Coolant Recommendation

[ffgb]

I am going to flush my cooling system on my 1984 rabbit.  I only have water in it right now.  I am going to try some liquid cascade as a flush.  I am going to refill the cooling system with 50%-60% coolant to water, but don't know what the best coolant product is.  Is everyone here buying the g12+ purple coolant at the stealership, or is everyone here using another more readily and cheaper product from the autoparts store?

[Smokey Eddy]

I don't notice any difference in coolants.
its the water that transfers the heat the coolant is just an anti-corrosion and slight lubrication agent.
i just use the ...$15/gal stuff

[RadoTD]

You should be fine with the green stuff, I run G11 though... just because. It's not all that expensive

Either way you go should be fine, just DON'T mix 2 different types. Do a good flush (don't forget about the heater core! oops ) before you put in whatever you decide to go with

[rabbitman]

I get the extended life green stuff from napa, strangely enough, it cost less than the regular green stuff

[Turbinepowered]

Green stuff shall never again touch my babies. 

G11 through the dealership, for me, comes out to a finished cost of $9.80 a gallon of mixed coolant when I'm running 60/40 water/coolant mix.

The coolant isn't just an anticorrosive, by the way. It also suppresses the freezing point of water and raises the boiling point, allowing the coolant to stay liquid in a broader range of temperatures than just pure water.

[TDsamurai]

What is everyone's opinion on water wetter? Or have you even heard of it? I tried it out on a bronco project of mine as i was having overheating issues when i was crawlin offroad, and i noticed a 15 degree temp drop for running temperature. I am hoping a 15x18x2 aluminum rad will be enough for my 1.6TD with a 3000cfm fan but if its not ill try it out again. For those that don't know water wetter is an additive to you coolant, i believe you add about a quart and it supposedly reduces temperature up to 30 degrees or something like that. Does this stuff have any negative effects?

Not sure if this is considered a hijack or not, sorry if you think so. I figure its similar topic.

[vanbcguy]

Thing is diesels run best when as warm as possible - you want to keep 'em hot, not 15 degrees below hot.  Cold engines steal heat from combustion, so if you're looking to get as much power as possible out of a given unit of fuel you want some heat!!  Gassers are different since they have to worry about preignition - diesels don't have that problem since the fuel isn't added till exactly the right time.

[TDsamurai]

what is the best operating temperature for this engine? there is such thing as too hot im sure.

[theman53]

Water wetter is awesome. For crawling I would definately use it as most of the time the only air going past the rad will be what the fan pulls. That rad seems a little small too, but you'll never know until you try. I would try to get a 4 row if it is that small.

I have always bought the green coolant for all my stuff. I haven't ever liked the orange and never had a vehicle with G11 or G12 in it. Some on here are running something that lets you run with the cap off or zero pressure, but I don't remember what it was called.

[catlin_cava]

I just get some coolant at the local mechanics, 5$ a gallon for Red coolant lol

[maxfax]

Pick whatever coolant you feel comfortable with..  Fortunately you have no copper/brass components to worry about.. Some extended life coolants don't play nice with these...  The liquid cascade it a great way to clean things, but a bit rough on aluminum.. Make sure you flush everything really well! 

Water wetter has amazed the crap outta me..  My Mustang II required the stuff in hot weather when stuck in traffic with the A/C on...  I also used it in a Model A  (Model Eh for you Canadians) and a '28 Poncho.. Both of those saw alot of idling in parades and constantly ran hot before using it...

[lord_verminaard]

Thing is diesels run best when as warm as possible - you want to keep 'em hot, not 15 degrees below hot. 

The thermostat will dictate the coolest temperature the engine will run.  Get a thermostat with the proper temperature, and the coolant is a safety measure to keep it from getting much hotter than that, like during extended "spirited" driving.

Brendan

[arb]

If you have an aluminum rad I would not use the cascade. Either way, I'd flush with prestone rad flush and install the back flush kit.

With my new aluminum rad I switched to the red 5 year stuff at twice the price.... then the only hose I did not install new broke and it all went on the road. Now, the green stuff.

I hope you didn't use straight water for too long. Coolant has important corrosion preventers.

Water wetter is required for the 7.3 L Powerstroke, or the viboration causes cavitation errosion in the block / heads.

[ffgb]

What thermostat is everyone using, 180 degrees or 192 degrees?

[arb]

What thermostat is everyone using, 180 degrees or 192 degrees?

I have 195 F