hey there guys. well i know we've touched on the topic of oils, now how 'bout coolants. i've always used prestone and i'm sure some of you use motorcraft or something else but whats the best? you see, its about 5 degrees out right now and its only gonna get colder tonight and i work nights so i just want to be sure that my little 3.0 is being protected by the right coolant. i've been using prestone in it since new and its a '00. i flush it every summer and usually run about 60,40 mix (coolant:water) to prevent a cracked block. the manual calls for motorcraft with a recommendation code or an equivalent. whatcha think? tanks!

 

I've always used Prestone too, pick up a tester from the parts store to make sure the mixture is OK for your area/temperatures.

 

Idk what my mix is. I put a gallon of the Prestone in and I put the rest water. Doesn't really get that cold here. Maybe low 20s, so I should be good. I don't even know how much my cooling system holds (2.5L L4)....

 

I use Prestone, the 50/50 premix stuff and only the 50/50 premix stuff. I don't know how much mine holds either honestly....I just fill it up and go. I'm guessing maybe 10 quarts?

Random question. Flipped open the service manual for my mom's Silverado (it popped it's first code today! I'm so proud!) and it lists more coolant in manual tranny vehicles. What's up with that? Vortec 6000 V8 Auto - 14.8 quarts. Vortec 6000 V8 Manual - 15.2 quarts. Not a lot but still...kinda strange. Manual Rangers have more?

 

i think its the same with rangers (auto,manual). it has something to do with the trans cooler or if its equipt with a tow package. i was getting nervous, i didn't think anyone would reply to my thread. thanks for not dissapointing me! anyway. tell me if i'm wrong. its better to have more water than coolant, not an extreme difference but too much coolant can actually be harmful to the engine. i always try to make sure its a 50/50 mix but its pretty difficult to be sure but i do like what ken00 mentioned. what does one of those cost? i know for a fact the coolant capacity is listed in the o/m.

 

I can't remember what i paid for mine but it was cheap.cheaper than a cracked block??

 

I use 100 percent antifreeze don't mix any water with it never had any problems change every 2 years

 

Most engine manufacturers don't recommend more than 60% antifreeze in the coolant mixture, because of a number of things & one is that pure antifreeze is a poor conductor of heat, so your engine is running hotter than designed for, around some mighty important areas.

Other things like the PH , water pump cavitation, extra strain on the pump, belt ect, from having to try to move a more viscous than normal fluid through the cooling system.

Additive breakdown because of it's contact with hotter than normal surfaces, because the pure stuff isn't conducting the heat away as fast as it should from things like the cylinder walls, cylinder head, valves, ect, ect, all of which are now running hotter than they were designed to, so now the lubricating oil in those areas gets overheated too & the list goes on & on!!!!!

So IMO you might want to rethink running 100% antifreeze, your intent was good, but definately not good practice, for a whole host of reasons, only some of which I've posted!!!!

 

Indeed. The water is in there for a reason.

RP
Zach

 

The cooling system's coolant mix/makeup water, should be de-ionized (DI), or distilled, NOT tap water, which has all kinds of nasties in it that are bad for the coolant's add pack & the cooling system's materials.

Tap water has chlorine & dissolved oxygen in it, that'll cause metal corroson & premature antifreeze additive breakdown.

Then the dissolved minerials in tap water will cause scaling in the cooling system that'll restrict coolant circulation & heat transfer to the coolant mix, which will cause hot spots to develop in the engine & it'll unbalance the coolants PH, so corrosion will accelerate.

I don't know what flouride in tap water will do, but I know it won't help with cooling system cavities!!!!!! LOL

Dang it's getting so complicated to take care of our rides now days, that we gotta even be careful what we give her to drink!!!!!. LOL

In the old days, 60 years ago, our local garage mechanic, had covered rain barrel's on the down spouts & used this "naturally distilled" rain water for cooling system & battery make up.

We boys used to laugh at him for being too cheep to use tap water, guess Cliff is having the last laugh today!!!!

He was always careful that nothing was floating when he made his dip in the barrel.
He was an old ex Cadillac tech, turned out he knew more than we impertinent ignorant kids gave him credit for!!!!

Just some more cooling system things to ponder.