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Jim525d 
Groupie
Joined: 14-February-2005
Status: Offline
Points: 45
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 Topic: Why 100% Antifreeze is not good
Posted: 26-December-2005 at 13:07 |
Hi All
The following has been inspired by some recent posts about cooling systems and the cold weather.
100% Antifreeze is not good because
1. Cost
2. 100% ethylene glycol has a freezing point about the same as 25% solution.
Link here
60% is the best WRT freezing point, IIRC BMW specify 50%.
Jim
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shogun
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 22-February-2005
Location: Tokyo/Japan
Status: Offline
Points: 564
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Posted: 26-December-2005 at 22:46 |
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Thanks, good info. I assume many people beleive the more the better. In this case it will not help. 50% is best accdg to BMW specification and I stick to that. And the original BMW coolant!
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540 V8
Bavarian-Board Contributor
Lick my badge
Joined: 07-December-2005
Location: Running the asylum
Status: Offline
Points: 2280
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Posted: 06-January-2006 at 10:25 |
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Also, too much coolant can also cause hotter running temperatures because it had the opposite effect if you have too much. 50/50 is the one!
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Current:E34 540i Touring 6 speed manual(Mpower bodykit & suspension)& Chrysler Voyager 3.3 V6 auto
Previous:E34 530iSE AC Schnitzer suspension.
E28 525e auto-Standard
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sleeper
Really Senior Member II
Original and STILL best
Joined: 26-March-2004
Location: East Sussex/Kent border
Status: Offline
Points: 2098
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Posted: 06-January-2006 at 10:27 |
KEY POINT!!!
more than 60% antifreeze can damage alloy components!!
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Andrew Rolland
Moderator Group
Go away rain
Joined: 19-August-2004
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 6579
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Posted: 06-January-2006 at 10:46 |
Also by it's very nature antifreeze seeks out leaks so by running a higher concentration of antifreeze you are more likely to have a leak. I topped up my system with pure antifreeze so I tipped the ratio to over 50% and I have started having leaks.
Hopefully I will install a new water pump, thermostat and thermostat housing tomorrow, complete with a coolant drain flush and change with 50-50 mix.
Andrew
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Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series!
Current
'13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto
Previous
'04 04 E60 545i SE Auto
'03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen)
'98 S E39 523i SE Auto
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gtmoore
Advanced Newbie
Joined: 08-June-2005
Location: Croydon, Surrey
Status: Offline
Points: 34
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Posted: 06-January-2006 at 11:03 |
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Rather you than me....bit too chilly for outside jobs at the moment!
And if your radiator is like mine it's only a quarter turn on the drain plug. Don't do what I did and have your head right underneath it when you finally figure out how the plug comes out!!
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Gavin
Current:
E39 525iSE Auto 2001
Previous:
E34 530iV8 Auto 1994
E34 520iSE Auto 1994
E34 520iSE Manual 1990
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Andrew Rolland
Moderator Group
Go away rain
Joined: 19-August-2004
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 6579
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Posted: 06-January-2006 at 11:18 |
 gtmoore wrote:
Rather you than me....bit too chilly for outside jobs at the moment!
And if your radiator is like mine it's only a quarter turn on the drain plug. Don't do what I did and have your head right underneath it when you finally figure out how the plug comes out!! |
Thanks for the tip! I'll remember than when I'm lying flat on my back on freezing cold concrete staring up at the drain plug!
Needs doing though as I have a leak I need to sort out with a new stat housing.
Andrew
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Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series!
Current
'13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto
Previous
'04 04 E60 545i SE Auto
'03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen)
'98 S E39 523i SE Auto
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sleeper
Really Senior Member II
Original and STILL best
Joined: 26-March-2004
Location: East Sussex/Kent border
Status: Offline
Points: 2098
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Posted: 06-January-2006 at 11:19 |
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watch the drain on the block - damn thing stays hot for hours! burnt my arm to the shoulder on that bl00dy thing!
