Winterizing: is my anti freeze still good ?
10-24-2014, 04:08 PM
#1
Winterizing: is my anti freeze still good ?
You can pick up a cheap float type tester to tell you if your coolant still has enough anti freeze to protect your motor and keep it from freezing and cracking the block. Everyone that has to deal with below freezing temperatures should do that.
Does that mean it's good ? In a word - no.
Anti-freeze (coolant) will retain it's anti freeze capabilities for a very long time. But it also contains rust inhibitors to protect the inside of your engine as well as your rad and heater core. These rust inhibitors break down much faster, about 2 to 3 years. So if it hasn't been done in a few years, time for a change.
2 gallons is plenty for an F-series with a 302.
Anti freeze gets mixed 50-50 with water (some say use distilled water which is a great idea but I've always just used tap water and no problems). A 50-50 mix will actually stay liquid at much colder temps than straight anti-freeze. Straight antifreeze actually turns jello like at really cold temperatures.
Does that mean it's good ? In a word - no.
Anti-freeze (coolant) will retain it's anti freeze capabilities for a very long time. But it also contains rust inhibitors to protect the inside of your engine as well as your rad and heater core. These rust inhibitors break down much faster, about 2 to 3 years. So if it hasn't been done in a few years, time for a change.
2 gallons is plenty for an F-series with a 302.
Anti freeze gets mixed 50-50 with water (some say use distilled water which is a great idea but I've always just used tap water and no problems). A 50-50 mix will actually stay liquid at much colder temps than straight anti-freeze. Straight antifreeze actually turns jello like at really cold temperatures.
10-24-2014, 07:34 PM
#4
1994 F150 XLT 5.8L 2wd
If anything in tap water affects the effectiveness of antifreeze it's in a negligible amount. The only reason they say not to use tap water is because of deposits and buildup it will leave in the radiator. No matter how clean the water it will have mineral deposits and contaminants in it, need to verify-just put a pot of water on the stove and let it boil or simmer down and look, you have mineral deposit on your pan in just a few hours.
10-24-2014, 07:38 PM
#5
Senior Member
If anything in tap water affects the effectiveness of antifreeze it's in a negligible amount. The only reason they say not to use tap water is because of deposits and buildup it will leave in the radiator. No matter how clean the water it will have mineral deposits and contaminants in it, need to verify-just put a pot of water on the stove and let it boil or simmer down and look, you have mineral deposit on your pan in just a few hours.
10-24-2014, 08:07 PM
#6
1994 F150 XLT 5.8L 2wd
Distilled water is water that has been heated, steam captured, condensed in a clean container. Minerals stay in the heating chamber, must like the minerals stay in the pan when the water is boiled away.
10-24-2014, 08:25 PM
#7
I've always used tap water without problems - I agree that distilled water would be a little better overall, I just never worried about it. I suppose that softened water from inside the house would be better than the hose outside.
But personally I just don't get quite that fussy. My bad.
But personally I just don't get quite that fussy. My bad.
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10-24-2014, 08:35 PM
#8
1994 F150 XLT 5.8L 2wd
Honestly the time it would take tap water, IMHO, to reek havoc on the radiator is probably more than the life expectancy of most radiators. I had always used tap water until a couple years ago, don't know why I switched to distilled but I did and it seems silly to keep switching my standard operating procedure.
10-24-2014, 11:22 PM
#9
Senior Member
Guys rust is good. Can you remember the last time it was easy to take apart something rusty? 
This is true for brake fluid as well and why they rust from the inside out.
This is true for brake fluid as well and why they rust from the inside out.