running water instead of antifreeze

jcwhite1288 · Oct 11, 2006

Ive been running water in my radiator since ive been driving my car and ive heard that if i drain my radiator and use antifreeze it'll mess up my whole system. is this true cuz the water is not doin it for my engine lol

DukeGnarley · Oct 11, 2006

you want to run a mix of water and antifreez. you also want to be using distilled water, not just the garden hose variety. it will NOT mess up your engine. if you run straight water, you will have a lower boiling point, and a higher freezing temperature, which will be bad.

The Dan · Oct 11, 2006

Running straight water will reduce your running temp (which is why NASCAR's run straight water, it disburses heat faster than with antifreeze), but you obviously run the risk of freezing if it gets that cold where your at, which is real bad.

In any case adding antifreeze will not hurt your car. The distilled water thing is good as well as it puts less "crap" in your cooling system that could aid in rusting your internals.

brianj5600 · Oct 11, 2006

NASCAR uses water because it can be cleaned up easily. Antifreeze is a no-no in most sanctioning bodies. It does cool better too.

mustangdave · Oct 11, 2006

While water does cool better, you need the anti-corrosive agents in anti-freeze as well as the protection from freezing. Products such as "Water Wetter" can also help with cooling.

The Dan · Oct 11, 2006

brianj5600 said:
NASCAR uses water because it can be cleaned up easily. Antifreeze is a no-no in most sanctioning bodies. It does cool better too.

Might want to do some research.

10secgoal · Oct 11, 2006

You do want to run a high silicate if you have aluminum heads or intake. If you are having issues with it as is, it's not because of the water.

mikec35 · Oct 11, 2006

Runnig water alone will rust internals in your engine. You could be setting yourself up for freeze plug or water pump problems. Make sure you have some sort of anti-corrosive mixed with the water or you will be in trouble down the road

brianj5600 · Oct 12, 2006

The Dan said:
Might want to do some research.

School me.

Cannoball888 · Oct 12, 2006

I use a bottle of Water Wetter and only 15% antifreeze. More water than antifreeze cools the engine better. For those who don't believe it, run straight antifreeze and watch your temp climb.

Max Power · Oct 12, 2006

That great for Florida. Most of us have weather.

iskwezm · Oct 12, 2006

I run straight water and a can of 40 Below, I hate4 cleaning coolant leaks.

drbobj67 · Oct 12, 2006

From what I've heard straight water is not a good idea, something with rust/corrosion protection is a good idea. As far as research goes here are a few items to check out.

http://www.streetrodstuff.com/Articles/Cooling/Cooling_Suggestions/

http://www.jag-lovers.org/xj-s/book/CoolantFilters.html
http://www.classicchevy.com/product.asp?pf_id=49-71&dept_id=1249
http://www.stockcarproducts.com/cooling1.htm

iskwezm · Oct 12, 2006

drbobj67 said:
From what I've heard straight water is not a good idea, something with rust/corrosion protection is a good idea. As far as research goes here are a few items to check out.

http://www.streetrodstuff.com/Articles/Cooling/Cooling_Suggestions/

http://www.jag-lovers.org/xj-s/book/CoolantFilters.html
http://www.classicchevy.com/product.asp?pf_id=49-71&dept_id=1249
http://www.stockcarproducts.com/cooling1.htm[/QUOTE"]

"Only use the amount of antifreeze that your demographic region dictates. Basic chemistry tells us that pure water is the best coolant, period"

thats why i add a corrosion inhibitor like 40 Below

brin0357 · Oct 12, 2006

The Dan said:
Running straight water will reduce your running temp (which is why NASCAR's run straight water, it disburses heat faster than with antifreeze), but you obviously run the risk of freezing if it gets that cold where your at, which is real bad.

In any case adding antifreeze will not hurt your car. The distilled water thing is good as well as it puts less "crap" in your cooling system that could aid in rusting your internals.

They use water and water wetter incase of track spills. You cant run antifreeze on a track, or not supposed to.

krash kendall · Oct 12, 2006

Coolant also lubricates your water pump which lengthens its life as opposed to straight water.

The Dan · Oct 13, 2006

brianj5600 said:
School me.

Why don't you register in a chemistry 101 class at your local J.C., because if you think anti freeze cools better than straight water you have been un/mis informed.

The Dan · Oct 13, 2006

FYI

The heat of fusion for ethylene glycol is 43.26 calories per gram, or
about half of that of water. So if you freeze a mixture of water and
ethylene glycol, you will actually be storing less cooling energy than with
pure water. The mixture may be colder, but it will adsorb less energy.

jcwhite1288 · Oct 13, 2006

wow thanks all so much i think ill go out and get some anti corrosive coolant and do some mixin!

brianj5600 · Oct 14, 2006

Dan, I'll take an English class. After rereading it it does imply that antifreeze cools better which is not what I meant. I guess proof reading is a good thing too.

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