DANGEROUS WATERS: The controversial question: What liquid makes the best coolant?

[KoHaN69]

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1051/img21345xl.jpg

My pump was initally filled with distilled water, and I refil it through the T pipe, with rubbing alcohol.

However, the water is now moderatly hazy:

Fresh alcohol in top of T pipe:


http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/2223/img21368bv.jpg

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8245/img21389jy.jpg


The rest of the tubing:

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4750/img21371eo.jpg

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4851/img21392sg.jpg

[EnJoY]

Um...what?

[KoHaN69]

What coolant solution is not too denser than water and provides least contamination without sacrifice of heat transfer?

[Marci]

95% Distilled water
5% additive (Zerex Racing Super Coolant, LiquidCosworth)

[Micutzu]

Only ammonia has (maybe) higher thermal capacity than water, but it boils at -33C so it's not a real option. Just stick to water + Zerex, it's the best stuff out there.

[freecableguy]

Nothing beats pure, clean water. Unfortunately this can cause biological and corrosions concerns so a small bit of inhibitor (antifreeze or engine coolant) is added to counteract this. But water is always the best. It really just comes down to specific heat capacity (water = 4.186 J/gram-C).

[Viktor]

Running watercooling as we speak and I'm using pure distilled water.

[creidiki]

Supposedly you can gain a few 0.1c by adding a little nonionic sulfactant to pure DI water. But youre better off just using pure DI. I am :)

[KoHaN69]

How will engine coolant react with alcohol? (which is around 5-10% in my system)

Would there be corrosion or deterration of plastic/rubber/metal ?

[MaxxxRacer]

It really just comes down to specific heat capacity (water = 4.186 J/gram-C).


Not so much.. Its thermal conductivity that we are really after. Granted, if the coolant has a super low heat capacity, and it cant hold the amount of heat neccesary at a given flowrate, you will run into problems, but for the most part that isnt much of a concern.


Vlad, just dump out the water and alcohol... run some venigear through the loop, and I will give you some more tubing. If your not busy I can stop by tonight and give you some.

after your done with the vinegar, add distilled water. if you dont have any, go to smart and final (down the street about 3 blocks, going east) before you go home and pick up a 2.5gallon jug for 3 dollars. If you dont have vinegar get it there too.

Your loop is jsut copper/delrin/pcv/brass so you dont need an a corrosion inhibitor.

10 dollars says if you put a cap in the T-line you will be fine with just pure water. ive been running pure water for over a year now without incident.


Give me a call on my cell if you want me to stop by.

[racinjimy]

How will engine coolant react with alcohol? (which is around 5-10% in my system)

Would there be corrosion or deterration of plastic/rubber/metal ?

why alcohol? left over from last weekend :D

next time invite more friends or ones that like to have a really, REALLY good time

[KoHaN69]

why alcohol? left over from last weekend :D

next time invite more friends or ones that like to have a really, REALLY good time

Hey, Jimmy you want some rubbing alcohol?

[menlatin]

what about glychol ? i heard that stuff is good. I can get some from work, so im probably going to try it some time.

[Marci]

No. Glycol is for it's antifreeze properties only. If you're not running sub-zero coolant you have no need for glycol whatsoever, and it will only serve to reduce water's thermal capacity.

[MaxxxRacer]

pure glycol is also a very good way to destroy a mixed metal loop.. put copper and aluminum in a cup full of glycol and watch the destrucion insue. its not as bad as if the two were put in a strong electrolyte like acid, but water cant even compare to the speed of the corrosion.

in any case, anything with glycol in it should not be going into your loop. yes i know zerex uses some glycol, but thankfully its inhibitied and is in small quantties.