Anti Freeze ?

[Dentman]

It is that time of years to check/change your anti freeze.

Has anyone tried the waterless coolant ?

[indian301]

Yes. I built a 1965 Ford Ranchero for a friend and used Evans waterless coolant. I bought it through Amazon, I think it was $43 a gallon.
The only problem I foresee is if you develop a leak and someone adds regular antifreeze.

Dave

[nth]

Hi David

I've been advised that waterless coolant is not suitable for thermosyphon systems as I looked into it for my '33 nine sports LM engine two years ago when it was fully dry from years of storage.
https://www.evanscoolant.com/how-it-works/forum/ second question -- evans do not recommend the use but sit on the fence a bit!
Several other people advised against aswell. Thought about adding n in-line pump but stayed with originality.

Cheers, Neil

[Danish]

Re: winter storage. To protect my engine block, I always drain the cooling system to protect from frost damage/ ice expansion.
I presume everyone else follows a similar practice?

[Dentman]

I see, Waterless is not the way to go. I like to use my cars even during the winter, so I don't want to drain the system.

Is there a preferred normal anti freeze ?

[jeans_old_man]

This is the advice on the Halfords website:

Cars made after 1998 normally need antifreeze that uses silicate-free, organic acid technology (OAT). These types of antifreeze offer better corrosion protection so that parts don't need to be changed as often.

Cars made before 1998 usually need antifreeze that isn't OAT-based and that does contain silicate.

Draining and refilling a car every winter is not a good idea. Every time you add fresh water to the engine you are adding oxygen that combines with the metal to form rust.

[telco.2]

I agree; in over 50 years ownership of pre-war Singers - including Juniors, 9's and 2 litre 6 cylinder cars - I have never drained down for winter. I always use IAT antifreeze which is readily available & usually marked ' for older engines'. Using a 50% mix, corrosion is reduced to absolute minimum. All this is in my humble opinion of course

[tvdwerf]

why drain?
Give your car a place where you like to be without a coat , my garage has floor heating

[ColinB]

I have OAT in my cars but I will change it to blue IAT which I have ordered. How critical is it to flush out the system when I change over ?

[jeans_old_man]

After an internet search, it seems that the issue with OAT based antifreeze is that the corrosion inhibitors may attack certain types of gasket material - such as silicone. I suspect (but don't actually know) that when they say not recommended for older engines they are not talking about really old engines that don't have water pumps or silcone ring seals.

Mixing the two types of antifreeze can form a gel-like substance and therefore I would thoroughly flush out engine and radiator when changing over.

[Phillip]

The Eveans story is confusing indeed as this man seems to swear by it for all his cars.."1900 to present day"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRLXKW2ph0w

And he knows cars!

Odd then, that Evans seems to send mixed signals regarding using it thermosyphon systems.

[telco.2]

Thanks for the youtube post..interesting. But since I haven't had a problem in all these years, why would I change. £15 worth of iat from the local parts supplier lasts at least two changes of the system!!
Bill

[Phillip]

True enough Bill....I've always used an 8 metal compatible E-G antifreeze in my cars also.
I was interested in Evans but find the claims and reviews on the internet very mixed and this just adds to the confusion. Leno's Duseberg story is interesting, especially when he shows the corrosion that occurred, but his own Dusenberg expert recommended staying with E-G and water! Evans own Q&A in response to a query on using the product in a Model T thermosyphon system was that, "they do not recommend it but have had success". What does that mean??!!!

[jeans_old_man]

Water has the highest Specific Heat of any liquid. It is also pretty dense. This means that it is the most efficient fluid for extracting heat from an engine. Thermo-syphon systems rely on this to keep the engine cool.

Cars with a water pump and thermostat have excess cooling capacity and can tolerate a fluid with a lower Specific Heat. It's not surprising therefore, that the manufacturer hesitates in recommending it for thermo-syphon systems since he cannot guarantee that they will not over heat.