Water vs Antifreeze

[Duffy1]

Which cools better . Water with rust inhibitor or 50/50 antifreeze . What is the pros and cons if you use water/rust prohibitor in the summer in Texas and have a BW pressurized radiator and you run a 4 lb cap.

Thanks

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

This has been argued, mulled over, & bisected SO MANY times. I, personally, believe that quality coolant IS the best choice overall, install it, and you're set for all seasons. Rust preventative & water pump seal lubricant is included at no extra cost! It is recommended for ALL modern water cooled engines as for as I know. By the way, Texas ain't the only HOT spot, we were a toasty 109 degrees a few days ago! (But some will say, "What does Ole' Bill know????) Bill W.

[Model A Ron]

I would go with coolant year round for all the same reasons.

Ron

[Duffy1]

Bill;

I was told that antifreeze will cause seepage when using a copper head gasket .My copper head gasket started seeping so I thought about just running water and preston rust inhibitor and see if the seepage stops .

Thanks

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Duffy1

Bill;

I was told that antifreeze will cause seepage when using a copper head gasket .My copper head gasket started seeping so I thought about just running water and preston rust inhibitor and see if the seepage stops .

Thanks

Duffy,
My thoughts: Water will seep easier than coolant 'cause it's viscosity is LESS than coolant. Water just evaporates & doesn't leave a green "CALLING CARD." I always run Bars-Leaks for a week before puttin' in coolant for those unknown seepages that might show up in 80 year old iron. I add 1/2 bottle of Bars-Leaks after draining first water & installing coolant. Bars-Leaks is very safe & won't plug up stuff! (CHIEF said so!) Bill W.

[n4yhd1]

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What specific Bar's Leak product are you using?

[Mike V. Florida]

The only reason I use water and rust preventative is because I have read and seen some antifreeze foam up due to the impellers in the water pump. I'm not saying that all antifreeze foams or that all water pump impellers cause the problem but since it doesn't often freeze in South Florida, I decided to use just distilled water and the anti-rust.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida

The only reason I use water and rust preventative is because I have read and seen some antifreeze foam up due to the impellers in the water pump. I'm not saying that all antifreeze foams or that all water pump impellers cause the problem but since it doesn't often freeze in South Florida, I decided to use just distilled water and the anti-rust.

Brother Mike,
I'm not adimate about what I do, If some have a way that works well for them, stick with it! Bill W.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

Brother Mike,
I'm not adimate about what I do, If some have a way that works well for them, stick with it! Bill W.

Exactly, just like oil, it all works pick what you want.

[Duffy1]

Thanks for the input fellows.

[dumb person]

If it helps you at all, using plain water might cause a slight amount of rust to stop leaks. Found this out with a modern car with a cracked cylinder head (into the cylinders ect.) just let it leak meaning it fix it "some day". Slowly it stopped leaking until it was "fixed". Put antifreeze in it and it was fine (so far). Not good for the water pump but that was 2% of the price of repairing the head.

[brokenspoke]

H and H built my engine and they said not to use antifreeze

[mkmskm]

For me you're asking the wrong question. My car is stored in an unheated garage so I will NEVER put plain water in it as I don't want to get caught by a freeze or hassle with changing the coolant that often. I know several guys who have ruined engines with water in them because they forgot and it froze. I've always run 50:50 in all my old vehicles and it works great plus I don't ever have to worry about them. Remember when the Model A came out they use alcohol based "Antifreezes" that you removed in the summer and when ethylene glycol came out in the 30s it was advertised as "permanent antifreeze".

[Chris Haynes]

Originally Posted by brokenspoke

H and H built my engine and they said not to use antifreeze

Hatchet & Hammer?

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by brokenspoke

H and H built my engine and they said not to use antifreeze

Forever or just for break in? Some rebuilders (I don't know about H&H) put in Bars stop leak just in case. I've read that some antifreeze will eat the babbit so during break in and with bars stop leak in the system one runs water only to seal the system and then switch over to the soultion of your choice.

[Chris Haynes]

Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida

Forever or just for break in? Some rebuilders (I don't know about H&H) put in Bars stop leak just in case. I've read that some antifreeze will eat the babbit so during break in and with bars stop leak in the system one runs water only to seal the system and then switch over to the soultion of your choice.

How does antifreeze get on the babbit?
I have used Sierra brand antifreeze and it doesn't foam.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by Chris Haynes

How does antifreeze get on the babbit?
I have used Sierra brand antifreeze and it doesn't foam.

If the head gasket leaks then the coolant leaks past the rings and into the dip tray to be picked up by the rod scoops. A guy in our club lost his new babbit job when he removed the nut holding the popout cable and left it off overnight.

[Milton]

Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida

I've read that some antifreeze will eat the babbit

And that just may be the reason H&H doesn't want antifreeze in their lead/solder repaired cracked blocks.

[28ACoupe]

Personally, I don't run either water or anti-freeze. I run Evans Cooling products exclusively. I ran into this company a few years ago and can tell you that their stuff really works. My cousin runs a 650hp SB Chev powered SS Impala on the streets of Los Angeles when it gets to triple digits every year with zero problems. I have ran it in my Model A as well with zero issues as well.

It is not cheap, but nothing worth while ever is.

[Duffy1]

What happens to your paint job when you spring a leak and evans sprays all over you car .Is Evans paint friendly ?