Most of the Australian contingent seems to hang out here, so ...

Why are coolant socks so popular in Australia?

It seems like a good idea ... but not really well known in the rest of the world.

 

This Australian unit hangs out here because it's the rest of the world that has more interesting and new content. Thanks to this site I have a cool headliner a temp gauge that works and my car runs on two stroke.None came from Oz content.
I have thermal socks I sometimes wear, but coolant socks = ?? Some of our coolant sucks though.

 

Having already joined the ranks of the terminally inane by admitting having tried to raise the soft top with the tonneau cover in place can I compound this by admitting I don't have the slightest idea what this (these) are.
I've worn (with great pleasure) a water cooled waistcoat under a fuel suit to stop my blood boiling but water cooled socks were not included in the kit.
Nor, for that matter was a water cooled codpiece.

 

HAHAHAHA.

Very OLD technology. I remember them from the early '60's, when coolant was unheard of.

Basically a cloth sock over the top hose inlet, sock extends inside the radiator due to flow, to trap "gunk" from getting into the radiator. I have used them back then, with mixed results.

Bear in mind cast iron was the material of choice then in Aussie cars, then add to that our lousy salty water, and rust was the flavour of the day.

With the plastic/alloy radiators these days, and technology advances in coolants, I would not use them on our modern style systems, but that is MY choice.

"Coolants aint coolants" and the "cheapo" stuff really is not up to snuff, and using it in any but antique type systems would be foolish.

I fitted one of these socks recently in a 1948 Rover, at the owners request. No feedback so far as to good idea or bad.

 

I used a nylon stocking when I recently brought a 58 FJ Holden back from a barn find had to fit a new radiator water pump and hoses

My mechanic said put a nylon stocking in the top hose to catch the crud so it doesn't block the new radiator it worked after a month the stocking was nearly blocked just kept moving it round for a new section

I don't think the majority of well maintained cars these days would need that trick but you never know

I change my coolant every couple years these days although I have been looking at the waterless coolants just waiting for another member to try it first