What kind of coolant/water ratios are you guys using in your sleds? 60/40, 70/30 or just doing it by the temp rating on the bottle?

50/50 !!!

I think I will go with a 60% Coolant 40% Water mix. This way if I go to Canada and wake up with it being -38 degrees I will have better protection.

What do you guys think about 60/40?

Water runs cooler than antifreeze, so more water is better if you don't need the freeze protection.

50:50 is best, but if you're not going to be in the deep-freeze, you could go richer on the water to keep the engine cooler.

Engine Ice runs much cooler than regular 50:50 antifreeze, but is not rated to a low enough temperature for us Canadian sledders unfortunately, or I'd be using it in my sled (works GREAT in the bikes for the summer).

Hey...TheFin...

If you're reading this, could you please make your signature narrower -- it's screwing up the margins for the rest of us.

Thanks!

LB700 is absolutely correct. Water has a much better heat transfer coefficient that antifreeze. So unless you need the extreme freeze protection, go with the least amount of antifreeze ratio that you have to. I personally run 50/50. This could definitely help people out that might be having some overheating problems.

Thanks guys, I am going to go with a 50/50. I am only in New York, so I don't think that there will be any -38 degree days this winter. Thanks for the info!

Is it really worth running Coolant/water mix?? Ive always just put pure coolant in there.... Should I mix it up?

Definately!

Your machine will run cooler and better with a 50:50 mix.

Never knew that! I guess I will have to try it out!

Originally posted by Troy2992@Dec 15 2002, 02:50 PM
Is it really worth running Coolant/water mix?? Ive always just put pure coolant in there.... Should I mix it up?
I believe that, although it won't freeze, straight coolant will gel if it gets cold enough.

Performancex is correct. If the antifreeze in your system is too strong the coolant will gel. Not good. Pure water is good but pure water can also damage your engine. It offers little corrosion protection. If you run more water you may want to invest in a corrosion inhibitor for your engine. In my stock car i used to run straight water with a product called Nalcool. I picked it up at a Detroit Diesel dealer. it also can be used to control the ph of your coolant. Here in Canada I run a 60/40 mixture. This gives me real good freeze protection. I've never overheated. Just use a good quality antifreeze. Don't use longlife ( like dexcool ) and I never buy premixed any more. I baught one jug and the label said protection down to -40 but when we tested it it was good to about -5.

I have rode at -59 F. below zero and use 50/50. It worked and had no problem..People were going to the Hospital with frost bit lungs. Hard to believe but true.
Use 50/50 it's the best ratio..

Water wetter, a redline product, is also really good. You put that in your rad with a water-antifreeze mixture and lowers the temp as if it was only water.