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Running Coolant Without Adding Water

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 4:04 pm
by zambon
I was going through the megasquirt board the other day and I read a post about using pure coolant. the poster even advocated warming up the engine with the radiator cap open so that all water vapor could escape.

What do you guys think about this?

Also, has anyone noted better than average results using special coolant types such as Evans?

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 11:49 pm
by Sporttunergtv6
my car ran coldest on straight water.

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 3:43 am
by Alfettish
Using straight water you will run a higher risk of corrosion, but it will run cooler.

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:45 am
by Mats
Pure coolant, now that's stupid! :lol:

Pure water isn't good either, no corrosion protection and no lubrication for the water pump. Running cooler? Thermostat? :wink:

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:22 pm
by zambon
I thought it sounded wrong too.
Any experiences using the expensive type coolants?

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:49 pm
by Sporttunergtv6
with the aluminum radiator and straight water it ran cooler than any combo of antifreeze-water, antifreeze-water-waterwetter-, water-waterwetter. i run water wetter-water so the temp doesnt fluctuate as much.
v

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:51 pm
by Sporttunergtv6
doesnt antifreeze hold more heat than water? like a steel caliper vs alum?

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 3:59 pm
by x-rad
As far as I know, water with solute has a higher boiling point and greater heat capacity. The trade off is corrosion, so non charged solute is utilized.

Pure antifreeze has drawbacks, especially in freezing weather. I always ran pure antifreeze and no thermostat on a high power turbo 2.0L with no problems (18+lbs boost)

Best solution would be distilled water(least charge) and antifreeze..the exact amounts i do not know...

Although, the highest heat capacity would be in a mixture of glycols, no water

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 2:14 am
by Mats
Sporttunergtv6 wrote:with the aluminum radiator and straight water it ran cooler than any combo of antifreeze-water, antifreeze-water-waterwetter-, water-waterwetter. i run water wetter-water so the temp doesnt fluctuate as much.
So you don't use a thermostat? That will actually make the car run warmer then with a thermostat unless you actually modify the system.
Sporttunergtv6 wrote:doesnt antifreeze hold more heat than water? like a steel caliper vs alum?
No, water has better thermal capacity then antifreeze.

So a little anitfreeze or water wetter in the system for lubing and a thermostat will do the trick.

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 9:27 am
by MR2 Zig
I think the water wetter keeps the corrosion in check also, does it not?

Motorcycle track day folks use water / water wetter on the track because if regular coolant got on the track (overflow or crash) everyone else would slide in it. Coolant is more slick on the pavement than is gas, a little less so than oil.

I THINK most racers are draining their preferred coolant mix much more regularly than most street drivers so this may be a factor in coolant selection for you and for corrosion control.

hth,
scott

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 9:50 am
by Sporttunergtv6
i run a lower temp thermostat from alfa heaven. i will def take your word on it mats, but i distinctly remember hearing about southern california racers running water/waterwetter as the absolute coolest running solution. when i first installed the al radiator with 5050, I remember that i was not too impressed. so i started playing with mixtures. this was around 2 years ago.. I could be mistaken.

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 9:54 am
by Sporttunergtv6
this is definately a case of victor being forgetful... the more i think about the more i say hmmmmm.

Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:30 am
by Mats
Motorcyclists have a whole friggen rulebook regarding coolant and you're right, htey are not allowed to run antifreeze due to slickness. They also must have "bodywork" under the engine that can hold the entire volume of oil in the engine in case of "the big one". Doesn't matter that the rear wheel locks up in 99% of those cases. :roll:

Engine cooling is a very, very complicated thing and I'm not saying I'm holding all the answers here, I'm just relaying the stuff I hold as "best knowledge" :?

Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 2:14 pm
by x-rad
there used to be a no-water antifreeze that did not boil until ?370F / ~180C (under pressure) and was less corrosive. Pricey and I don't know how effecient its heat transfer was....