Re: Golf III VR6 Antifreeze, what type? (Quick6) (Gomer)
quote:[HR][/HR]Since I just bought my 97 GLX used, do I need to know what kind of antifreeze is in it? It's red, but G11, G12??? All new to me? Since I live in LA, I'll probably just add water for now, but whats the deal?[HR][/HR]
97, it's a OBDII... it uses G12.
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Gomer... 100% Antifreeze is not better. Here is why.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol. That is the main ingredient that gives the antifreeze it's cooling and heating properties. The other ingredients in Antifreeze are mostly anti-corrosive agents if I remember.
Basically, when you add water to the ethylene glycol, you increase the cooling and heating properties of the anti-freeze a great deal. Now the antifreeze can reach it's boiling point much sooner, especially in the pressurised cooling system in your car. You would think adding water would thin it out and make it worse right? But that's not the case. You want the water in their so the fluid can reach boiling point quicker and get warm in the winter. You also need the water in their for the cooling part too. Once the fluid enters into the radiator to be cycled through the water pump again... it needs to cool off quickly. The added water helps the ethylene glycol to do just that. More parts of Ethylene Gylcol to water will generally help your warming properties. Here in new england, it's usually cooler or cold more often than hot. I usually use a 60/40. You would probably want to use a 50/50 if you were in southern Cali or in warm climate nearly year round to help the cooling properties of the antifreeze.
I hope this helps and doesn't make it more confusing. You can learn a lot by just reading the ingredients of the fluids you put in your car and doing research on the chemicals. I figure it like this, I wouldn't eat something without knowing what was in it and what it will do to me. I do the same for my car
[Modified by Volkscience, 10:23 PM 8-7-2002]