Is to great of a coolant ratio bad for your engine

[2003TRD]

Is say 75:25 coolant:water bad? I used a prestone hygrometer to check my coolant and it says its protected to temps cooler than -45 degrees but -34 is recommmended (it may have more coolant than that but it only reads to -45. Will this cause engine damage? I dont think it would but figured I would ask.

 

[Merkava_4]

Coolant has its best cooling effect when mixed 50/50 with distilled water. Too great of a concentration in either direction will cause the efficiency of your cooling system to drop off.

 

[Vilan]

Too much coolant will decrease your cold-weather protection.

http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF6/680.html

Looking at that graph, you should still be good to -60 or so. I don't believe it would harm your engine... watery coolant might have less corrosion protection but coolanty (er... non-watery?) coolant should be fine.

 

[surfstar]

Quote:

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Coolant has its best cooling effect when mixed 50/50 with distilled water. Too great of a concentration in either direction will cause the efficiency of your cooling system to drop off.

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I thought since water has better heat transfer properties that it would result in better cooling if used, say at 70/30 water/coolant? It doesn't get that cold around here and I've always run more water than a 50/50 mix.

Isn't that why racers usually use straight water with a product like water wetter for anti-corrosion?

 

[Big Jim]

No. They use water because the rules do not allow coolant. Its very slippery when it spills.