Waterless coolant.

[mk2 mike]

Anyone used it? Only asking as I'm not running an expansion tank with my zetec and a bit of web browsing suggested waterless coolant is the way to go. Just wondered if anyone has experience of it, good or bad?

[classicwhitey]

ivbe not used it but believe it to be good. the cost puts me off as you need a pre flush then the coolant. it doesnt exspand as there is no water so you dont get steam and you can take the rad cap off with a hot engine. and it doesnt carode internal parts

[Antz748]

I use it on my Capri 2.8i. Yes it's a bit on the expensive side but it's well worth it! Had an overheating problem that would only occur when stuck in traffic. Needle would go of the gauge but with the waterless coolant it didn't miss a beat. Dodgy thermostat and a kenlow sorted the problem.

[Danish]

I'm going with waterless coolant once my Mk3 is finished - as I understand it, the fluid conducts heat better than water, it has a much higher boiling point, so it doesn't pressurise the system, and it doesn't corrode.

 

They were giving out free drinking water at the NEC a couple of years ago and I had a chat with the sales guy. They recommended if you need to drain the engine, you just catch the fluid, then put it back in through a filter - that was one of my concerns.

[jamie956]

I would just use a pre mixed coolant i used the Motul Inugel orange i have this in my YB and my dads essex works very well, biggest problem with coolant is mixing with tap water should be distiled/soft water. Or buy it pre mixed at the correct water & ratio.

[accord83]

Isn't waterless coolant what VW Type 1 Beetles use?

 

 

I'll get my coat.........

[mk2 mike]

Yeah it's pretty pricy. The prep stuff is about £30 then the coolant is about £120 for 10 litres (depending where you go).

 

But if I run an expansion tank then I'd spend the same if not more on the tank and pipe work plus it wouldn't be the 'clean' empty bay look I'm going for.

 

Apart from the initial outlay it seems the waterless stuff is better in every way, higher boiling point, better at cooling, non corrosive, no evaporation and lasts a lifetime.

 

I wondered about draining it too so that's good to know! Looks like I'll go for it! Cheers all.

[theloudboy]

Mike I got the prep here so you won't have to buy it mate, I am now running it in my Y/B and I won't be going back to anti freeze

[mk2 mike]

Nice one mark cheers!

[classicwhitey]

Might be worth putting a drain tap in the bottom hose so you can drain it without spilling it. Shouldnt leak as no preassure.

[Vernon240]

I've used this in my ford small block Capri and like it, but there are some things that you need to know.

 

It doesn't cool as well as water....pretty much nothing does, so you may run a little warmer, but given the boiling point of Evans is much higher, you have far more overhead, plus as has been said, no pressure. It's also flamamble, but then pretty sure anti freeze mix is as well. I'm going to try some and see exactly what flamable means.....readily catches on fire, or you have to be letting it drip on a red hot manifold. Finally, make sure all your hose connections are sound. This stuff finds it's way out of where water/ antifreeze would not.

 

Overal, I'm a fan. It's great for cars that sit around a lot, as the anti corrosive additives never fall out of solution, as can happen with regular anti freeze, plus should last indefinitely, but still can absorb water, so keep your cooling system sealed and keep any spare in a sealed container.

[mk2 mike]

Good idea that whitey!