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bmwcrazy
Really Senior Member II
1995 M5,1995 318ISE,1997 325
Joined: 24-October-2005
Location: (glasgow the wee apple) big dazz
Status: Offline
Points: 661
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Posted: 06-January-2006 at 12:58 |
good advice yet a again 50 /50 what the best anti freeze to use
or does it not matter ???????? 
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e34-520iSE
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 22-December-2003
Location: Gateshead, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 453
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Posted: 06-January-2006 at 14:14 |
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Isn't there a gadget you can buy that checks your antifreeze mixture? Might be handy when "topping up"
Cheers,
Shaun
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Self confessed madman
1990 Brilliantrot 2 ltr M20.
Air force definition of explosives: A loud noise followed by the sudden going away of what was once there a second ago.
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stephenperry
Bavarian-Board Contributor
Joined: 20-April-2004
Location: Elgin
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Points: 7213
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Posted: 06-January-2006 at 14:17 |
my dad has one of those antifreeze tester things afaik, its a big glass tube with a squeezable balloon on the end of a rubber pipe - you dip the pipe into the antifreeze, unsqueeze the baloon and it sucks up the liquid into the tube, then you read off the guage to work out the strength
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2007 Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCI Titanium X Auto
1983 Ford Sierra XR4i
2000 Alpina B10 3.3 #118
1999 BMW 323Ci
1995 BMW 318i SE
1994 Vauxhall Omega 2.0 GLS
1995 Ford Mondeo 1.8 LX
1990 Honda Concerto 1.6 EX
1986 Ford Orion 1.6 GL
1989 Ford Fiesta 1.1 Firefly
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ps003
Groupie
Joined: 24-May-2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 61
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Posted: 06-January-2006 at 14:38 |
The "tester thing" in question called a hydrometer, only cost a few quid from any decent motor factors and they seem to work quite well, I checked mine against some pre-mixed 50/50 and it read spot on. As for what antifreeze to use, I'd stick with the BMW recommended stuff, apparently it's got the correct corrosion inhibitors in it as well.
Paul
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Current - 2001 E39 530i Sport Auto
Previous - 1995 E34 525i SE Manual
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bmwcrazy
Really Senior Member II
1995 M5,1995 318ISE,1997 325
Joined: 24-October-2005
Location: (glasgow the wee apple) big dazz
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Points: 661
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Posted: 06-January-2006 at 14:46 |
nice one paul cheers 
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dutch
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 17-December-2005
Location: lakeside Essex
Status: Offline
Points: 438
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Posted: 06-January-2006 at 17:49 |
Antifreeze protects the cooling system against both freezing and boiling over. When used at normal strength (50% antifreeze, 50% water), Never use straight antifreeze in a cooling system. Always mix it with at least 50% water. Most antifreeze is 95% ethylene glycol (EG). Ethylene glycol never wears out but the corrosion inhibitors do. That's why antifreeze should be changed every two years For the environmentally concerned, propylene glycol (PG) antifreeze is also available at slightly higher cost. PG antifreeze is less toxic than ethylene glycol.but the tester you mention will not do both acuratly.
hope this helps.
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e39,1200 bandit
cooper S, Z3 topazbleu
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sleeper
Really Senior Member II
Original and STILL best
Joined: 26-March-2004
Location: East Sussex/Kent border
Status: Offline
Points: 2098
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Posted: 08-January-2006 at 14:21 |
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Antifreeze - I use the same stuff they put in tractors (I get it from an agricultural supplier- they do bulk) made by Redline, who are well know for cooling products.
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rubberknees50
Really Senior Member II
Does it have chrome bumpers?
Joined: 26-July-2004
Location: Telford, Shropshire
Status: Offline
Points: 1074
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Posted: 08-January-2006 at 15:45 |
Hmmm, I know my 528 ok as it had duff rad on arrival and I had to drain and refill, but will have to check the 735.... I have a tester like a small plastic hypodermic with several different coloured small balls inside.
Idea being sucks some mix up in it and the more balls float the more antifreeze in mix. Not sure if it shows correct mix, but I wouldn't put more than recommended amount in!
Good topic this time of year!
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IanT
E28 528, E23 735
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Why 100% Antifreeze is not good
