Anti-Freeze

[skiiirt]

Well my coolant is good up to about -28Celsius. That is DEFIINATELY not enough around here. The system is full. Whats the best method to increasing the mixture. I don't want to flush the whole system, just need to get it up to -35 to -40. Whats my best course of action?

[Kalgorn]

What's that Water Wetter stuff do?

[Regal_GS_1989]

you can always drain a bit out of the rad and top it off with full strength stuff. IIRC, Watter wetter is not designed to raise the freeze point, but rather to make the coolant inside the rad cool down faster, so your engine runs cooler.

[19Cutlass94]

instead of a 50/50 mix, to get your anti-freeze to a point where it freezes at a colder temp, you should maybe go likt 70/30 mix or a 60/40 mix, which will lower or raise however you want to look at it the temp of freezing.

[cutlsp]

The 50/50 mix is where the anti freeze does the best cooling wise and freeze protection wise it might be best to do a flush of the coolent if it isn't protecting to the peak point anymore.

[19Cutlass94]

The 50/50 mix is where the anti freeze does the best cooling wise and freeze protection wise it might be best to do a flush of the coolent if it isn't protecting to the peak point anymore.

 

Wrong. Look at the back of a prestone anti-freeze, it will say that a 70/30 mix protects better at a lower temp than a 50/50mix

[cutlsp]

well i'm in texas so I don't have to worry about it and well my peak bottle says 30-40* with a 50/50 mix so it depends on the anti freeze too i guess.

[THe_DeTAiL3R]

You can buy a coolant tester (take a sample and it says how much % is coolant/water).

 

I would probably just drain the coolant reservior, then add how much you drained directly into the rad (on a cold engine) and reservior if it gets full.

 

70/30 mix would be your best bet.

[Pabz]

I run 70/30 Prestone, and i am in E-town too. ProngerMania!! Suppose to snow today but nothing...the wait continues.

[mfewtrail]

Last I checked, -28* C was like -80* F....did you state the wrong temps in your original post? I seriously doubt you need THAT much protection.

[fastbird232]

More water: keeps it cooler in hot weather.

More coolant: lowers freezing point.

[pwmin]

-80 in antarctica maybe

 

exactly, fastbird. that's why its called coolant and anti-freeze. coolant does help from rusting some though.

 

big fyi, if using dex-cool an additive such as BG super-cool to keep the pH in check is necessary to save the plastic parts of the cooling system (spec. the rad)

[skiiirt]

Last I checked, -28* C was like -80* F....did you state the wrong temps in your original post? I seriously doubt you need THAT much protection.

 

Naw man. Some days it gets almost -50*C with the windchill. Since I keep the cutlass parked outside its prone to getting that cold.

 

Wikipedia Quote

 

Edmonton has a northern continental climate with extreme seasonal temperatures, although they are not quite as extreme as in Regina or Winnipeg. However, Edmonton still has one of the greatest temperature ranges in Canada. The average variance ranges from −16°C (3°F) in January to 23°C (73°F) in July, although over the course of a year, temperatures as high as 35°C (95°F) and as low as −43°C may occur.

 

-28 wont cut the cake

[THe_DeTAiL3R]

I'm pretty sure a 70/30 mix will cover the most extreme winter temps. IIRC, windchill does not effect anything other than people and animals... windchill factor is just what it "feels" like. To a car made of metal if it's -40*c with a windchill of -50C, it's still just -40C. If you are really that worried about it just drain it out and add a fresh 70/30 mix. It's kinda hard to say "just add this and you'll be fine".

[pitzel]

 

Naw man. Some days it gets almost -50*C with the windchill. Since I keep the cutlass parked outside its prone to getting that cold.

 

 

Windchill is meaningless when it comes to coolant. As long as you are down to -45C for Edmonton, you should be just fine.

 

Get yourself a hygrometer if you are really worried, they cost maybe $5 at auto parts stores, and can test your coolant for you. Also, if you are going to operate in those temps, 0W-30 motor oil is a good idea.

[1990lumina]

On my crappy anti freeze tester from C-tire the needle was pinned way below -40...and I'm running a 50/50 mix...who knows how accurate that tester is though lol...

 

I find wind chill does affect my car...I've been told by many people it doesn't, but on mine if I leave it outsdie for 2 days at -20*C with no wind, it'll start right up no problem....I left it outsdie with a big decent wind chill last winter (the temp before thre wind chill was -20*C)...anyway, slmost useless to start that thing. Barely turned over and finally, I had to pin the gas to the floor since I almost floored it lol

[Canada]

For the record, the LOWEST temp mix for an Ethylene Glycol / water blend is 68 % Glycol, 32% water.

 

Going past that (to 80/20 or whatever) actually brings the freezing point back up (100% Ethylene Glycol freezes at only -5 degrees F).

 

Go to the botoom of this page: http://www.lyondell.com/html/products/markets/coolants/technical_information/low_temp_protection.shtml and look at the chart for Ethylene Glycol (what all but a couple of antifreeze's are).

 

Plus, such a heavy mix of antifreeze vastly increases you chances of having boiling over problems in summer. Strait antifreeze is NOT worth crap at actual cooling.

[19Cutlass94]

basically 70/30 mix would be best for you.

[pitzel]

Strange 1990lumina, I have parked mine outside for weeks at a time in Calgary in the middle of the winter and it lights up just fine when I return from South America in the cold.

 

Maybe your battery is marginal? In the wind when its -40C, my engine's thermostat never does open (read through the coolant temp sensor on my DIS) and I don't even get above 185-190degF. The engine block and interior warmer just sheds so much heat that the external radiator isn't even required.

[Pabz]

Wind chill makes a difference!!!!!!!!!!

 

If your really worried about the cold plug your cars in, BLOCK HEATERS make the difference between the engine turning over and doing nothing at all, Unless you keep it in a garage. And make sure your block heater is actually working, when your pluging it in just look for sparks. I found out the hard way, with a -45 windchill, it didnt even crank.

[Farqineh]

Hey bud, Calgary here....North south rivalry aside..........

 

Short on time??? Drain a bit out, and add unmixed right into the rad. Run for a bit to circulate (ie. thermostat opens) then check with a hydrometer.

Lotsa time?? Of course a flush is always recomended. However....uh...I've never heard of anyone using 70/30 anything up here. I never do, never had a problem so far. I've looked after fleets of over 3000 vehicles. (you remember Trans Alta?? yeah those jokers) 50/50 mix is more than sufficient, and why go to the expense of buying the extra coolant. If your not sure....mix it up and stick a hydrometer into it and you'll see the results yourself. A good clean 50/50 will pin the guage (so to speak) Guaranteed!!

 

Best of luck......oh and uh.......GO SHAMES GO!!!!!!!

[Farqineh]

For the record, the LOWEST temp mix for an Ethylene Glycol / water blend is 68 % Glycol, 32% water.

 

Going past that (to 80/20 or whatever) actually brings the freezing point back up (100% Ethylene Glycol freezes at only -5 degrees F).

 

You goter......the shit starts to gell up when its too strong in da frosty air!