Time to fill up with Antifreeze

I bought a 20L Drum

How much Water does the Radiator Hold and what proportion of Anti Freeze should I put in?

 

50% antifreeze, 50% soft or distilled water. Mix it up in advance, about 20 pints, but some will be in there still. Then any left over keep for topping up, bleeding top up etc.
Greg

 

Make sure you, if using NON factory spec antifreeze, either give it a full flush or use some universal compatible stuff. I only use Prestone Antifreeze concentration now, after my V12 had the wrong coolant used before and it all reacted casing damage to my water pump and loads of leaks.

This how my water pump looked after the antifreeze was replaced...

 

OMG!

Cheers Daim.

 

Hi Greg

I'm not sure if our Water is hard or Soft?

Does it really matter that much if it isn't?

 

You are in the south east aren't you OB? The water will be extremely hard, you should really use distilled water.

 

Cheers Norri

I'll Order some right now!

 

If you have a rainwater butt, rainwater is fine too.
Greg

 

Just sieve it first

 

Hi Greg

Too Late (Lol)

I've just ordered 25L for a Tenner.

Which will give me 50L to service the Fleet.

 

The mix of antifreeze to water depends on how much protection you need. What is max low temp in your region. Use that and lower by 10-15 degrees for global warming and weird weather. I cracked a 340 V8 25 years ago so I over protect. We never had -18 c before in Vancouver

 

Hi BC

We're lucky to see Minus 5 down our way but I'll still keep it 50/50 its a lot cheaper than another new Rad, although that had Mechanical Damage.

 

I believe antifreeze should be run at 50/50. Running at a stronger concentration is not recommended due to the lower heat transfer ability of the concentrate verses water.

 

Jaguar used to state 40% antifreeze, 60% water for UK.
As others have mentioned it's based on amount of frost protection needed as per lowest winter temperature expected.

Important point also is the more anti freeze (less water) leads to less ability to transfer heat from engine to radiator

 

My one bit:


I'd not fret over 40% or 50 %?? Unless, I lived in really cold country.


Even when I served in Germany from 52 to 55, our military vehicles got along on 50%. Moat of us followed suit on our personal cars. In my case the 49 Mercury I brought over and later the first and only brand new car, I ever bought, a BRG MG TD. Oh, and the Belgian assembled 50 Chevrolet that replaced it. No issues.


Now, I merely add a gallon and top off with "good" water...


Hard water is the presence of a high mineral content. Rough and ready measures. White stuff on plumbing outlets? Get in the shower and "lather up". Lots of bubbles or hard to get a lather? Bubbly means soft.


We enjoy good water around here. But, just up the road, not so much.


Carl

 

Hi Carl

I've gone for a 50/50 Mix with deionised Water, more about that later on my Cherry Resto Thread.