Safe water ratio?

[Dr.Scientist]

My 94 GT is having some cooling problems. In the Texas heat, the needle sometimes gets over to the letter "M" on "Normal". On the heat gauge. Not quite hot, but warm enough to make me want to fix the problem before it gets any worse. To me its a problem, cause on my other 94 GT, it never once got past the "N" on the "Normal".

So I hear that water has a better heat transfer rate than antifreeze. Right now I'm running a 50:50 water to antifreeze ratio. What is the safest ratio to run? I know the water pump needs some of the lubricants that are in antifreeze. I think I've even killed a water pump, using only straight water. So I need to know what the safest ratio is.

 

[Blind]

the gauge is not accurate enough to compare the needle location of 2 different cars.

when it looks like it's too hot for you, grab an IR temp gun and check the temp of the water neck/thermostat housing to get a better idea of the actual water temp, if you don't have a real temp gauge that you could install to verify.

 

[Slykin]

My car with a brand new stock replacement radiator gets up to the M occasionally.. also in the Texas heat. It's fine.

 

[red95r]

Yeah I get into M quite often. Only in stop and go. HW it seems to sit just below.

 

[ProKiller]

if you're worried about it, first get a temp gauge to tell you exactly what the temp is. the stock gauge is pretty much useless. get some water wetter additive. 180* thermostat. manual fan switch. aluminum rad. in that order will fix any cooling issues.

 

[Dr.Scientist]

Ok I will start with a better heat gauge. I'm going to be installing autometer gauges someday anyway so I can just start with the water temp gauge. Anyone know which autometer size fits in our cars? I'll be going for the factory look so I want to just pull out the factory gauge and put in the new autometer gauge.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

I run straight water in everything, in Michigan until Halloween. Just use rust inhibitor with it.

 

[ivan12]

Ok I will start with a better heat gauge. I'm going to be installing autometer gauges someday anyway so I can just start with the water temp gauge. Anyone know which autometer size fits in our cars? I'll be going for the factory look so I want to just pull out the factory gauge and put in the new autometer gauge.

It doesn't work that way, you have to get a holder for it. There's plenty of options out there, check out the other thread with the gauge setups

 

[ttocs]

you will need to add one in addition to the stock gauges, there is no direct fit unless you get a stock replacement.

Mine how ever also never gets over the n-o junction either after doing a thermostat replacement.

 

[Dr.Scientist]

There's plenty of options out there, check out the other thread with the gauge setups

I did a search, are you referring to this thread? Or perhaps there is a thread that has various setups.

http://sn95forums.com/index.php/topic,61899.0.html

 

[Dr.Scientist]

Looks like you don't really want to alter the ratio too much, as you lower the water's ability to resist boiling. Once it boils, you're screwed.

 

[Blind]

Looks like you don't really want to alter the ratio too much, as you lower the water's ability to resist boiling. Once it boils, you're screwed.

with a 16psi radiator cap, it takes about 250* to boil the water in a 100% water sealed system.

if there are leaks or air in the system, sure it will boil way before that.

every 1psi of pressure, raises water boil temp by ~3 degree's.

 

[Dr.Scientist]

Should I replace the radiator cap? It doesn't leak, but it looks old on the underside.

 

[Paul]

You don't even know what temperature your car is running at. Stop spending time and money and headache, buy a real gauge, install it, and tell us what you're running. Then we can help you determine if you need to do anything more. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Paul.

 

[a306juGRnot]

water wetter works great!

 

[95opal]

water wetter works great!

+1 I run 3 botles of it in mine. Runs so cool the only time it goes above 180 is if im sitting in traffic. otherwise I can cruise and keep the fan off and she will sit at 180

 

[Dr.Scientist]

Wow 3 bottles? Is that safe? I know nothing about whats in it so I thought I'd ask.

 

[Dr.Scientist]

You don't even know what temperature your car is running at. Stop spending time and money and headache, buy a real gauge, install it, and tell us what you're running. Then we can help you determine if you need to do anything more. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Paul.

Ok I finally got a chance to do the IR thermometer thing, when the needle was as high as I can get it to go. Which is, to the "A" on the word "Normal" on the heat gauge. All I had to do was drive through town at about 2 in the afternoon. My temp gadget on the desktop says its 102F outside. The IR thermometer said that the car was running at 234 degrees F. I simply pointed it at the thermostat housing as instructed by you guys. Now granted, like yall said, that isn't "too hot". Obviously "too hot" would be very bad for the engine. But don't you think its just a little too close? Don't you think I should get it to run cooler so that when it does finally decide that its going to go hotter than it ever has, it still can't overheat? Seems like I'm walking a fine line here, if you know what I mean.