So if I only drive my car in the summer time -and store it in a heated garage in the winter - is it not better to install water with no antifreeze? I realize the boiling point of antifreeze is higher, but is this a concern? Maybe there is anti-corrision additives in antifreeze which makes it better for the cooling system???

The best mixture for Antifreeze is a 50/50 mix. Running straight water in your engine will make your engine run cooler. The only problem with straight water is that it doesn't have any corrosion inhibitors that antifreeze has, that will keep the system from corroding. If you are storing the car away for the winter, flush the system and fill with fresh coolant.

As Dave suggested, 50/50 mix is ideal. But for your purposes, I'd go to a min of 30% antifreeze/70% water by volume.

This way you have corrosion, freezing, and cooling protection.

For some reason the companies that used to make a separate anticorrosion and water pump lube product don't any more. By a shear coincidence those same companies also are the ones who make the more profitable antifreeze. Thanks to global warming antifreeze is not needed in Florida south of I-4 (haven't had a freeze in decades).

If you have aluminum and iron components in your engine, then there is the potential for galvanic corrosion due to dissimilar metals in the presence of an electrolyte. The Antifreeze contains buffering agents which keep the solution close to a pH of 7. I would rather rely upon a higher pressure radiator cap to raise my boiling point with water than run antifreeze (I have an aluminum radiator), but they took away my rust inhibitor water pump lube product and the case I had in the garage is now empty.

I really should dust off my "Jr. Mad Scientist Chemistry" set, but I think the chemicals ate their way through the case, and my wife has probably thrown it away by now (so much for a man and his castle doctrine).


Larger Dave

Radiator Specialties Company (Solder Seal) of Charlotte NC still makes water pump lube and rust inhibitor. Part number is C10-12. It usta be real popular but we barely sell any of it any more. Years ago a can went in the radiator every time the fluids were changed. Now most cars dont get new antifreeze unless the water pump or hoses go bad.

Aren't most of the lube/rust inhibitors just a water soluble oil like those used in older machine tools? Some of the new addatives used in machine tool coolants may not work.

There are loads of rust inhibitors on the market today. AC Delco for one. Just look at your local NAPA store for one.

Modern water pumps are for the most part sealed bearing constructed and do not need any form of lubrication? I don't know why companies propel this myth? There are no exposed seals etc.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with using 25-30% of the new fangled GO5 HOAT or other extended life antifreezes year around regardless of region. They are good surfactants, raise the boiling point of the coolant, contain corrosion inhibitors, stabilize the coolant PH and are made for all metals. This is as good as additive as you can get, why not run it?