• Mustang Forums
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • Classic Mustang Specific Tech

Radiators

  • Thread starter Thread starter Route666
  • Start date Start date Jan 14, 2004

Route666

Active Member
Aug 16, 2003
1,652
6
39
Brisbane, Australia
Jan 14, 2004
#1
  • Jan 14, 2004
  • #1
I was reading super dave's thread on coolant which got me thinking. Why not use a really low viscosity oil in your radiator instead of water or antifreeze or coolant? It would inhibit corrosion right? (I'm not sure if it's electrolytic or not though) Oil is used in heating radiators, so it must be good for transmitting heat, otherwise they'd fill those things with cheaper coolant.

Maybe the heat is too high in the radiator for oil and it breaks down?
Hmm, I just thought that maybe oil isn't used as it might destroy the hoses. But surely you can get hoses that resist oil, or make an oil that doesn't eat hoses, like brake fluid.

I dunno, just thought I'd chuck some ideas around. Also, if you used engine oil, a manufacturer could combine the oil and water passages, making the cooling more effective, and make the engine less complex, and weigh less. Sure, the risk of losing engine oil in a radiator blow-up would be bad, but the radiator system would have to be upgraded to cope with being an extremly vital component.

sooo.... ideas? (I wanna use oil dammit!)
 

burnout289

Founding Member
Jan 3, 2002
1,000
0
36
sun diego
Jan 14, 2004
#2
  • Jan 14, 2004
  • #2
i'd be worried about spillage. when it leaks, and it will eventually, oil is worse than a mixture of water and antifreeze since there's usually more water than antifreeze.

how does oil's freezing temp compare with water/antifreeze mix? and would the oil flow quickly enough? i don't really have any idea how quick an engine oil pump is, but it'd seem like the cooling system has to flow faster... i could be way off.

interesting idea.
 

Route666

Active Member
Aug 16, 2003
1,652
6
39
Brisbane, Australia
Jan 14, 2004
#3
  • Jan 14, 2004
  • #3
Well, my original idea was just to replace the hoses, (so they won't be destroyed by the oil) and fill the radiator with a really low viscous stuff. Cooking oil maybe? I think that would break down pretty easy though, but it is the best thin stuff I could think of, but just use the water pump to push thin oil around.

We'll get to the water/oil system hybrid later.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

1
Engine Motor swap from a 2003 Explorer
  • 1996mustang new
  • Oct 9, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
503
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Oct 16, 2025
squeak93
A
2001 Mustang GT, scorched metal smell and noise from trans/diff?
  • AndyE2255
  • Dec 1, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
4
Views
397
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Dec 28, 2025
gkomo
6
Hey all,I’m putting together a 302 for my 1968 Mustang and wanted to post the combo + some questions to make sure I’m not missing crucial
  • 68_Disgustang
  • Feb 22, 2026
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
Replies
3
Views
640
1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk- Feb 28, 2026
Noobz347
M
Engine 1988 Foxbody - Overheating Summer
  • MDrisc
  • Oct 26, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
10
Views
473
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Nov 28, 2025
Mustang5L5
V
Engine Coolant Leaking?
  • vinzo
  • Jan 26, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
427
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jan 26, 2025
2000xp8
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • Classic Mustang Specific Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?