Can anyone advise as to what to run in an engine. 500 miles just broke in. Currently running iron block, with EVERYTHING else aluminum. (Heads, timing cover, intake, water pump, radiator). Was advised to run red GM coolant/antifreeze with a 1/2 bottle of the additive from T/A, the rest distilled water. Since then was advised not to run the red coolant, but maybe just water with the water wetter additive???? Seems as if the red coolant has a residue that accumulates at the top of the inside of the radiator. Any help with this appreciated Thanks, Jeff
40% antifreeze, 60% distilled water, and a quart of NoRosion. That stuff really works great - it keeps the bad corrosion in check.
a few guys here run water with water wetter in the summer... I always just run 50/50 AntiFreeze and Distilled water but its not a race car.
Antifreeze is unnecessary unless you are woried about....freezing. Straight water will transfer heat better, but yes, will also lower the boiling point of the coolant. It's sort of a catch-22, but your engine shouldn't be running hot enough to boil water anyway, should it? Distilled water and Redline water-wetter which I believe said is also anti-corrosive is adequate. Check the bottle for yourself and act accordingly. Stay away from GM orange unless you have aluminum rad and heater core; I at least had problems with it eating pinholes in the solder of my radiator. Orange does transfer heat better than the green stuff. Also make sure you have a coolant recovery system and keep it full as there are rumors that if mixed with air in the engine orange will get corrosive and gunky. That must be what you were warned about was due to the aeration in the top of the radiator.
That was the warning. I live in Houston, so freezing is of no concern!!!!!!!!!! Also, the car runs VERY cool, even on hot days (I'M LUCKY). The car has NO heater core and the engine compartment has been cleaned with no wires and no overflow tank nor windshield washer accesssories. Distilled water with water wetter appears to be the way to go!!?? The radiator is filled almost to the top. But there is a slight bit of orange accumulation inside the top of the radiator occurring. Jeff
Yeah, there is freezing concerns here... sometimes as late as June :laugh: :rant: And I flush once a year, so thats why I run 50/50. You should be fine with just water and water wetter.
Street or Race? If you are running at the track, most outlaw anti-freeze. As a matter of fact I have known them to say they would throw out anyone running anti-freeze because it is so hard to clean up off the track. A couple of years ago they were making everyone drain the anti-freeze in Atlanta in March and several were concerned since they had to go back north. JIm N.
Any good auto parts store should have it. Auto Zone, Napa, Car Quest, Advanced Auto Parts,... One bottle usually treats a whole system. I use two just because I can. Mike
Just picked up 2 gals of distilled water and a bottle of Redline Water Wetter!! Someone recommended running about a 1/2 gal of green anitfreeze..?? Jeff
Hi Folks, Not to throw water (wetter) on anyone's parade, but there have been some negative comments about Water Wetter. I'm not sure at this moment what they were. Possibly, damaging the water pump seal, or corroding the heater core. A search of the archives will show something about this, I am sure. Lots of folks have used RMI-25 with a lot of success. I have used it myself and have had no problems. A guy from Az. sells it and I think his name is Nick McCale. I think T/A might also sell it. Anyway, just my $0.02. Regards, Craig Stangohr/Aiken, S.C.
Yeah, I've tried several different combinations of these coolants and I like the RMI-25 the best. I've used it and just distilled water for about 5 years now with no problems.
I have 1/2 bottle left from the first fill on this engine. I bought it from TA. It says 1/2 bottle will treat my system! (no heater core). Fill with distilled water, then add the 1/2 bottle of RMI??? Jeff
Speaking my mind on this issue... I have used RMI from TA and the Water Wetter together and have no side effects. I think a person can make claims about anything and say it's bad for your engine in some way or another. It's what works best for you through trial and error and gleaning off others mistakes and advise is the best way to go. For example; very few have liked the Street Avenger Carberator on their Buick 455's, but I love it. It works great on mine! Using quality materials and not going to cheap is helpful. Then taking proper care of your vehicle after it's together. How do we know for sure the Water Wetter was actually causing the water pump seal to go bad? Was there testing done to verify this? It could have been ready to get bad at the time the Water Wetter was added. My $0.2 cents on that. This does not need to be that complicated. Get some 50/50 atifreeze/water and a bottle of RMI or water wetter, put it in and drive. If you need better cooling use more water and less coolant. That's what I do, easy. Mike