Types of coolant. . .

[tris91ricer]

Working in an industrial supply warehouse, you come across all types of things. For instance, today I handled 5gallons of a particular type of industrial coolant.

Is there any reason we must run the usual green fluid? Any idea on whether we'd see gains in cooling if a legacy were to run a heavier duty coolant?

I'll drum up a better description, here, but I was thinking that I could run a better cooling fluid, in addition to a large core radiator. The possibility I was hoping I could gain from that would be the ability to run leaner, since running lean causes the engine to run hotter, correct?

Any ideas/suggestions?

[tris91ricer]

In particular, this:

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/produc ... 88&ccitem=

Includes E.P. Additives to Reduce Heat Build-up and Extend Tool Life
Function Can be Used with Ferrous and Nonferrous Metals
Application For Spray Systems in Metal Cutting
Standards OZHA Hazard Communication

Well, Ferrous and non-ferrous, we are.

EP - is... Something Phosphorescent?

As I understand it, the basic function of antifreeze is to cool without evaporating, hence, the glycol in the fluid --glycol gets thick, it doesn't evaporate, so it lasts longer than water.

Are there different grades of glycol, or similar substances that cool more efficiently with the same, or superior function?

[Legacy777]

Run what the manufacture says......

There are few different coolants out there. The normal "green" stuff which is ethylene glycol. There's the dex-cool stuff, which I don't know much about, but still is probably ethylene glycol with a different inhibitor package. Toyota also has a red/orange coolant, but it's different then dex-cool.

The issue is mainly in the inhibitor package. Most of all the coolants are ethylene glycol.

There are some propylene glycols out there, but they are typically waterless coolants. They have a higher boiling point typically, and run at much lower/near atmospheric pressures. You have less chances to have hot spots compared to EG, but the downside IMO is their heat transfer coefficient is less then that of EG's.

Also, just as an FYI, EG's have a lower heat transfer coefficient then plain water. So running straight coolant isn't a good thing. Depending on where you are, you could probably get away with less then a 50/50 mix and get a little better heat transfer out of the coolant. The only down side is the inhibitor package would probably wear out slightly sooner, and need to be changed.

The big thing about the "green" stuff back in the day is that the inhibitor package contained silicates & phosphates. I believe Subaru uses a no silicate coolant. I haven't checked prestone or the newer greens to see if they contain silicates or not.

This article has a lot of good info regarding coolants.
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/ ... i_n9453107

[Manarius]

As I understand it, the basic function of antifreeze is to cool without evaporating, hence, the glycol in the fluid --glycol gets thick, it doesn't evaporate, so it lasts longer than water.

No. Ethylene Glycol changes the boiling/freezing points of water. If you ran straight water in your car, you'd be steaming like that soup you have on the stove in about 5 minutes. If you ran pure Ehthylene Glycol, well, I don't know exactly what would happen, but I tend to think that it would probably ruin your cooling system.

Add to that, while EG does a significant job of raising your boiling temp, the pressure the water is under keeps it from boiling. You have to understand the way boiling points work...at 1000ft below sea level, the boiling point for water may be 110C whereas at about 1000ft above sea level, the boiling point may be about 92C. Pressure plays a large part in the boiling/freezing points of a substance.

[gt2.5turbo]

Toyota red i here is one of the best coolents around and you can get it from yout local toyota dealer i believe. All my buddies that drag race and such run it in there drag cars as well as there street cars.... once i get around to flushing my system im going to run it.

[Legacy777]

No. Ethylene Glycol changes the boiling/freezing points of water. If you ran straight water in your car, you'd be steaming like that soup you have on the stove in about 5 minutes.

Actually, that's not true. Boiling point also increases with pressure. There is a reason we have pressurized cooling systems. Where'd you run into issues with running straight water is with hot spots and water vaporizing at localized spots near the combustion chamber where temps are really hot.

If you ran pure Ehthylene Glycol, well, I don't know exactly what would happen, but I tend to think that it would probably ruin your cooling system.

Nah, you wouldn't ruin it. Since EG doesn't transfer heat as well as water does, your radiator would work harder, and the fans more then likely cycle on/off more. Other then that, it shouldn't matter.

[Legacy777]

Toyota red i here is one of the best coolents around and you can get it from yout local toyota dealer i believe. All my buddies that drag race and such run it in there drag cars as well as there street cars.... once i get around to flushing my system im going to run it.

I'd be curious to get some technical data on this stuff. It sounds pretty good.

[professor]

the red stuff is not magic - its still ethylene glycol and water, at $16 a gallon

it just has phosphates instead of silicates for corrosion protection. So the main things - heat transfer, boiling points, freezing points, etc will be the same as the good 'ol green. Phosphates are less abrasive than silicates so supposedly your seals and bearings will last longer, especially the water pump

apparently the green and red don't dance together very well so don't mix them. Toyota denies all claims if they find the green mixed in.

About the best thing you can do to improve cooling is to cut back on the glycol % in the mix - provided you live in the south or remember to put it back to proper strength for your winters