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I don't know anyone using straight water anymore. Everyone uses anti-freeze/anti-boil compounds no matter where they live. Don't matter what brand you buy. Just flush out the system every couple years and put fresh stuff in. It's dirt cheap protection that is so basic I'm surprised anyone would not do it.
Yup, and easy as heck to do it. But you'd be surprised how many NEVER change it. Some people don't even change their oil until their motor blows.
I use a 50-50 mix of coolant/antifreeze and distilled water. I dont know if the distilled water makes a difference but I have heard that it helps. Especially with an aluminum radiator.
I have no brand loyalty for antifreeze, just figure ethelyne glycol is etheleyne glycol is ethelyne glycol.
Great advice about the start up though. Never considered the consequences of a coolant leak internal, and didn't know that anti freeze was hard on bearings.
Here in the sunny South ( GA ) got another month or two before I really have to worry about it, but will definitely check it soon. Ever since the firebird ran hot from a broken belt, ( had to replace a head ) it has been loosing water, don't know where, so it is probably diluted by now.
Firebird---sounds like a cracked head. overheating will do that. Everytime the piston in the cylinder next to the crack pulls vacuum on intake stroke, a really small amount of water is pulled from the crack and converted to steam when that cylinder fires. The cylinder will still fire, but the coolant level will gradually go down in the rad with no visible leaks.
Man Brian, you taught me ANOTHER thing! Can I pay you to just teach me things instead of going to college? haha just messing.