| Grant | -- 02-03-2010 @ 6:45 PM |
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In the Tech Tips column on page 17 of the November December 2009 issue of the V8 Times, Dick Flynn says: "......only use Propylene Glycol antifreeze. It won't ruin engine bearings if it leaks into the engine oil. Ethylene Glycol will instantly destroy all bearings. Ethylene Glycol will attack aluminum heads, thermostat housings, and lead in the solder in the radiator called lead blume." I have never even heard of propylene glycol. Is it sold under a common brand name? Where do you fellows in the USA purchase this product? How many EFV8 members use this as a coolant, rather than "normal" antifreeze? Is it for flathead FoMoCo engines only? One of our cars still has (sorry, guys) a small block Chev engine in it which the previous owner had installed.....should I be running propylene glycol in that engine as well as in our '50, '51 and '52 flathead V8s? Thanks, Grant
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| Kens 36 | -- 02-03-2010 @ 7:18 PM |
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Grant, Sierra Brand and Prestone LowTox are both Propylene Glycol based. You will find a lot of discussion on the web about both types of antifreeze and their effects on aluminum engine parts. Ken
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| Grant | -- 02-03-2010 @ 7:34 PM |
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Thank you, Ken. I will check out the information on the web.
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| 42guy | -- 02-03-2010 @ 7:52 PM |
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I have been using the Sierra brand for about 4 years now. No problems so far.
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| trjford8 | -- 02-03-2010 @ 9:03 PM |
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Supereal, who is our resident flathead guru on the forum, always uses propylene glycol. He uses the Sierra brand. One benefit is it is not toxic to animals. This message was edited by trjford8 on 2-3-10 @ 9:04 PM
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| flathead4rd | -- 02-04-2010 @ 5:33 AM |
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I had a hard time finding Sierra antifreeze this year. Tried Murrays (now O'Reilly's) and Autozone. For some reason they both quit stocking it. Finally found it at NAPA.
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| Grant | -- 02-04-2010 @ 6:17 AM |
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Thanks again, gentlemen. There is a NAPA store in Port Huron, Michigan which is about 50 miles from our location. The first spring 2010 cross-border shopping trip will include several jugs of this Sierra antifreeze product, two gallons of Marvel Mystery Oil and several bags of 2-4D Weed and Feed for the lawn (the last two items are both illegal now here in Ontario due to overly-green idiots in government).
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| Billc | -- 02-04-2010 @ 1:02 PM |
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I heard that you can't mix Sierra at all with ethylene glycol. How clean must the engine be? What is the result of mixing the two? Bill
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| flathead4rd | -- 02-04-2010 @ 2:06 PM |
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Just draining and flushing the radiator is sufficient when changing over to Sierra. I use distilled water instead of tap water to avoid calcium and lime deposits. Also, You need a different hydrometer to check Sierra antifreze for it's freezing point protection. An ethylene Glycol tester won't work. I live in Michigan and find a 50/50 mix is sufficient for our 10 below (farenheit) temperatures.
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| Stroker | -- 02-04-2010 @ 3:10 PM |
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Boy! I'd sure agree with Flathead4RD on the distilled water. I never mix anti-freeze with anything but! This is especially critical with engines that have an iron/aluminum mix (alloy heads/iron block). I'd sooner pour "ditch water" in my battery than I would in my radiator, as batteries are relatively speaking, cheaper than engines. Rainwater's good, "de-ionized water" is good, distilled is the best. I grew up in a warm climate, so we didn't use anti-freeze. We did, however, always add a emulsified lubricant such as Mac's #13 water pump lube to the distilled water. I now live in "Siberia", and use Sierra in everything. I've pulled aftermarket (Edebrock) heads off of my flatmotor after many years of service with the above precautions, and they look like new.
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| Grant | -- 02-05-2010 @ 4:17 AM |
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Going back to one of the questions in the original post, "How many members are using propylene glycol....?", it would appear that the majority probably are and possibly have been for quite some time. Is that correct ?
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| supereal | -- 02-05-2010 @ 8:24 AM |
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Tom: I have been called lots of things, but never "guru"! I started to use poly back in my Model A days because it didn't foam as much in nonpressurized systems. In truth, any coolant that leaks into the oil will cause bearing failure if not caught immediately. We see engines at our shop with no surface let on the inserts when they try to run on water. I assume that the claims that Sierra is easier on the environment are true. It meets our "what could it hurt" test when we choose products. Old engines often have minor interior seepage. That is why we provide Barr's Leaks with each one we rebuild.
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| JebNY | -- 02-05-2010 @ 5:54 PM |
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I don't have any facts and figures, but I converted all my old stuff to propylene glycol about 7 or 8 years ago when I got two cats to live in the barn. I have used it just because most of my old stuff leaks some. I haven't converted my F1 yet since I just got it home in late November and it didn't leak so I decided to wait till Spring to flush and refill. I have had zero problems and all I did to convert was a quick water flush and refill. I buy what ever brand I can find, not everyone has it but it is out there. Jim... 1950 F1 Stake
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| TomO | -- 02-06-2010 @ 8:54 AM |
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Grant, it would be very hard to determine how many V-8 ers use propylene glycol antifreeze. It may be used in all cooling systems that call for regular antifreeze. Some of the newer cars have different requirements and it should not be used in them. The low foaming characteristic is what attracted me to Sierra as well as the feature that it is safer for animals. The cost is quite a bit higher than other brands. Tom
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| supereal | -- 02-06-2010 @ 11:54 AM |
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Sierra works well in all of our older vehicles, but the new cars require a proprietary coolant if you want to maintain the warranty. Some are organic acid based that protects the common aluminum blocks and heads of newer engines. We just bought a case of Sierra, at about nine bucks a gallon. Be careful to read the labels on all antifreeze, as many are now sold as "prediluted", meaning you are buying expensive water!
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