ANTIFREEZE

Apparently there are two types of Antifreeze. Red=full strength Pink=50/50 mix.

Right now i am touring central america and i dont have access to distilled water. All i have is the red stuff.

Can i either use full strength or can i mix with bottled water. Water around here is pretty hard (lots of disolved minerals)

 

Water is a better efficiency then Antifreeze. Running straight antifreeze is a bad idea.

Pure ethylene glycol has a specific heat capacity about one half that of water. So, while providing freeze protection and an increased boiling point, ethylene glycol lowers the specific heat capacity of water mixtures relative to pure water. A 50/50 mix by mass has a specific heat capacity of about 0.75 BTU/lb F, thus requiring increased flow rates in same system comparisons with water. Additionally, the increase in boiling point over pure water inhibits nucleate boiling on heat transfer surfaces thus reducing heat transfer efficiency in some cases, such as gasoline engine cylinder walls. Therefore, pure ethylene glycol should not be used as an engine coolant in most cases.

 

Ok so straight red stuff is out. Thanks for the info -- makes sense. Should have remembered that the heat capacity of different fluids makes for different heat exchange rates -- that was from heat transfer class back in engineering but then again that was 20 years ago.

So what about bottled water 50/50 mix? Tap water is definitely not an option. There is scale build up on everything that comes in contact with it. Di water is not an option. It not available unless i do a still and produce it myself. Aint doing that.

 

I have used purified bottled water, not spring water. If you had to the boiling water and using a catch screen to catch the steam, turn back to water would work, but be a pain in the ass.

 

You answered yourself.

 

Not really -- if the consensus was not to do it Id wait till i get north of the border. That would = about 120Kmiles. Not really keen on that idea. so its down to choosing between 2 eviles. However, according to the post above yours its seems to be OK.

 

Which you answered your own question. You need water, you have three options. Run the truck, use tap water, use bottle water...... not really hard options for someone that is an engineer...

 

All they sell here is the red stuff - I have a gal of it. Again -- read the original post.

Why do you feel the need to push a point that does not influence you or help anyone. Do you really feel the need to make your point especially when you have no point to make. I asked about running pure red stuff or mix with bottled water -- third option is run it till i finish this trip. Everyone else who answered sincerely wanted to help. Everything you have posted is as worthless as tits on a bull.

Big thanks to everyone who responded. That is why this site is so good and keeps me coming back for more.

Some pictures below. Ive posted some in the past but i figured some might appreciate the current mission this 2007 taco is on.

http://irazu.smugmug.com/Travel

 

Personally I would just run it until you get home. Because, sure using bottle water would probably be fine, but it will still leave deposits. Are you planning on changing the fluid again when you get home?

Better?

 

Thanks

When i get home everything is getting changed. Its the least i can do. She has treated me well. I suspect ill keep this truck till it dies. Should be a long time.

 

If you just need to top it off, just add straight anti freeze. What's the system hold? 3-4 gallons, you won't be changing the cooling capacity enough to matter unless you are really asking for maximum engine output for long periods of time.

Or just add tap water and change out as soon as you can. Radiators have been used on cars successfully before it was accepted practice to us distilled water for dilution. We just changed it more often and used radiator flush.

Have a good trip.

 

Since you will be changing all fluids, I would just run what you have in it now unless youre having cooling issues. The coolent you have now will keep cooling. Going 120k on coolent isn't that bad. Some people never change theirs until they need to new radiator lol. plus you don't need to worry about freezing.

 

Dont mix old and new antifreeze, can cause gelling. Only top off with water.

 

Its been topped off with the red stuff that I bought in Puebla. And yes tap water is probably OK but to be honest this is unusually hard water. Ill bet that if you drink it your looking at kidney stones within 5 years.

BTW -- love that bike. Love that original paint scheme. Dont ever get rid of it. Youll hate yourself.

 

to late, its been done. More reason to do the change with bottled water. It was only a little bit

 

Never change the fluids? Its amazing how many folks fall into that category.

I love the people who never change the air filter but brag how well they take care of their vehicle because they change the oil every 3K miles.

 

I'd find some of the purified bottled water, the stuff without minerals added. It'll be fine.

 

Yeah should probably drain and fill then. Unless it was toyota coolent that was added, then I wouldn't worry much since it would be the same.

People are so weird about maintaining their vehicles, wasteing money on exhessive oil changes, using premium fuel when their vehicle doesn't warrant the use, not rotating tires because, hey they rotate when its driven right? Lol

 

Jelling or coagulation only happens with incompatible types or anti freeze not just because it it old or new. Most anti freeze sold now is compatible with other types.

Go here: http://www.recycool.net/index.php?option=com_content&id=14:antifreeze

 

What about catching the condensation water from your truck's AC?