Normally the collant should be 50/50. The instructions said no more than 70% collant. I made a mistake and pour too much before I noticed. I think it's at about 90%. Should I drain it out? What are the effects of 90% collant and 10% water?

TIA

 

It wont cool as well. The water is actually the "coolant" and the stuff in the bottle just keeps it from freezing in the winter.

Personally I wouldn't worry too much about it. You should be fine. But if the car seems like it is running a little warm then drain it. Otherwise just leave it.

 

The antifreeze also lowers the boil over temp so you may want to drain say the radiator half way with a hosefrom the cap and add just water and let it mix for a while and see what your at then.

I would drain it all out if I were you, I get a coolant system flush when I do mine. It cleans all the crap out from both the radiator and block and is normally around $49.99 depending on where you go. Thats propably overkill for your particular situation.

 

Does that mean in hot summer areas (like AZ), I can run more water vs. coolant?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GoLowDrew &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Does that mean in hot summer areas (like AZ), I can run more water vs. coolant?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, you can run a greater percentage of distilled water vs. coolant if the temperatures won't be below freezing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GoLowDrew &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Does that mean in hot summer areas (like AZ), I can run more water vs. coolant?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes.

Many race cars run 100% distilled water, so as not to spill slippery antifreeze on the track if there is a cooling system leak. However, when running 100% water, it is recommended to use a product such as Redline Water Wetter to help combat internal corrosion.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nocturnaldragon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The antifreeze also lowers the boil over temp </TD></TR></TABLE>

Ethylene glycol lowers the freezing point. Distilled water lowers the boiling point.

99% of race cars run only water in their cooling system. A drawback to this though is rust. If you run 100% water you will want to flush it out once a month. If you have some antifreeze in it it should be fine.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Targa250R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Yes.

Many race cars run 100% distilled water, so as not to spill slippery antifreeze on the track if there is a cooling system leak. However, when running 100% water, it is recommended to use a product such as Redline Water Wetter to help combat internal corrosion.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Correct. On a street car, I'd prefer to still run at least a small percentage of Honda coolant just to ensure that the additives contained in it are circulating through the system.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Padawan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Correct. On a street car, I'd prefer to still run at least a small percentage of Honda coolant just to ensure that the additives contained in it are circulating through the system. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Just so everyone knows, ethylene glycol is all manufactured in the same place. (well actually I believe there are two of them) No matter who you buy it from it is the exact same stuff. That is one thing that you can go to the store and buy the cheapest stuff and be just fine.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDM-97CX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just so everyone knows, ethylene glycol is all manufactured in the same place. (well actually I believe there are two of them) No matter who you buy it from it is the exact same stuff. That is one thing that you can go to the store and buy the cheapest stuff and be just fine. </TD></TR></TABLE>

This should not, however, be interpreted as meaning that all coolants are effectively the same. If one chooses not to use Honda coolant, I would still suggest reading the labels to verify that the brand chosen does not contain silicates or borates, and is listed as acceptable for use with aluminum parts, rather than simply picking up the "cheapest stuff" on the shelf.

 

Well that is in the pure antifreeze mix which is what I meant, but more importanly like already stated there are other properties in there that combat rust and other things from using just water.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Padawan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This should not, however, be interpreted as meaning that all coolants are effectively the same. If one chooses not to use Honda coolant, I would still suggest reading the labels to verify that the brand chosen does not contain silicates or borates, and is listed as acceptable for use with aluminum parts, rather than simply picking up the "cheapest stuff" on the shelf.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Which is why I chose the wording etylene glycol and not antifreeze.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDM-97CX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Which is why I chose the wording etylene glycol and not antifreeze. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Indeed, however your statement, "That is one thing that you can go to the store and buy the cheapest stuff and be just fine", could easily be construed by members as referring to coolant. I just wanted to add clarification, so that people weren't confused or misinformed.

 

The instruction on coolant also said to use "distilled water." Not to be cheap here, but does that really matter vs tap water?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GoLowDrew &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The instruction on coolant also said to use "distilled water." Not to be cheap here, but does that really matter vs tap water?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, use the distilled. It does not have minerals, so your engine will stay deposit free.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDM-97CX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Distilled water lowers the boiling point.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Actually pure distilled water has a very high boiling point. It's the impurities that are introduced to it that will cause it to boil at the standard 212F at sea level.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jim Truett &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Actually pure distilled water has a very high boiling point. It's the impurities that are introduced to it that will cause it to boil at the standard 212F at sea level.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The boiling point of pure distilled water is 100° C (212° F) at sea level.

I believe what JDM-97CX meant by his statement was that pure water will have a lower boiling point than a mixture containing a percentage of automotive coolant.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Targa250R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yes.

Many race cars run 100% distilled water, so as not to spill slippery antifreeze on the track if there is a cooling system leak. However, when running 100% water, it is recommended to use a product such as Redline Water Wetter to help combat internal corrosion.</TD></TR></TABLE>
you should still run a minimum of 10% coolant, the coolant has lubricating properties for the water pump that even water wetter dosent.

 

One last question. Does the extra coolant in the reserve tank goes into the engine when is hot, or cold?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jim Truett &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yes, use the distilled. It does not have minerals, so your engine will stay deposit free.

Actually pure distilled water has a very high boiling point. It's the impurities that are introduced to it that will cause it to boil at the standard 212F at sea level.</TD></TR></TABLE>

No it's the other way around. The impurities usually raise the boiling point (not a significant amount).

I work in a lab, I can go get distilled water tomorrow and boil it at 100* C and it wil work.

 

The extra coolant n the reservoir enters the cooling system when cold, also it is over flow when engine is hot to catch the fluid when the radiator cap opens due to hot fluid and expansion.