for a race car you really, REALLY need to have it in your street car.

Jeff

[JohnK]

I know I'm relatively new here compared to some and I don't know a much as many of you, but what I do know is I hope I never get the point that I feel like I know so much that I can sh*t on people for not doing things exactly the same way I do.