EDIT: my bad! [&o]

i understand the concept behind "coolant" but what about those who live in an area where it tends to freeze? i know a (dumb) guy who filled his rad with 100% water in the winter and while we wore working (overnights) it froze and busted the rad wide open. isn't that what the anti-freeze is ment to prevent? they way you put it is the coolant is only going to decrease the heat, not prevent freezing.

 

I am surprised it didn't crack the block. I have never thought of anti-freeze as a coolant. In fact, I have always thought of the less mixture of anti-freeze you use the cooler your engine will run. I run a 30-70 mixture here in hot Texas, and I have never had a problem with rust or anything. It is also good for about 10 degrees Fareinheit.

 

I guess I learned something!

 

This might be a silly question but I assume it is 30% antifreeze and 70% H2O. Is that right. Also I have one of those filters on my hose. How often should it be taken out and cleaned.

One other question/comment. A while back I bought a part, I think from JC Whitney that is a small piece of metal that fits in the radiator
Actually here is the link
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...001651/c-10101

Does anyone have any experience or comments about it. I just checked mine and it looks like it is time to replace it.

 

Yeah, that's right Doc. 30% anti-freeze and 70% H20. The reason for using distilled water, is because distilled water doesn't have any calcium in it which will eventualy stop up your radiator. I have seen that rust prevention device, but have never used one. Not even sure how it works.

 

As far as I understand the way the corrosion inhibitor works is that the zinc is a sacrifical metal or anode. Through an electro-chemical process the zinc corrodes before the other metals in the cooling system. So the zinc corrodes first sparing the rest.

It is simialr to what is used on boats. A zinc plate is bolted onto a spot on the hull of the boat, and it corrodes first. When it is gone you replace it with another zinc plate.

Here is more info on the topic
http://www.egr.uri.edu/che/course/CH...ialMethods.htm

This may be more info than we need to know. But I figure anything that will help minimze corrosion of the cooling system is a good thing. And I don't see any reason that using the zinc would cause any problems

 

Heck no. Sounds like a great idea. You say you got that from Whitney?

 

The zinc is widely used for the corrosion factor, used it in trucks for years, I usually expect to getaround 1,000,000 miles from a radiator before replacement. Since a new one cost over a grand I try to get the most out of them. Also use only Rotella T 15-40 oil, change at 12,000 miles, have had no oil related failures in the last 10 years, and usually get at least 750,000 on bottom end bearings.

 

a raditor cost more than a grand.....??? try more than 100 bucks.....?

 

ya the corrosion that you get in your engine is known as electrolysis and its cause you have electrical current going through the block thats what eats at it and causes it to corrode yes a zinc cap works and so does a wonderful product know as water wetter or purple ice they also help use them in conjunction for best results