Is your Engine a Battery?

[Daninski]

Bad Coolant!
When coolant gets old it becomes corrosive — either acidic or basic. Depending on water and engine composition, the engine can become a battery with the same or opposite polarity of the car’s battery. Usually, the engine produce negative voltages as high as 1/2 volt negative. This wreaks havoc with all systems, causing irrational computer responses. If the coolant looks bad, replace it! Don’t waste valuable diagnostic time on basic maintenance problems that should already have been addressed! I strongly recommend using distilled or deionized water in the cooling system. And I'll bet most of you never gave the coolant a second thougth.

[colinsmx3]

I change mine every April.... I only use water and water wetter in the summer and change it to coolant in Oct so it won't freeze in the winter while it's in the garage.

[johnmx3ze]

just changed mine...

[Daninski]

I change mine every April.... I only use water and water wetter in the summer and change it to coolant in Oct so it won't freeze in the winter while it's in the garage.

Correct me if I'm wrong but your required to use antifreeze all year as it contains corrosion inhibitors that aluminum blocks must have and water pump lubricant as well.

[fowljesse]

Yeah. I change mine once in a while, and use only distilled water, and about 35% antifreeze. I haven't used water wetter in the mx-3s yet, but am thinking about it.

[colinsmx3]

I change mine every April.... I only use water and water wetter in the summer and change it to coolant in Oct so it won't freeze in the winter while it's in the garage.

Correct me if I'm wrong but your required to use antifreeze all year as it contains corrosion inhibitors that aluminum blocks must have and water pump lubricant as well.

The water wetter has the same corrosion inhibitors as Antifreeze. I like cause my engine does not get as hot in the summer and I feel it not being so slugish (AND NO NOT CAUSE IT'S THE 1.8!!) Cause just be in my head though.

[Ryan]

From all of my knowledgeable sources, 60 water 30 coolant is best.

But we live in freezeland.

[projectzemx3]

lol i call coolant flush's everyday at work, almost every car needs one.

[colinsmx3]

From all of my knowledgeable sources, 60 water 30 coolant is best.

But we live in freezeland.

Sure if you drive your car year round and don't change it. There is no need to run coolant if it's a summer only car aslong as you have something like water wetter in the system to help with the corrosion aspect. We all know the K motors run HOTTER then most cars so why not bring the temp down a little with Water wetter!.... sounds like a slogan...

[Ryan]

I drive a SOHC, and its not uncommon to go below freezing in September, up to 20 in October, or to snow is October...

So, I could run pure water between May and September.

[solo_ryder]

I usually do 60 wat 40 coolant or 50-50 cause it gets pretty cold here at times. I am not sure what is in my silver car right now.. but i dont really care cause its been plugged in all winter so far.

[Daninski]

Straight water has about a 15% better heat transfer rate than a 50% ethylene glycol at the temps our engines run at. So ya reducing antifreeze % in the summer would result in better heat transfer rates.

[hgallegos915]

I run pure water in the spring and summer.

[tehbrookzorz]

From all of my knowledgeable sources, 60 water 30 coolant is best.

But we live in freezeland.

10% whiskey?

[Ryan]

From all of my knowledgeable sources, 60 water 30 coolant is best.

But we live in freezeland.

10% whiskey?

66.666666666666% coolant & 33.333333333333% water

or one part water, two parts coolant

1/3 water, 2/3 coolant