Is Water Wetter just soap and water?

[Jim 5]

I wish I could find the post, but somewhere on the net a guy was stating that Water Wetter is just soap and water.

I did a few googles for soap and water wetter and what I found out is that soap is a surfactant that decreases surface tension of water.

Most things I've read is that WW functions as a surfactant that decreases the surface tension of coolant and allows it to move around the motor better, and allows it better contact with the engine for better cooling. I've also read that WW makes your coolant more basic than acidic

Anyhow, this guy stated that dropping I think 1/2 to 1/4 teaspoon of dishsoap in your coolant would have the same effect as buying a bottle of WW.

Next time you have a bottle of WW in your hand, give it a shake...it sure behaves like soapy water would. And soap is very basic.

Anyone have thoughts on this?

 

[jason07-1zzfe]

I highly doubt it. It was actually developed as a corrosion inhibitor for plain water when it was found to help reduce temps and hot spots. (it originally came in powder also)
I imagine putting dish soap in coolant is going to turn overflow tank in to a bubbly frothy mess. I've used WW many times. No such thing here.

 

[MolaKule]

WW contains a surfactant that reduces the water's surface tension which allows a slightly better transfer of heat.

 

[jason07-1zzfe]

quote:

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Originally posted by MolaKule:
WW contains a surfactant that reduces the water's surface tension which allows a slightly better transfer of heat.

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...that is not sourced from Palmolive

 

[kenw]

quote:

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Originally posted by MolaKule:
WW contains a surfactant that reduces the water's surface tension which allows a slightly better transfer of heat.

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but then so does antifreeze/coolant.....

 

[Ray H]

There are many surfactants that do not foam up to any great degree. A prime example would be the products to be used in automatic dishwashers. (DON'T use one of these as a substitute for WW!) When I was a little kid (mid-nineteen fifties), an adult cousin worked for Dow Chemical and he'd been involved with developing a particular foamless surfactant that Dow attempted to test through employees and their family members as general household cleaning agents before deciding whether to release commercially. He gave my mom several bars to be used in place of handsoap, and a couple of bottles of a liquid to use for dishwashing. All seemed to work well, and were pleasantly scented but mom didn't like using these products. Why? No lather. We are slaves to convention.