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HI

This could be a stupid question but a couple of collegues who are also vanners said I should replace the water / anti freeze mix in the coolant of my car with 100% anti freeze and run this all year round 

They have done it and recon that during the summer when it's very hot and your are towing you are more prone to over heating.  But if you do the above it helps to keep the engine cool.

I thought they were having a laugh (I am not very good with engines) but there appear to be serious.

Anyone else do this because my mind is saying if it is better for your engine why don't manufacturers do it as a matter of course?  Not that I have a problem with over heating, it was just a conversation we had.

Cheers

Richard

most anti freeze is already mixed. so thats probably what they have in their cooling system.

Quote: Originally posted by LegsDownKettleOn on 04/6/2010

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Antifreeze will increase the boiling point of water and therefore reduce the risk of boiling over if the car is getting hot. It also has a marginal effect on heat transfer.

However, antifreeze also has a tendency to search out any leaks and for this reason, I would avoid running at 100% anti freeze.

Antifreeze is primarily intended to stop the coolant freezing; its summer coolant is pretty much coincidental. However, it does reduce corrosion due to the corrosion inhibitors in it which in turn reduces the risk of obstructions in the radiator.

If you want to improve your cooling, there are better ways of doing it.

Someone has already suggested an electric fan, flushing the coolant out annually will also help, as would cleaning the fins on the radiator. You could also get a thermostat rated at a lower temperature if you really wanted, but thermostats are normally provided for the manufacturers recommended temperature. If you want to keep the engine really cold then you could take the thermostat out altogether, but this means the oil will not reach its ideal temperature and its lubricative properties will be compromised.

If you do find your engine running a bit hot, one tip to remedy the situation is to turn the heaters on to full and bleed the heat off through them into the car (probably want to open the windows though unless you want to melt in there!) This has the effect of adding a second radiator and fan to the cooling system and can cool a hot engine very quickly. Also avoid stopping as this can cause heat build up, it would be better if possible to coast as much as possible so that the maximum air gets through the radiator for the least energy being burned up by the engine.

If you do need to stop because you cannot cool the engine by these means, always let the engine temperature drop to ambient temperature before adding cold water and whenever possible, add boiling water to an overheating engine to reduce the likelihood of thermal shock causing something to crack internally (something that modern aluminium heads are prone to doing)

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Antifreeze is used all year round on new cars, right from day one.  Not at 100% though, see your handbook for the correct mix.

Jim

Quote: Originally posted by Rune Caster on 04/6/2010

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If you coast, although you are cooling the radiator you are not cooling the engine - the important bit that needs cooling - as the coolant is pumped through the engine by the engine

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Don't think Legs Down was suggesting turning the engine off while moving. I hope not, anyway, as it's illegal (you are not in full control of the vehicle), potentially lethal (brake servos and power steering will stop working), and generally mad as a box of frogs.

Maybe he meant driving by the coast - it's always cooler there!

I dont think it will help, if you read the manual, in countries where its warm and does not freeze you just use a coolant addative to stop corrosion.

And a new Ford amongst others comes with long life (10 year) stuff installed at 50%.

Hi, engine running, car moveing,car in neutral illegal, as viggo states ( you are not in full control of the vehicle) eg- driver passes out,car and van lose cannon, can only get faster, down hill no means of retarding the speed, up hill  car rolls to standstill, then run backwards,pile up. could end up with new mates working on the chain gang. Car in gear car gradualy slows down and stalls,eventualy bringing unit to a halt,assuming it has'nt run off course and crashed.

running in neutral bad idea.

Thanks for replies guys,

I guess by the sounds of it my collegues are potentially causing more problems in their cars and I should just ignore them.  Thats why I like this forum, lots of different experiences to help me out.

Cheers

Richard

I've never heard of anything being run with neat Antifreeze & I suggest you ask the main dealer for your vehicle before trying it. If you have an over heating problem it could be address by having the Radiator recored, the Thermostat replaced or the cooling system flushed out. I've not done either for years but have done all three in the past.

I don't know the strength of the antifreeze in my cars, this is sorted by the dealers when they're checked each autumn but my lorry runs at 30-40% & as it operates in a very dusty environment, I wash the core off regularly to try & keep it clear for air flow.

This is only my opinion & I'm certainly no mechanic, but I don't think modern vehicles do their engine cooling systems any favours because the Aircon & Intercooler radiators are sat in front of the cooling radiator for the engine which makes me wonder if air flow to the coolant rad is impeded.

BB