Which cools better for a car, 50/50 water/anti-freeze or 100% water.

[JackBurton]

I live in a HOT part of the country and was wondering which would be the best cooling solution for my car, 50/50 water/anti-freeze or is 100% water better?

Also, has anyone used a product called "Water Wetter?" It is an additive to you put into your car's radiator that is supposed to make it cool better.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Errr.......AFAIK you're not supposed to put 100% either or in. Again, RTFM, but every single one I've read has recommended 50/50 and NEVER to put straight 100% in unless you're stranded somewhere and have no other option.

 

[notfred]

100% water cools better unless it boils. Then it turns to steam and doesn't cool at all. 50/50 water/antifreeze has a much higher boiling point.

Water wetter can be used to get the smae effect as 100% water, but without the corrosion problems associated with that. It'll still boil over a lot easier than 50/50 water/antifreeze.

 

[iamwiz82]

Water will cool better, but can corrode iron and aluminum. Plus, if you forget about it and it freezes over the winter you will be in for some problems.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Manufacturer's recommendation. And 100% water is a BAD idea. Anti-freeze also raises the boiling point. Just water will boil off. Unless you're racing on a track you should not need water wetter. If you do need water wetter, you need to have your car's cooling system inspected because something is wrong.

I drove through Arizona last summer when it was 120 degrees in the shade. Had the A/C on in my car running full-blast and the temperature never went past the 3/5 point on the scale.

ZV

 

[JackBurton]

Ok guys, thanks for the info. I've been having cooling problems with my car and it looks like it turned out to be the electric fan motor (it wasn't spinning fast enough). I replaced the motor and everything looks pretty good. I just thought adding water wetter would ensure my engine would run as cool as possible.

 

[Howard]

You can put in a few drops of dish detergent into the coolant to reduce the surface tension.

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Ok guys, thanks for the info. I've been having cooling problems with my car and it looks like it turned out to be the electric fan motor (it wasn't spinning fast enough). I replaced the motor and everything looks pretty good. I just thought adding water wetter would ensure my engine would run as cool as possible.

Pull your thermostat, she'll run cool.

 

[JulesMaximus]

You should NEVER put 100% water in your cars radiator. I would use a mixture of anti-freeze and distilled water. Check the manufacturers recommendation for the correct ratio for your car and climate.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Shockwave

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Ok guys, thanks for the info. I've been having cooling problems with my car and it looks like it turned out to be the electric fan motor (it wasn't spinning fast enough). I replaced the motor and everything looks pretty good. I just thought adding water wetter would ensure my engine would run as cool as possible.

Pull your thermostat, she'll run cool.

This is also a bad idea. The engine will never get up to normal operating temp without the thermostat.

 

[3chordcharlie]

straight water is okay to add if you find your coolant low and don't have any - but your manual calls for a 50/50 mix for a reason (actually quite a few reasons). You should follow it.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Which cools better for a car, 50/50 water/anti-freeze or 100% water.

50/50

 

[BluBelle]

I was at pepboys last night and I noticed that to get maximum heat that it can take at 285F it needs to be at 70/30.. that's 70 coolant and 30 water. This was on all the bottles of coolant in there.

Water Wetter is by Redline Oils, its kinda expensive to use it as a plain coolant in a car, but you can use it as a coolant additive. On a motorcycle, you wont need too much of water wetter to run a full coolant.

Anycase if your in hot weather run 70/30 (as per the bottles i noticed at pepboys).

TGG

 

[jyates]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Shockwave

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Ok guys, thanks for the info. I've been having cooling problems with my car and it looks like it turned out to be the electric fan motor (it wasn't spinning fast enough). I replaced the motor and everything looks pretty good. I just thought adding water wetter would ensure my engine would run as cool as possible.

Pull your thermostat, she'll run cool.

This is also a bad idea. The engine will never get up to normal operating temp without the thermostat.

I did this a few years ago when my thermostat messed up on the road and I took it out and
never did get around to putting it back in UNTIL as the weather got hotter I started
getting temp light warnings and I found out that when the water in your radiator is allowed
to just circulate in the radiator and then into the engine block in an endless loop it never
stays in the radiator long enough to really cool down so it just keeps getting heated and
BOOM you have an overheating problem.

