Do I need to run 100% coolant if I start my car/drive once a week?

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BaLleRz68

Founding Member

Oct 9, 2001

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Jul 1, 2007

#1

• Jul 1, 2007

• #1

Im on my second radiator after busting the first one and was wondering if I need to run 100% coolant and a electrolysis cap. I talked to a local mustang shop and they recommended me to do this in order to prevent the radiator from leaking again? I only drive my car on the weekends or start it if i dont have time to take it out for a drive. Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.

 

dennis112

15 Year Member

May 15, 2005

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Amish Wonderland of Central PA.

Jul 1, 2007

#2

• Jul 1, 2007

• #2

It sounds like the first radiator was just plain crap. I feel the same way about your shops advice.

100% antifreeze will be hard on the rubber hoses and will not cool very well. Use the standard 50/50 antifreeze/distilled water mix and, if you want, add some additional corrosion inhibitor. Antifreeze already contains some.

I am not familiar with the cap that you suggested, but suppose it wouldn't hurt anything to try.

 

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ForceFed70

That's why they call it "dope"

Founding Member

Dec 6, 1999

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BC Canada

Jul 1, 2007

#3

• Jul 1, 2007

• #3

Agreed.

Use a 50/50 mix.

 

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mikethebike

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Jun 12, 2007

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Greenville, SC

Jul 1, 2007

#4

• Jul 1, 2007

• #4

Read the temp ranges for the different mix ratios and you will come to the conclusion that pure anti-freeze is lunacy. Run 50/50, this gives the widest heat range. If you are concerned about small leaks use the Prestone liquid sealant for cooling systems. I've used it for 20 years with very good results. Also, pure coolant is so slick it will find a way out where 50/50 would stay in.

 

68keyblr

20+ Year Stangneter

Mar 17, 2003

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Arizona

Jul 1, 2007

#5

• Jul 1, 2007

• #5

I've been running 50/50 in my weekend driver for years without a problem

 

jlangholzj

Mustang Master

Oct 23, 2006

248

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MI

Jul 3, 2007

#6

• Jul 3, 2007

• #6

NEVER use 100% antifreeze. it is less efficient to do this, you actually do a better job heating, cooling with the 50/50. i would talk to your local shop again about that suggestion running 100%

 

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gsxrken

Member

Sep 12, 2005

206

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Weschester County, NY

Jul 4, 2007

#7

• Jul 4, 2007

• #7

Agree with the 50/50 advice.

I do use an sacrificial anode-equipped radiator cap, and it is slowly disappearing, which tells me something. With iron block, aluminum heads, and copper/brass based radiator, there is some ionization going on and I'd rather the cap anode dissolves instead of more expensive bits. Make sure your engine block is well grounded too, or you can be slightly energizing your coolant and accelerating electrolysis.

 

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5.0ina66

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Jun 6, 2003

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Ohio

Jul 4, 2007

#8

• Jul 4, 2007

• #8

To add to what's been said, the more coolant that's in the mix, the faster it becomes acidic. This is an issue in diesels as they are artificially heated in the winters and the coolant goes acidic faster, we change the coolant every 2-3 years in the 6.5TD.

 

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fastdave

New Member

Apr 19, 2003

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Jul 8, 2007

#9

• Jul 8, 2007

• #9

gsxrken, Where did you get your radiator cap?

 

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gsxrken

Member

Sep 12, 2005

206

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Weschester County, NY

Jul 8, 2007

#10

• Jul 8, 2007

• #10

fastdave said:

gsxrken, Where did you get your radiator cap?

Click to expand...

Try NPD's mustang catalog, cooling section, p.74
http://www.npdlink.com/modules.php?name=Mustang_Catalog&file=index&func=download