Coolant Additives

[FirebirdGT]

Royal Purple "Purple Ice Super Coolant Additive"

http://www.royalpurple.com/prodsa/prpice.html


or Red Line "Water Wetter"

http://www.redlineoil.com/products_c...ubCategoryID=4


Who has experience with either? Recommendations?


IF YOU DON'T HAVE EXPERIENCE - DON'T POST!! I'll delete the post otherwise!

[Meatyshells]

Re: Coolant Additives

you just add it to dexcool?

[FirebirdGT]

Re: Coolant Additives

you just add it to dexcool?

Yes...

[camaroman1181]

Re: Coolant Additives

Here's my take on these additives. I believe they tend to work by adding lubrication to the cooling system, and possibly by lowering the surface tension of water.

Water has one of the highest specific heats of all naturally occuring elements. In fact, it takes more specific energy to raise water 1 degree C, than it does to change metals that same temperature.

quick read if you are interested:

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu...ermo/spht.html

Now, surface tension is something else to consider. its basically the film strength of water, at its outer layer. Altering surface tension is what makes soap affective. It tends to make water, wetter, so to speak.

quick read on that as well:

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/surten.html

I've wondered about these kind of coolant products myself and those are the reasons that I can come up iwth to explain why they might work. I havent tried any of them however, due to none of my vehicles having any issues with overheating. They probably are affective to some degree, (or 10-15 degrees as they advertise.. lol)

hope thats at least a bit of what you are looking for.

[FirebirdGT]

Re: Coolant Additives

hope thats at least a bit of what you are looking for.

Nope. I'm a mechanical engineer - I know the theory.

Anyone with practical experience?

[vanbibber]

Re: Coolant Additives

ive been thinking about using them. just havent had the money to pick some up. after i do get around to it ill report back.

ive seen it reccommended a few times on v8 boards, most say it works as advertised.

[camaroman1181]

Re: Coolant Additives

Nope. I'm a mechanical engineer - I know the theory.

Anyone with practical experience?

not a problem.. I'm an M.E. myself.. figured I'd post some of the theory in case someone wasn't aware...

[Firebird45331]

Re: Coolant Additives

used the same type of water wetter agent in photography. It broke the surface tension of the water and helped the film dry without spots or streaks. Same function. it breaks the water tension of water allowing a better surface coverage area. Strange to think of water as not being wet enough but basically that's it. In summer if I'm driving my 86 bird a lot. I drain the antifreeze and replace it with straight water with a anti rusting additive. It runs considerably cooler than with antifreeze.

[zlexiss]

Re: Coolant Additives

I've been using a bottle of water wetter in 80 % water/20% dexcool for a couple years now. Thermostat is the 180* ZZP drilled stat.

No temp problems road racing in Phx, even with the FTRA and brake ducts on the air dam taking away from the cooling air stream.

I'm not sure there's a practical difference between the two brands.