Coolant....with additive?

[Mark McCombs]

Progress continues on TC8126 and getting closer to the first start...today I pulled the radiator for a 'just in case' flush, which got me thinking. Has anyone heard of adding a hint of marvel mystery oil to the coolant to circulate a bit of oil in the block passages, or does the glycol contain an anti corrosion on its own? Or would the Small amount of oil be a detriment?

[Steve Simmons]

Glycol based antifreeze has anti-corrosion components already. Some people skip the antifreeze and instead add a bit of Water Wetter, which works just fine in warmer climates. It's basically a glycol ether mixture as I recall.

[Duncan M]

When mixed with distilled water, Prestone type anti-freeze is anti-corrosive and an excellent water pump lubricant. The problem with the typical anti-freezes is they become acidic/corrosive if left in the system too long.

[i.thomson]

Good Glycol antifreeze contains corrosion inhubitors and this is the real reason it is important to use it even in warm countries. I can't.imagine that any type or quantity of oil in a cooling system can be a good thing, that's not where it lives. Equally I can't imagine an antifreeze/coolant product is to be recommended if it has ether in it. Such products, like the old alcohol based products, will not last long enough to be particularly usefuk even if they work until they inevitably evaporate. As for the so called "waterless" coolants there is a lot of critical stuff on the internet which contradicts the marketing blurb. Basically they will never boil, not until well above the temperature at which the enjine is wrecked anyway, but it diesn't hold as much heat either so the engine will run hotter, perhaps too hot. They are very expensive though so you pays your money and takes your choice.

Ian