What to mix with antifreeze?
 

Hey guys, what's the best thing to mix your antifreeze with? I have heard not to use tap water and also not to use distilled water???? What is the best thing to use and why? Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!

Buy the 50/50 mix and then you do not have to worry about it.

Most antifreeze nowadays comes premixed 50/50, half antifreeze and half water. If the antifreeze that you have or buy is not premixed than I recommend that you use distilled water. It has no minerals that can clog your cooling system. I don't know where your heard that distilled water was bad because it is not.

A bucket... Use distilled water. Don't use tap water, and especially don't use well water (out in the country) - too much lime/calcium. some forum members report good results with the water wetter product, which reduces the heat in the cooling system, and is compatible with anti-freeze.

That's what I thought I usually use distilled water in my other vehicles but I've been told not to use it in a Rover????? I guess they didn't know whawt they were talking about. I usually don't buy the pre-mixed stuff. I remember a while ago before they realized that they could trick people into the one step, no guessing, no mixing crap they tell people to sell them REALLY EXPENSIVE water! I don't mind mixing the stuff myself.

Get some Peak 50/50, it is really good stuff. Just flushed mine with it.

Today on CarTalk Tom & Ray talked about coolant and premix. They also mentioned a filter for coolant similar to an oil filter. I had heard about this before. I guess all Semis use them. Seem like a good idea. Next coolant flush Im filling with Peak Global Life Time(Gold container). Here in the Midwest at a harware store named Menards 1 gal is only 7.99 so its cheaper than any other Antifreeze and great quality. I think Peak Global only comes 50/50 premix. You can also top off Dex-Cool with it as detailed on the back of the container.

Peak Global Life Time (Gold container) is what I use and is consider to be very good because of it's organic acids. The only minus is finding a place that carries it, where I live the only place that carries it is Walgreens.

How do they add the filter to the system? And you say it's just like an oil filter?

I found how the filter is added. Its somthing like an in-line fuel filter but with shut off valves on each end. So you would not add air to your cooling system each time its changed. I Googled it and found this nice writeup on a Ford diesel truck.
Napa sells a full kit. Check out how dirty that filter is on this website

Coolant Filter Retrofit

Nope, they didn't. Or else someone was talking about using 100% distilled water, which of course you shouldn't do.
LOL Well said! I've never understood buying the premix.
The only time I've bought it was on the road when I needed some and didn't want to also have to find a grocery store to get distilled water. Otherwise it's $8 for 100% + 70 cents for distilled water = 2 gallons for $8.70.
Otherwise I'm like you, I don't see any reason to spend $8 a gallon for distilled water. Mixing antifreeze is one of the most trivial things you can do related to car maintenance.
Unfortunately, I've no doubt it will be harder and harder to find the 100%. What a scam!

A coolant filter may not have much rust to remove in a v-8 Rover....

Wow!!! I guess ANY system that circulates fluids through an engine could use a filter. Makes sense if you think about it. Thank you very much for taking the time to post this.

This is true, I have taken a good look at the insdie of all the engine parts where the coolant passes through (well, what you can see, anyway) and it seems to look really clean especially for a truck with 145,000 miles on it!

The 50/50 mix products are mixed with Distilled water. The risk with using something other than pure (distilled) water is naturally occuring minerals in the water will create electrolysis by moving through an aliminum engine. This elecrolysis will vary as far as how bad it gets and how long it takes, but it will eventally need to discharge. When it discharges it will gradually etch away at the discharge point, often the heater core, and create a leak. Once the Coolant System is contaminated with minerals it is difficult, if not impossible, to remove.

I don't think anyone suggested using anything other than distilled water.
You don't have to buy the premix to do that.