Change Anti-Freeze Yearly?

[HGM]

Who makes the "gold" coolant? What is the brand name?
Bob

Motorcraft Gold

Diesel additive

 

[SteveInMD]

I only said I use FW-16 in my tractor. I never said I use it with gold antifreeze, or that I use more than I'm supposed to.

 

[jinman]

What with the stability of ethylene-glycol and the difficulty in disposing of used anti-freeze, does it make sense to periodically add the additives (pump lubricant and corrosion inhibitors) but NOT change the anti-freeze? Could you combine this approach with a periodic cooling system drain and flush followed by refill using the OLD antifreeze solution and meet the cooling system's needs without ever doing an anti-freeze change?

Bob, if you drain your coolant, you will still have lots of pockets of antifreeze left in the engine. When you "flush" the coolant, that flushing water then becomes contaminated with the coolant. What do you do with gallons and gallons of flushing water? Also, the water you flush with may add contamination to the system because of water that's very hard or very soft. Technically, only distilled or deionized water should be used to flush. I just think you are better off draining the old antifreeze and then add new until the system is full. If you have a problem with rust or contamination in the system, then you probably need to take the tractor/vehicle to some place with a contained flushing system. At least, that's the impression I get from my research.

 

[AlanB]

Just some random thought's that I wanted to add in here.

1. Different antifreeze manufacturers, even when using the same base stock EG, add different "add Packs" to make the EG into antifreeze. There are several different trains of thought on what is the "right" way to get it, molybdates, Nitrates, balances etc. My caution here would be that if you get a test strip, that you have to get the proper test strip for the antifreeze that you are testing, which in turn mean's that you have to know what antifreeze is in your system.

2. When looking for antifreeze for your tractor and such, look for words such as "Fully Formulated" or SCA (Supplemental Coolant Additives) complete. I have never seen a fully formulated antifreeze that would not also work well in gasoline or other engines with lesser reguirements.

3. The reason that you do not want to add too much SCA can best be exemplified for those of us in the south by thinking of a glass of Ice Tea. (I am in the south, of course it is sweet)
A proper and balanced antifreeze solution is that perfect glass of iced tea, clear (maybe translucent would be a better word) well mixed, and a nice amount of sweetness (sugar otherwise here described as SCA) in it. It looks good, it tastes good, it is good. Start adding a bunch more sugar in there and you start having "dropout" or sometimes it will be called Silicate fallout.... It starts to cloud, gunk appears on the bottom of the glass that the dishwasher does not like, and truly, it is not "sweeter" to drink.

There are many great Antifreeze products out there on the market. I would suggest that the original poster find an Antifreeze that is Fully Formulated and has test strips available to tell you the SCA levels in the antifreeze and then stick with one product. Myself, I believe in the change regularly theory, I have never heard of a problem from changing too much.

As to the discussion of Recycling of Antifreeze. It is done quite regularly, and lots of folks do it at different levels with different results.

http://www.campbell.army.mil/envdiv/PPOC.htm

 

[HGM]

I only said I use FW-16 in my tractor. I never said I use it with gold antifreeze, or that I use more than I'm supposed to.

I didnt say(nor did anyone else) say that you were.. I was just adding a little info about the additive and coolant you mentioned.. Sorry for the missunderstanding..

 

[daTeacha]

Maybe... here is something else to think about tho: I have a VW TDI and that has some pink antifreeze in it... no special diesel antifreeze.

The pink antifreeze is marketed by VW and others. It meets a standard known in the trade as G-12, which means it is safe for use in engines with aluminum blocks, heads, or other parts that the antifreeze contacts. It is NOT compatible with the common green anti-freeze. If you look at the coolant expansion tank/fill port on your VW you should see and embossed G-12 near the cap.

 

[Doc_Bob]

What with the stability of ethylene-glycol and the difficulty in disposing of used anti-freeze, Bob

We have "free" (pay for it with taxes)hazardous waste disposal in WI. So old anti-freeze is easy to dispose of properly. Same with oil.
Bob

 

[CurlyDave]

The primary reason for frequent antifreeze changes is due to loss of effectiveness of the corrosion inhibitor package.

That is the way I understand it also.

In long-haul trucks there is a place to put a small block of slow-dissolving additive package in the coolant loop. They will go years and hundreds of thousand of miles on the same coolant.

What I do is add a can of "corrosion inhibitor and water pump lubricant" to the radiator every year.