There is only one approved use of anti-freeze coolant, and that’s in your car’s cooling system if you drive in climates where the temperatures can dip below freezing. (It does make a very effective poison, as an “off -label” use!)
If you live in an area where the ambient air temperature never drops below 0 degrees Celsius, then you can safely use plain water, which is substantially more effective at transferring heat than glycol-based anti-freeze coolant. You would also want to add a small amount of water pump lubricant to plain water, or a reputable additive such as Red Line’s “Water Wetter”.
Alternatively, a coolant that has many advantages and very satisfied users, is Evans Waterless coolant, which is NOT mixed with water (in fact, you need to blow your coolant passages 100% dry before use, to remove all moisture). Glycol based, it has a higher boiling point than pure water, and will not permit corrosion.
1 – What is anti-freeze?
Anti-freeze is a glycol-based concentrated liquid that primarily prevents an engine coolant from freezing in particularly low temperatures. It is added to and diluted by an engine’s coolant (water) according to manufacturer guidelines. However, anti-freeze nowadays does a lot more, helping prevent scale build up and corrosion in the engine and improving heat transfer from the hot engine to the coolant.
What Is Waterless Coolant?
Water-based antifreezes have been used in car engines for about a century, but water can cause major problems inside engines, including corrosion, boil-over, and engine breakdowns. Waterless coolants can prevent engine overheating and reduce cooling system maintenance, and can last much longer than a water-based coolant.
Most engine coolants/antifreezes are a 50/50 mix of ethylene glycol and water. Waterless coolant is a glycol-based fluid that is ready to use, no water required.
Water has superior heat transfer capabilities but water’s low boiling point is close to the operating temperature of an engine, and water can cause corrosion.
Waterless coolants provide sufficient heat transfer, boil at a higher temperature, and are non-corrosive.
Evans is the only manufacturer of waterless antifreeze.
Installing Evans waterless coolant eliminates many problems associated with water in conventional water-based cooling systems, while increasing reliability and engine life.
Evans waterless engine coolants:
Increase engine reliability
Prevent corrosion due to water
Prevent boil-over
Have over 20 years of proven functionality
Provides extended protection for the engine
Reduce operating costs
Improve engine performance
Prevent freezing down to -40ºF
2 – What is coolant?
Simply put, the coolant is the liquid that runs through an engine to keep it within its correct operating temperature range. The vast majority of modern cars use liquid cooling to maintain optimum engine temperature. The coolant is vital to an engine’s operation and long term health. If you’re buying antifreeze/coolant in a store or online, it’s important to know the difference between the two. A product labelled coolant will be a pre-mixed, ready to use solution of Antifreeze and water that you can pour straight into the cooling system. A product labelled antifreeze will be a concentrated solution, designed to be diluted with water before you add it to your cooling system.
3 – How does coolant work?
The cooling system is a closed loop where the coolant is pumped through various small channels in the engine block and cylinder head, removing heat from the metal, before passing through a radiator. Air motion through this radiator (from the car moving or a supplementary fan) removes heat from the coolant as it passes through so it is ready to cool the engine again on the next pass. A thermostat controls the flow through the engine and the latest engines vary the cooling depending on conditions to enhance efficiency.
4 – Isn’t coolant just water?
For the most part yes, though each car maker has its own set of guidelines, which you should strictly adhere to, in terms of coolant specification and anti-freeze concentration. It’s fine to top up the coolant with water when needs be, though larger top-ups and flush-outs should be done with the recommended amounts of coolant and anti-freeze.
5 – Should I worry about sludge in the coolant?
Not immediately, no. If the engine’s temperature is being controlled satisfactorily then this probably means nothing more than scale build up or the use of hard water. To ensure the coolant system is working to maximum efficiency it is advised to flush it out in this situation with a suitable cleaning agent, then refill with the recommended coolant and anti-freeze levels. If in a hard water area it’s worth investing in using distilled or deionised water.
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