Correcting Engine Coolant Ratio
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Trailering
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 15
Likes: 4
Correcting Engine Coolant Ratio
I did a coolant flush and change on my 2015 6.2 v8 gas and I'm reading just under -20° F with the Prestone tester. 50/50 is -34° F. Total capacity is 20.2 L (5.33 gal) and I was able to drain a full 5 gal bucket from the radiator and engine plugs. I flushed with distilled water, drained 5 gal again, and refilled with my own mix of 50/50 distilled water and Motorcraft yellow concentrate. I tested -20° F so I drained 1/2 gal from the radiator and topped off the degas bottle with concentrate. Took the truck for a drive to let it circulate and I'm still testing -20° F. I ordered another 2 gallons of concentrate, and I plan on draining from the radiator, topping off with concentrate, circulating and then testing. Any guesses on how much coolant I should drain and replace with concentrate to get up to -34° F 50/50 ratio? I measured out 50/50 concentrate and distilled water and the tester measured -34° F on the dot so my tester is accurate.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 893
Likes: 255
From: San Diego, CA
I'm not sure what you mean by - 20F or - 34F...assuming difference on inlet and outlet of radiator? Maybe it's counter intuitive but 100% water would cool the engine much more than 100% coolant / antifreeze. 50/50 is a good ratio to ensure lubrication, anti corrosion and of course anti freezing.
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Trailering
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 15
Likes: 4
I'm using this Prestone Antifreeze Tester to check the coolant to distilled water ratio. My ratio right now is more water than coolant because of the water that stayed in the system from flushing. On the tester the ratio is expressed in freeze protection at a certain temperature. A 50/50 mix will provide freeze protection down to -34° F. Mine is reading at -20° F so I'm not at a 50/50 ratio. I was just wondering if someone had experience in this situation and knew about how much I should drain and refill to reach -34° F (50/50 ratio). Yes I'm probably overthinking this, but I want to get my ratio to 50/50 without having to drain, refill, run, and test a bunch of times.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,258
Likes: 438
From: IL
You're missing a variable here and that's not knowing how much water you left remaining in the engine block, so no one can really give you and answer to your question. My suggestion is the same as the ones above. Drain a gallon out, add a gallon of concentrate. OR drive it as it is for the summer, let some of the water boil / evaporate out and top it off with concentrate in the fall. It's not like it's going to freeze into a block of ice when IF it hits -20ºF Right now at -20 it's good, maybe at -25 it'll start forming some ice crystals maybe at -30 / 35 below it'll start slushing but it'll have to be at least -40 outside to start real icing The coldest my car got in IL this past winter was -24, Your Profile says you live in California, does it get that cold where you're at?
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Tuned
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 454
Likes: 8
From: CT
After i flush (since there is just some unmeasurable water left inblock) i just add 3.5 gallons of concentrate (which in my case is 50% capacity) then just finish with distilled water...that way i know i have the correct amount of coolant.
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 349
Likes: 72
From: Seguin, Texas
Where are you located at? As someone said, water dissipates heat better than antifreeze, if you live in a state that rarely gets below 0 degrees then I would leave it as is, I know my mixture is off in my personal truck, but we rarely get into the teens temperature wise, so I know I'm ok with my coolant ratio.
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