mixed anti freezes

LouNY · Apr 28, 2020

Had to do some work on my UTV this spring,
I found out what happens when you mix two apparently incompatible anti freezes.

first the old water pump impeller, second the water pump housing, third the old and new impellers.

first picture stripped down to be worked on, second front, third rear, fourth ready to use.

I had pulled it up to use the lights while I was using the tractor one evening,
left it idling with the lights on for light up a work area, finishing up and saw a fog around the UTV, walked over and said dang and a few other words.
It was cold out so no hoses outside to cool it down with so just shut her down and left it to cool.
Checked it the next day and filled the radiator fired it up and iit over heated quickly and didn't sound just right.
Shut her down and parked her for awhile got started on it this spring, pulled a compression test and a leak down test had good numbers.
Adjusted the valves and changed the plugs drained and refilled the radiator and she over heated again, ordered and installed a new thermostat danged if it didn't over heat again.
Kind of scratching my head now as she's only a year old to me 2 years old overall dealer had been using it as a demonstrator for a year when I bought it with 100 miles on it.
Pulled the water pump and said what is this crap, scrapped out the pump got a new impeller and some high dollar radiator flush, flushed and back washed the engine, lines and radiator a few times. Finished getting her back together today and she seems alright we shall see.

I guess some times the new style stuff isn't the best, think I'll be checking out coolants and maybe getting something different for my primary coolant to have on hand.
All ready have to have a special one for my RAM pickup and my wifes Jeep fortunately they are the same a MS 12106 spec.

CalG · Apr 28, 2020

some mix, some don't YMMV ;-)

I'm all about Dexcool

Industrial Toys · Apr 28, 2020

I had to buy coolant earlier this year and was annoyed that for Diesel applications, there was no full strength at Walmart. I am not a fan of buying 50% water for the same price.

Having said that, mixing it was a pain and knowing how much you need to mix in advance. I put in water, then coolant and repeated the process. I think you have to be carefull because I got the impression that it could take quite some time to mix completely. Best to mix it prior to putting in cooling system.

RustyA · Apr 29, 2020

Always dilute full strength coolant with distilled water, not tap or well water...especially long life coolant in diesel applications. Keeps the nitrite levels down.

Industrial Toys · Apr 29, 2020

I hoard all my summer dehumidifier condensate for batteries and coolant.

Ford850 · Apr 29, 2020

Yikes! That's a mess.
I changed to Fleet Charge several years ago, and then last year have everything changed to Final Charge. One advantage about Final Charge, I think, is that they say you don't need to flush and can add it to other antifreeze with up to 25% old stuff left in the system. Now you have me concerned, although maybe yours was a type that didn't say you can mix. I used to flush everything when changing but with the newer extended life stuff I haven't found any sludge or odd colored fluids when changing. My hope is to drain and refill with Final Charge every 5 years or so.