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Old 08-29-2019, 11:35 AM
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fyrffytr1 fyrffytr1 is offline
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Default Cold Case Radiator?

I have an aluminum cold case radiator for my 67 GTO and was wondering what type coolant to use in it.

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Old 08-29-2019, 02:04 PM
78w72 78w72 is offline
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should just take the standard green stuff.... stay away from orange dexcool or the pink stuff designed for foreign cars.

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Old 08-29-2019, 02:17 PM
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Since you are in GA. Do you even need anti freeze? I am in MN and only use my car in summer months. I run straight softened water with a bottle of hyperlube or water wetter. Cools better than antifreeze and keeps the water sparkling clean. If stored in a garage, it actually needs to get pretty cold outside before you are in danger of radiator freezing up.

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Old 08-29-2019, 09:39 PM
gtospieg gtospieg is offline
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From the Cold Case warranty info..."Cold Case recommends using a green 50/50 coolant mixed with distilled water. Using other mixtures may void the warranty."

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Old 08-29-2019, 09:55 PM
tjs72lemans tjs72lemans is offline
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Since you are in GA. Do you even need anti freeze?

You sure do. I was in the Navy in northern Florida. I had a 73 Nova SS with just water and the freeze plugs popped one winter.

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Old 08-30-2019, 12:27 AM
Goatracer1 Goatracer1 is offline
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Besides lowering the freezing point antifreeze also raises the boiling point.

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Old 08-30-2019, 01:43 AM
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I wouldn’t use softened water - don’t they use salt for that?

I just use the green glycol.

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Old 08-30-2019, 08:41 AM
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I use distilled water and a few water wetters. It does the same as antifreeze, but if you have an issue at the track you are not dropping oil for the next guy. Most tracks appreciate that. If it's a full street car distilled water and regular antifreeze is fine

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Old 08-30-2019, 08:54 AM
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X2 on distilled water and regular antifreeze

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Old 08-30-2019, 09:05 AM
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I know this topic has been beat to death over the years, but I have also read that tap/soft water was preferred over distilled.

I have used tap and distilled along with green and orange coolant (never together of course) for the past 36 years and never an issue- so I presume there is plenty of wiggle room here.

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Old 08-30-2019, 09:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by leeklm View Post
I know this topic has been beat to death over the years, but I have also read that tap/soft water was preferred over distilled.
Any idea where you've read that? Pretty much every automotive manufacturer I've come across has specifically warned against using tap water due to the minerals that are added.

I know that tap is recommended for people to drink because we benefit from the added minerals, but I've never heard it recommended in an automotive setting.

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Old 08-30-2019, 10:09 AM
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the confusion on tap/soft vs distilled is from a couple unofficial articles circulating on the interwebs, & the newer hyperlube stuff actually says that on the bottle... there may be some benefits & truth to both types of water but unless its an emergency or i was a young kid not knowing better, i wouldnt use tap water today. & soft water doesnt put salt into the water, it uses the sodium pellets to remove hard minerals like iron etc, but doesnt actually add the salt into the water.

but i agree distilled water is best & has been used & recommended by auto manufacturers & aftermarket cooling system companies for decades. my newer toyota owners manual says to use distilled as well. & if modern companies like cold case, be-cool, griffin, champion etc say to use distilled water, that is what i will use. #1 for warranty & #2 because i trust what they say over a random guy on a auto forum or newer $6 magical cooling potion.

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Old 08-30-2019, 11:52 AM
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I have used the hyperlube additive many times (with no antifreeze), so likely where i read the tap water thing. Of course a person has to use common sense as well. I would never use my straight well water , which is high in iron, nor would I use city water that is high in calcium and lime.

Last few years I have been using soft tap water for convenience and aluminum radiator stays super clean, but distilled is certainly cheap enough and readily available!

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Old 08-30-2019, 07:37 PM
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GM also recommends distilled water for use with their coolant.

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