Anyone Used Waterless Coolant? Is It Worth It?

[Goliath 94]

http://www.evanscoolants.co.uk/

 

I am thinking of trying this out in my 405, just wondered if anyone has any experiences of it or knows if it as good as is made out?

 

The reason I'm considering it is that it won't freeze (until -40 Celsius), it won't rust anything like the radiator and it will supposedly never need changing. However it is quite pricey, I think it would work out at around £100 or so to get enough for my 405.

[omega 82]

iam sure it works but dont know if there would be any real benefits unless you replaced the complete cooling system etc on a old car ,maybe good on a brand new car

[dcc 855]

kinda like having a gold toilet, it still does the same job, you can just tell people yours is better because it cost more..

[SurGie 54]

Im about to use this stuff i bought ages ago. It contains zero water so not one bit of the cooling system nor water pump etc will go rusty. High quality anti freeze does a little and is the preferred stuff to use rather than the cheap s*ite. This type of coolant should make the engine cooler, i like it that bit cooler.

 

It also means you can use that type of coolant again and again, so may seem pricey but cheaper in the long run, so win win imo.

[Goliath 94]

iam sure it works but dont know if there would be any real benefits unless you replaced the complete cooling system etc on a old car ,maybe good on a brand new car

The main benefit I am interested in is the fact it isn't meant to freeze until -40 Celsius, I see that as a huge benefit when needing to start the car on a freezing/snowy morning.

kinda like having a gold toilet, it still does the same job, you can just tell people yours is better because it cost more..

As above, assuming the blurb is correct, then it does the same job but better as there is no risk of it freezing in the temperatures we get in this country.

Im about to use this stuff i bought ages ago. It contains zero water so not one bit of the cooling system nor water pump etc will go rusty. High quality anti freeze does a little and is the preferred stuff to use rather than the cheap s*ite. This type of coolant should make the engine cooler, i like it that bit cooler.

 

It also means you can use that type of coolant again and again, so may seem pricey but cheaper in the long run, so win win imo.

 

I am a bit dubious as to whether or not it will make the engine run any cooler, that's not really what interests me anyway as my car runs at an ok temperature. Would be interesting to see how you get on. Not having to change it ever would be a massive benefit and over the years would no doubt make a saving.

[Liquid_106 97 1 Cars]

Sorry to swear and mention 'Wheeler Dealers' - they used that or similar in the TR6 episode. As previously covered, doesn't rust the cooling system as not water based and never needs to be replaced. Also doesn't pressurise the system as the liquid doesn't expand like water. You have to makes sure there is no water left in the rad/pipes/water jacket (requires special purging fluid), otherwise defeats the point of the whole swap.

[SurGie 54]

Yes the lowest temp is a good reason to have it.

 

My 306 gti6 although another car the engine is the same, it hits the 70 -80 degree mark when driving at average temps but in traffic hits 100 and over which imo is too hot for long periods which can wear parts of the engine more in the long run.

 

Once i have tested it i will report back on the findings compared to my old s16 engine on carbs.

[marksorrento205 80]

Most of our pugs have only used coolant since they were originally sold. It has worked fine for all this time so I don't see the point on spending £100 on something that will do the same, give or take. If you want lower temp protection then add more coolant to the mix.

 

Each to their own I appreciate

 

Edit: Does it ever go down to -40 round your neck of the woods?

Edited October 28, 2012 by marksorrento205

[Goliath 94]

Most of our pugs have only used coolant since they were originally sold. It has worked fine for all this time so I don't see the point on spending £100 on something that will do the same, give or take. If you want lower temp protection then add more coolant to the mix.

 

Each to their own I appreciate

 

Edit: Does it ever go down to -40 round your neck of the woods?

 

No it doesn't ever get that low, but it does get low enough that my coolant has frozen before. I think last year I saw -15.

 

Don't think I will bother for now, but if my coolant freezes and my cambelt snaps I will blame you lot

[stu8v 68 1 Cars]

My mates swear by Toyots's 4life coolant

[SurGie 54]

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-903-motul-inugel-optimal-ready-to-use-cooling-liquid-anti-corrosion-and-anti-freeze.aspx

 

This is the stuff i have, not checked over the technical data but its not all that expensive. I'd say for a 7 litre engine like the XU10J4RS, it will cost around £35 in VAT.

[GLPoomobile 958]

My tuppence worth (much the same as what Marksorrentohas already said)

 

1 - The low temp freezing point wouldn't interest me. Currently doesn't get cold enough to require it, as a properly mixed decent anti freeze should be able to cope with UK weather.

2 - The lower running temps seems like typical marketing rubbish to me. A properly functioning coolant system - by which I am including the components required to opreate the fans, and the integrity of the radiator - should keep any engine within the correct temp range it was designed to operate at. If you run it at a lower temperature, doesn't this increase fuel consumption? I mean if there was a benefit to running an engine at 70 degrees instead of 90 degrees, wouldn't it have been designed to stay around this temp with a raditor, fan/s and switches to suit?

