Radiator Additive

[Lenny Bruce]

Hello all! I was thinking of running straight distilled water in radiator this summer to help keep it cool as I’ve heard it will run a bit cooler with the water. Can anyone recommend an anti rust agent to add? Thanks in advance!$

[JOES31]

You can add some soluble oil. When you used to buy the anti rust & water pump
lube in the stores, it was soluble oil. It is primarily used on lathes to cool the
cutting tool. The oil is an amber color until it's mixed with water. Then it turns
white.

[Gary WA]

Originally Posted by Lenny Bruce

Hello all! I was thinking of running straight distilled water in radiator this summer to help keep it cool as I’ve heard it will run a bit cooler with the water. Can anyone recommend an anti rust agent to add? Thanks in advance!$

Distilled water and #1300 Rust inhib, been using in all my A's for many years all seasons- Never seen antifreeze in my A's. But thats me.

[Lenny Bruce]

Good to know thank you!

[eagle]

Why is it running hot? It should not have an overheating problem. Fix what is broke then run 50/50 antifreeze. Probably needs the radiator cleaned out or replaced. Running straight water isn't going to make hardly any difference, and overheating WILL eventually wreck your engine.

[mcgarrett]

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Here are a couple of choices just for openers. I have used both at various times and will be switching over soon now that freezing temps are over here in Texas. If they work well in our Texas summer heat, they will work for you!

https://www.redlineoil.com/waterwetter

https://www.royalpurple.com/product/...tem-optimizer/

[McMimmcs]

“ Bars water pump lube and anti rust “ is what I use in my cars. Never a problem. Good luck. Wayne

[1crosscut]

Lenny, listen to eagle.

[mcgarrett]

My best friends' '31 Slant Window has a peculiar cooling problem when he runs 50/50 anti freeze - the car has a tendency to run hot and boils over on hot days with that mixture whether driving or idling. When we drain and re-fill with the Water Wetter and water, the car stops boiling over and runs at a normal temperature. Can't explain what's going on here, but it works well for him.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by mcgarrett

My best friends' '31 Slant Window has a peculiar cooling problem when he runs 50/50 anti freeze - the car has a tendency to run hot and boils over on hot days with that mixture whether driving or idling. When we drain and re-fill with the Water Wetter and water, the car stops boiling over and runs at a normal temperature. Can't explain what's going on here, but it works well for him.

That is strange. With 50/50 mix it shouldn't "boil over" until it reaches ~225° F. Anti-freeze not only prevents freezing but raises the boiling point. My engine runs at 185° on a hot day at 50/50 mix.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by JOES31

You can add some soluble oil. When you used to buy the anti rust & water pump
lube in the stores, it was soluble oil. It is primarily used on lathes to cool the
cutting tool. The oil is an amber color until it's mixed with water. Then it turns
white.

After talking to people about doing that, I never use cutting oil in the radiator. It attacks the hoses and often turns to a gooey mess in the bottom of the cooling system, I was told.
I also never use antifreeze - the glycol dissolves the solder in the radiator on cars of this age. I guess we are fortunate that freezing is not a problem at anytime of year so not using antifreeze is not a problem.
I use only a soluble oil made for a cooling system. There ae several to choose from.

[nkaminar]

There are also additives that improve the cooling. I think "Water Wetter" is one.

[ronn]

Eagle is correct. Antifreeze is "thinner" then water, and should run cooler as well.

[marty in Ohio]

Just to throw my hat in the ring. For many years I've used distilled water and Water Wetter. My car never overheats, even during the Memorial Day parade.
Marty

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

I also never use antifreeze - the glycol dissolves the solder in the radiator on cars of this age.

Have you actually seen this happen? If this were true, hundreds of thousands of cars would need new radiators because manufacturers put it in most new cars since the 40's. It is only the newer coolants that has organic additives that causes a problem in our radiators.

I use Peak with the green cap, formulated for cars built before 1989.

[GPierce]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

I use Peak with the green cap, formulated for cars built before 1989.

So do I.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

Have you actually seen this happen? If this were true, hundreds of thousands of cars would need new radiators because manufacturers put it in most new cars since the 40's. It is only the newer coolants that has organic additives that causes a problem in our radiators.

I use Peak with the green cap, formulated for cars built before 1989.

Perhaps I could have added that applies to radiators from the era of our cars and up to about the mid thirties. By now, few of us are still using the original radiator. I'm certainly not and the company that repaired mine told me to stay away from glycol, advice I was passing on for the benefit of others. Whether they take notice (or dismiss it) is up to them.

[mcgarrett]

I'm far from being an expert on this topic, but I just have to go with the evidence and what I'm seeing with my own eyes. It seems that a 50/50 mix of modern anti freeze and water doesn't give up heat in a non-pressurized cooling system as well as pure water. The surfactant chemistry package in Water Wetter and other similar products helps it do its job better in the heat transfer department, hands down. I think I read somewhere that race cars use pure water with chemical additives to help with heat dissipation. I'll keep myself open to be corrected, however.

[1crosscut]

Perhaps a 50/50 mix of modern coolant doesn't give up heat quite as well in an unpressurized system. That said if your cooling system is in good order the small difference will not be a factor. I've seen a lot of rusty, cruddy coolant systems caused by running water. The anti corrosion and freeze protection of a modern coolant mix is well worth it in my book.
If running a coolant mix is causing an overheat situation there is something wrong that needs to be fixed.

[Synchro909]

1crosscut, X2