 

[flot]

Originally posted by: BluBelle
I was at pepboys last night and I noticed that to get maximum heat that it can take at 285F it needs to be at 70/30.. that's 70 coolant and 30 water. This was on all the bottles of coolant in there.

Water Wetter is by Redline Oils, its kinda expensive to use it as a plain coolant in a car, but you can use it as a coolant additive. On a motorcycle, you wont need too much of water wetter to run a full coolant.

Anycase if your in hot weather run 70/30 (as per the bottles i noticed at pepboys).

TGG

Incorrect. 70/30 would raise the boiling point to the highest temperature, but it would not cool the most efficiently. AFAIK, straight water will cool better than a water/antifreeze mix. However, as others have said, there are a number of reasons NOT to run straight water, #1 becuase it will boil easily and #2 because your cooling system will start to rust.

 

[RayH]

As others have said, you shouldn't run 100% water due to corrosion. Watter Wetter can help especially on a turbo engine. One other option is Evans NPG Coolant though it's a bit pricey.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: RayH
As others have said, you shouldn't run 100% water due to corrosion. Watter Wetter can help especially on a turbo engine. One other option is Evans NPG Coolant though it's a bit pricey.

Thanks RayH, I think I might give Evans NPG Coolant a try. Does it have the same effect as Water Wetter?

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Shockwave

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Ok guys, thanks for the info. I've been having cooling problems with my car and it looks like it turned out to be the electric fan motor (it wasn't spinning fast enough). I replaced the motor and everything looks pretty good. I just thought adding water wetter would ensure my engine would run as cool as possible.

Pull your thermostat, she'll run cool.

This is also a bad idea. The engine will never get up to normal operating temp without the thermostat.

I know this first hand.
I had a thermostat that was stuck wide open, car ran cool as hell... which in the winter, was a bad thing
it actually threw a code, engine too cool. replaced that, and the upper rad hose.. all good again.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Water will cool better, but can corrode iron and aluminum. Plus, if you forget about it and it freezes over the winter you will be in for some problems.

Yes corrosion is the biggest problem.

Water wetter + a little antifreeze + water works best where no freeze danger is.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Originally posted by: jyates

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Shockwave

Originally posted by: JackBurton
Ok guys, thanks for the info. I've been having cooling problems with my car and it looks like it turned out to be the electric fan motor (it wasn't spinning fast enough). I replaced the motor and everything looks pretty good. I just thought adding water wetter would ensure my engine would run as cool as possible.

Pull your thermostat, she'll run cool.

This is also a bad idea. The engine will never get up to normal operating temp without the thermostat.

I did this a few years ago when my thermostat messed up on the road and I took it out and
never did get around to putting it back in UNTIL as the weather got hotter I started
getting temp light warnings and I found out that when the water in your radiator is allowed
to just circulate in the radiator and then into the engine block in an endless loop it never
stays in the radiator long enough to really cool down so it just keeps getting heated and
BOOM you have an overheating problem.

This is correct.

 

[RayH]

Originally posted by: RayH
As others have said, you shouldn't run 100% water due to corrosion. Watter Wetter can help especially on a turbo engine. One other option is Evans NPG Coolant though it's a bit pricey.

I don't run NPG coolant myself (I run Water Wetter and 50/50) but know some racers who do. The NPG coolant is supposed to improve heat transfer similar to Water Wetter but has the added benefit of higher boiling temperature so your cooling system will typically run at lower pressures than regular 50/50. Unless you're overheating or towing it may be overkill. Another option is a higher capacity fan or larger radiator.

 

[MikeMike]

i miss roger.

you god dam motherfckers ran him away. you know who you are, and you know you should be banned.

MIKE

 

[Bassyhead]

you should use 50/50

 

[fyleow]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Water will cool better, but can corrode iron and aluminum. Plus, if you forget about it and it freezes over the winter you will be in for some problems.

Yes corrosion is the biggest problem.

Water wetter + a little antifreeze + water works best where no freeze danger is.

How does distilled water corrode aluminum?

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
i miss roger.

you god dam motherfckers ran him away. you know who you are, and you know you should be banned.

MIKE

???

What happened to roger?!