 

The only thing I'd buy it for is the non-corrosive properties, but then I'd only spend the extra if it was a car that I was going to run for many, many years and perhaps (if it was an old car) had just had a rebuilt engine and new radiator etc.

Edited October 29, 2012 by GLPoomobile

[Anthony 1,003]

The main benefit I am interested in is the fact it isn't meant to freeze until -40 Celsius, I see that as a huge benefit when needing to start the car on a freezing/snowy morning.

I'd personally say that it's somewhat academic - it never gets cold enough in this country that a 50:50 mix of regular anti-freeze is in any danger of freezing, and even if it did, diesel waxing is likely to be a problem at those temperatures even with "winter blend" diesel.

 

Besides, you're going to really struggle to get an average XUD started in those sorts of temperatures, particularly if like most these days, they're losing a little compression and the glow plugs aren't working as well as they once did.

[Batfink 201]

We had temperatures of in Aylesbury minus 18C two years ago but -40 is siberian weather....

Edited October 29, 2012 by Batfink

[Anthony 1,003]

50:50 mix typically gives protection down to around minus 30-35 degrees C

 

By comparison, if Wikipedia is to be believed, UK "winter blend" diesel is only rated to minus 15 degrees C.

 

The anti-corrosion claims are more interesting, but again, a proper concentration of conventional anti-freeze that's changed every two years does a very good job. Certainly you can easily tell which engines have been properly serviced and which haven't when you look inside the cooling passages, as the neglected ones will show extensive furring on aluminium parts and normally be distinctly brown in colour from the rust elsewhere in the system.

 

The biggest problem with both corrosion and freezing is over-dilluted coolant that is usually a few years old.

[allanallen 528 2 Cars]

Ooh snake oil in 5 litre bottles

[SurGie 54]

The engine i have only did 39k and was ten years old when it was taken out of the xsara, when i did the cam belt the water pump had a lot of rusty sludge coming out. I know the owner of the car looked after it, so this is why im going for a waterless type coolant, of which can be re-used.

 

Anyone know of any good 'quality' flushing fluid and where to buy it from ?

 

Looking at the link on the computer, i like this part of it >

 

"Maximise MPG & BHP

eliminates hot spots which cause pre-ignition"

 

The impression i got from the link is that its used in almost every industry, inc airplanes. I wouldn't pay that much for it all though, so i went for the cheaper option.

Edited November 1, 2012 by SurGie

[Anthony 1,003]

The engine i have only did 39k and was ten years old when it was taken out of the xsara, when i did the cam belt the water pump had a lot of rusty sludge coming out. I know the owner of the car looked after it, so this is why im going for a waterless type coolant, of which can be re-used.

No disrespect, but if brown sludge came out when you drained the coolant, they did not look after it (or someone before them didn't).

 

The Xsara VTS engine I'm using for example is absolutely immaculate in all the coolant passages that you can see, and the coolant that drained out when I pulled the engine was nice and clean. That's how it should be if the coolant has been changed regularly and the proper concentration used.

 

The problem comes that if it's been neglected in the past then inevitably there's sludge and silting in the system that'll contaminate the fresh coolant, making it look old and dirty.

[GLPoomobile 958]

"Maximise MPG & BHP

eliminates hot spots which cause pre-ignition"

 

I'd take that with a pinch of salt, and file it away under 'M' for 'Marketing bulls*it'. How many products on the market claim to improve MPG and BHP? How many actually do? Put it this way, considering the current trend for manufacturers to make their cars as economical as possible, wouldn't they all have started using this miracle product straight from the factory?

[SurGie 54]

The belt was done a few years after it was drained in 2009, so the water system i think would most likely have dried out. I cant say i know for a fact it was looked after, just the impression of many things, such as its compression which is very good, the cars seller was old and didnt want to sell it, like it was his pride and joy. The spark plugs were very clean with a slight tan to them too, as with its old clutch.

 

The cheaper stuff i bought a while ago is about the same price as the quality antifreeze, but lasts much longer and has zero water in it. I understand how antifreeze stops the water from erroding the engine but it still has water inside it. The cost saving is a good thing when it comes to this stuff.

 

We have had record breaking winters recently, we could get a really cold one again. Engines also perform better being cooler, i notice the difference in my 6 at around 70 degress compared to around 100, maybe its down to expansion from the heat, im not sure, air temp can be an effective part too i guess. Put it in and forget about re servicing it, no need to remember to get it done before winter comes where it can freeze if not changed regular.

 

Either way, its been bought now, i shall know how it performs in time, first in winter then the early hot summer if we get one that is.

[Goliath 94]

Engines also perform better being cooler, i notice the difference in my 6 at around 70 degress compared to around 100, maybe its down to expansion from the heat, im not sure, air temp can be an effective part too i guess.

 

I remember someone telling me that Sandy Brown had done some tests and had found out that the optimal running temp for an XU engine is 83 degrees. I can't remember who told me, I think it might have been Nick Charles.

 

 

I've given up on the idea of using this waterless coolant, I am just going to give the cooling system a good clean out and rinse through and then fill it back up with a winter mix of coolant.