what antifreeze to use?

[railer]

I had a coolant leak in my 2001 F150, so in the process of fixing the leak and losing some of the coolant, I noticed that the coolant was a not too healthy looking poop-brown as it ran out onto my driveway.

I've done a few water rinse and dumps on the coolant system over the past couple of days, so I'm pretty sure that I'll be able to get all of the existing OEM antifreeze and rusty water mixture out without issue.

Now that the leak is fixed and the system has been flushed...what to use? I know the OEM Ford stuff was Motocraft Gold, which is an HOAT antifreeze, and is about the same as Zerex G-05. My local parts stores pretty much only stock Prestone and the Dexcool compatible OAT type antifreezes....which are a lot cheaper than online prices that I've seen for the HOAT antifreezes....and would also be compatible with most of my other cars.

So I guess I'm wondering if there's a good reason not to use the standard Autozone type antifreeze in my Ford, so long as the system has been properly flushed.

Thanks all....

 

[EagleKeeper]

From my POV:
Do a power flush (connect the hose to a connector spliced into at water line). Much better than clear water into radiator and draining a couple of times.

However, as long as clear water comes out of the radiator petcock everytime completely; you are good to go.

Add Prestone and go.

 

[mvbighead]

Haven't heard of any issues with the motocraft stuff, whereas the Dexcool stuff is heavily lamented.

I just did flushes on two of my vehicles this weekend. Used prestone extended life 150k mile antifreeze. I am not big on using cheap no name fluids, though I suppose they are probably fine. I did several drain and fills, though I suppose a power flush would've been quicker and more effective. I was replacing Dexcool, so I tried to get as much out as I could. However, the Prestone stuff says it's safe to use with all types, so it gets my vote.

One question... what do most of you do with the waste water from a drain and fill? Part of my reasoning in not doing a power flush was to avoid having an excessive amount of waste, but I still have several gallons worth.

 

[EagleKeeper]

When I used to do it myself, it went down the storm drain - lived in a city area at the time.

Main concern was to flush it all down so no animals would lick it.

 

[Railgun]

Distilled water.

If you live in a warm climate.

 

[mvbighead]

When I used to do it myself, it went down the storm drain - lived in a city area at the time.

Main concern was to flush it all down so no animals would lick it.

I'd read that the storm drain was bad because that generally would runoff for use (fields, wildlife, etc.).

Some had suggested dumping it down the toilet, which at least then it goes into sewage water for treatment.

I dunno. I am trying to find the best method so as to not go about it the wrong way, but several say to bring it to autocenters while others say that most autocenters reject it.

Distilled water.

If you live in a warm climate.

Did that. At $.88 a jug, pretty easy decision.

 

[JCH13]

Distilled water.

If you live in a warm climate.

Bad idea, you'll get corrosion, worse heat transfer, and nothing will get lubricated (i.e. the water pump). At least add a bottle of water wetter.

I'd read that the storm drain was bad because that generally would runoff for use (fields, wildlife, etc.).

Some had suggested dumping it down the toilet, which at least then it goes into sewage water for treatment.

I dunno. I am trying to find the best method so as to not go about it the wrong way, but several say to bring it to autocenters while others say that most autocenters reject it.



Did that. At $.88 a jug, pretty easy decision.

Anything that runs through a treatment plant is fine, septic systems and un-treated storm drains are bad.

My experience is that most auto places do reject anti-freeze, they'll only do oil. I pour it into treated drains with lots and lots of fresh water to dilute the antifreeze as much as I can.

 

[mvbighead]

Bad idea, you'll get corrosion, worse heat transfer, and nothing will get lubricated (i.e. the water pump). At least add a bottle of water wetter.



Anything that runs through a treatment plant is fine, septic systems and un-treated storm drains are bad.

My experience is that most auto places do reject anti-freeze, they'll only do oil. I pour it into treated drains with lots and lots of fresh water to dilute the antifreeze as much as I can.

And to this note, I was thinking a car wash would be the ideal landing spot for the fluid. If that water likely contains rust particles among many other chemicals being washed off vehicles, whats some antifreeze going to do to it?

Granted, I have not done the above... but something I considered as a potential landing spot.

 

[mvbighead]

Bad idea, you'll get corrosion, worse heat transfer, and nothing will get lubricated (i.e. the water pump). At least add a bottle of water wetter.

Eh, that goes against everything I've read on the topic.

http://forums.themustangsource.com/f739/how-many-use-distilled-water-when-changing-coolant-481268/

Generally speaking, distilled should be purer than what comes from the garden hose. In my case, I have well water with a good amount of calcium. While I have it filtered, I know there is still stuff in there. I would think distilled or some other jugged water would be far better than anything from the hose.

Why do you suggest that it'd be worse?

