Do I really need 50/50antifreeze in my coolant?

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:47 am

Hoping to drain and refill Mangos coolant before long. I believe recommended water/antifreeze mix is 50/50 but it sounds unnecessarily strong for our climate. Is it based on North Japan worst case scenario? Grateful for views on a reasonable mix from those with experience and an informed view on this.

Thanks dudes and dudesses

Mike

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:52 am

Er, sorry about that. I didnt mean Bob Marley Freeze of course, I meant ANTIFREEZE. Jeesh but my typing gets worse and worse

madmile · Post by **madmile** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:10 am

Mazda give clear instructions and put a sticker on saying 50/50.
Its as much to do with anti- corrosive properties as it is cooling.
Its 50/50 for a reason - and only Mazda know why, but who are we to argue.

dandywarhol · Post by **dandywarhol** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:11 am

You probably don't Mike - 33% is safe down to about -15 ,bearing in mind it was -22 at Glasgow Airport about 8 years ago for 3 nights, anyone parked there could have come back to a cracked block/head.

Antifreeze also helps raise the boiling point of the coolant which isn't a bad thing either and acts as a corrosion inhibitor.............I'd stick with Mazda's recommendations - they'll know best

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:26 am

Its not a bad idea to have a 50% - 50% mix anyway mike, the higher the antifreeze content, the lower the overall viscosity of the coolant/water mix, which is good for showing up any potential leaks. It will also help to keep things cooler in the summer, its not just antifreeze, its summer coolant also...

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 2:36 pm

Great set of replies & thanks. I THINK I KNOW HOW TO PROCEED NOW

neil/di · Post by **neil/di** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 2:47 pm

Mike, I think it needs to be 50% to stop the corrosion to the alloy head/iron block,I know that the stags had to be 33% to prevent damage to the heads and overheating.I personally run mine at 50% as recommended, not because of ambient temperatures, but because of the problems bongos have with heads and overheating
Neil

moonshine · Post by **moonshine** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:19 pm

The Stag engine was prone to overheating, and the cause of this was discovered to be corrosion of the alloy head depositing a white powder into the radiator and clogging up the tubes. 50/50 mix cured the problem.

It was the same for my 1850 Dolomite, Neil. That engine was basically half a Stag engine, with an alloy ohc head on an iron block. I always ran that on 50/50 mix too.

Veg_Ian · Post by **Veg_Ian** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:25 pm

But antifreeze isn't as efficient at dissipating heat as water is, so a stronger antifreeze mix and the more chance of overheating. Not likely in this weather though

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:12 pm

Another excellent thread. Hope others find it useful in time. Thanks everyone. Now I've just got to do it (gulp - I dread this job considering my temp gauge is behaving perfectly etc.)

Mike