Coolant level

[Gros Ventre]

I don't know what type of glycol you use...mine at 50% mix tested to -45 about a week ago. If it gets that cold here.-70...hell I stay indoors.

Well go look up the chemistry... At -45ºF you're at about 54%.

Sponsored

 

[Escape Hatch]

Noticed it was a bit low on the 22 Aviator and mentioned to the dealer while a recall was being performed. Turned out there was a coolant link at a turbo fitting. They replaced the fitting and all is well. Might want to double check for leaks.

 

[Kanuck]

Well go look up the chemistry... At -45ºF you're at about 54%.

I just eye-ball it when blending so I could be off.... but close enough of a mix for me. In the 50 + years of owning vehicles, I have always run 50/50 mix with no problems and the same with company trucks I have had issued to me.

 

[Gros Ventre]

I just eye-ball it when blending so I could be off.... but close enough of a mix for me. In the 50 + years of owning vehicles, I have always run 50/50 mix with no problems and the same with company trucks I have had issued to me.

You've been lucky...

 

[Kanuck]

You've been lucky...

I don't think it is luck..... just do something that has been proven for many years.

How I understand the reasoning for a 50/50 mix is the glycol stops the water from freezing and the water is used for heat transfer. Also, too much glycol in a system will gum up the rad and smaller passage ways.

 

[Gros Ventre]

I don't think it is luck..... just do something that has been proven for many years.

How I understand the reasoning for a 50/50 mix is the glycol stops the water from freezing and the water is used for heat transfer. Also, too much glycol in a system will gum up the rad and smaller passage ways.

That's not how the chemistry works. The electrolyte solution has both a freezing point depression and a boiling point increase. The lowest point of depression along with the highest boiling point is at about 70% solution of ethylene glycol in water. However this is a sliding scale from 0% glycol to 100% glycol. Pure glycol will also freeze around 32ºF the issue is the ratio of glycol to water. At the end of the day with you seeing temperatures of -40ºF, and a ~50% solution you were a few degrees away from freezing. You've gotten it away with it, but eventually you'll have an overnight temperature of -50ºF and your block will freeze. I have long run a 2/3s solution with no problems either in summer heat or winter cold. The automakers recommend 50% because it is easier for them to manage and you can buy pre-mix at 50%. One way to get a higher concentration of glycol is to add pure glycol to a gallon of pre-mix to get the correct ratios. I do that typically in order to not use tap water when I mix up coolant. (IE You have 1/2 gallon of glycol and 1/2 gallon of pure water in a gallon of pre-mix; if you then add a 1/2 gallon of pure glycol to a gallon of premix you get a 2/3s ratio of glycol to water and the minimum freezing point of about -70ºF.)

 

[tbeneteau]

I’ve got a 2022 with the 3.5. Doesn’t get drove much only 2 oil changes a year as I never hit the 5K miles and change it anyways. I popped the hood today and notice the coolant level was at the min line. I never really paid attention but does that seem reasonabl on a two year old truck. I’ve heard of coolant leaks so that why I’m asking with a year left with warranty. Thanks for any informatio.

'21 Powerboost here, bought it used with 26k miles. Noticed the same discoloration on the Hi-Temp side and slightly low levels on both (almost to min). I topped them both off with Motorcraft Yellow then drove from Michigan to south Florida and back. No change in level. I am writing off the color change to the extreme heat that side experiences. I am at 40k miles now and haven't had to top it off since.

 

[Mosey]

I have also lost a little bit of coolant recently, maybe a cup. I decided to add die to the coolant. I have not detected a leak so far.

 

[MTMan]

My 22 is around Min after sitting overnight and goes up some when warmed up. Normal operation.

Sponsored