EDIT: Scratch this. It seems he was referring to a complete fill of distilled water. If that is the case, that's where water wetter is ideal. As I used a mix of antifreeze and distilled water, water wetter isn't required (or so says some of the reviews of the product).

 

[JCH13]

And to this note, I was thinking a car wash would be the ideal landing spot for the fluid. If that water likely contains rust particles among many other chemicals being washed off vehicles, whats some antifreeze going to do to it?

Granted, I have not done the above... but something I considered as a potential landing spot.

I'd check with the car wash place first, they sometimes have a water recycling system, and antifreeze might mess it up. Also, whatever washes off of a car is generally very small in volume, and thus is highly diluted by all of the carwash water. I bet a few gallons of antifreeze would be a few orders of magnitude more concentrated than what gets washed off, which may or may not be okay.

Bottom line - a car wash is a hit-or-miss proposition. A place that does radiator flushes or other radiator servicing might let you dispose of it there for a small fee or free.

 

[Railgun]

Water will transfer heat better than coolant. May want to read up on that. DISTILLED water was explicitly mentioned for the fact it's distilled. Add a bit of antifreeze for some extra corrosion protection and you're good.

Yes, not only water.

It's downfall is it will boil quicker, but if you have a healthy system, that's ok. And obviously if you have freezing climates, it will destroy your radiator, or worse.

 

[WackyDan]

Many counties and larger cities have recycling centers that take your oil or antifreeze for free. I have a multitude of choices near me in the greater Charlotte, NC area.

Dumping it in a storm drain is wrong and potentially illegal as is dumping it at a car wash... Please remember that newer car washes have mandates to reuse a good portion of their wash water.

It doesn't take much effort or research to find a proper way to dispose of it.

 

[JoeyP]

I used prestone. For the flush, I did a drain and refilled with water and about 1 cup of Cascade dishwasher powder. Ran for a day and was amazed how much crap came out. Two more flushes with straight water, and added the prestone.

 

[JCH13]

Water will transfer heat better than coolant. May want to read up on that. DISTILLED water was explicitly mentioned for the fact it's distilled. Add a bit of antifreeze for some extra corrosion protection and you're good.

Yes, not only water.

It's downfall is it will boil quicker, but if you have a healthy system, that's ok. And obviously if you have freezing climates, it will destroy your radiator, or worse.

You're right, straight distilled water will have a higher text book heat transfer coefficient than a 50/50 mix of water/anti-freeze. And no, distilled water won't deposit any minerals in your engine.

However, breaking down the surface tension of the wanter/coolant will improve heat transfer in the real world. It will also help reduce spot-boiling (importance depends on the engine/mods/application). As you say, the boiling temperature is increased, which improves the system's total heat rejection capacity.

Coolant is generally exposed to both iron and aluminum based components inside the engine's cooling system, this is what will cause corrosion! The corrosion and oxide creation can wreck some components, and the build-up and creation of that shit inside the engine will insulate the coolant from the radiator and engine, cutting down heat transfer.

Your post just said "Distilled water" not "Distilled water with a little bit of anti-freeze." One of those is a good idea, the other is potentially disastrous. FTR I've seen first-hand what a race car does with straight water as coolant, it's not pretty.

 

[mvbighead]

FYI - For those looking for a place to recycle, try this site:
http://search.earth911.com/?what=An...latitude=&longitude=&country=&province=&city=

Enter your zip, and it'll give you registered locations. I found a local one, but they only accept the green stuff, not the pink Dexcool crap I need to get rid of. Will be calling some of the others to see what they'll do.

Funny thing, they say you should recycle the stuff and that it is easy to do, but the reality is, it seems to be anything but.

 

[phucheneh]

If you do a garden hose 'flush,' there's still going to be a good amount of water left in the engine. Add a little more antifreeze than you do water. And testing with a decent hydrometer afterwards isn't a bad idea.

 

[Railgun]

Your post just said "Distilled water" not "Distilled water with a little bit of anti-freeze." One of those is a good idea, the other is potentially disastrous. FTR I've seen first-hand what a race car does with straight water as coolant, it's not pretty.

I'll be more explicit next time any not assume people have at least some idea of what they're doing.

 

[phucheneh]

Just FYI: Of all the shops out there operating, I would say maybe 1% keep distilled water (or premixed coolant) on hand for cooling system repair or maintenance.

And to say 1% is probably rounding up.

 

[franksta]

I'd stick with the Motorcraft or the Zerex G-05. Since that's what Ford specified when the truck was new and thus compatible with the materials used in the cooling system. I had to track down the G-05 for my Grand Marquis. It's not nearly as widespread as Dexcool or the old green standard coolant. I've found it at NAPA and Carquest locally. If you absolutely can't find it Amazon.com has it

EDIT: That's the 50/50 mix FYI. It was the first one that showed up when I searched..