VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 Antifreeze change interval

Mike: Congrats on your long and happy marriage. My wife and I are working on 52 years so we know what it means to have a partner that understands and even participates in the others interests.
By the way, I wonder which engine stand Kevin is referring to, the one with the block in the vertical position or the one with the motor in its normal position ?? One takes up a little more floor space than the other. Only joking Kevin !
What is the vehicle I see lurking in the background ?

Dick

Hi Dick,

The vehicle in the background is my 41. The engine on a frame is another story. I rescued it from a rural backyard. It was the cut off frame and engine from a 47 that was hotrodded. What a waste! I paid way to much for it, but couldn't see it headed for a junk yard.

Thanks, Mike

P.S. I met the little red headed girl my freshman year of college, when I threw a snowball at her. Four years later we were married. That is why they call Michigan, "Winter Wonder Land."

Mike:

Congrats as well. Your story sounds a lot like ours. Christmas of my freshman year of collge, I was helping my Dad at his store. One of his clerks fixed me up with a blind date. We got married 4 years later. We're coming up on our 45th anniversary.

Regards:
Oldengineer

Congrats to you and Carol! My sweetie knew I had this hobby before she married me 51 yrs. ago and still puts up with me.
It is great to find someone who loves you enough to put up with your hobbies!

Congratulations to all you who have wives who enjoy your old car hobby with you or at least defer to your hobby as something that she can abide.

I have been married come the first of August 2013 forever. (Since 1958. Do the math.) Well, it seems like it. I don't remember too many single, free, unannoying days.

My Carol thinks that my old cars are an eyesore, money pits, and ancient modes of transport going back to about when the wheel was invented and sleds were deemed last years product.

She won't ride in one. Last time was in the 41 convertible that is now the instant project. It broke down and we had to hitch a ride back home. She said never again. She meant it.

Spending money on the old cars irritates her. She won't speak to me for days on end when I do. She has never okayed a purchase for things I need to restore or maintain any of them. She even complains about me renewing the tags (licensee plates) on them.

So you get the picture. You who have an understanding wife are really lucky. Enjoy the ride.

I have to go now. I think I hear here stirring in her lair. She may come out a want to take a look at what I typing. There would be blood.

Charlie

I certainly agree with all the love and marriage stuff (Chris and I are coming up on 50 years), but can we keep the conversation focused on antifreeze change intervals please.

Thanks

Oh, come on Ken...Don't be like that, your such an sentimental old fart...!

Ha ha, Yeah I need to change it in all 3 of my old cars and probably the Jeep and motorhome too. Sounds like a lot of $$$$, but they are all over due. Do any of those antirust additives work to rejuvenate old anti freeze?

Uncle Ed, I have never heard of any of these "additives" that "rejuvenate" old anti'freeze...But, I am looking for one might work on me and the "little lady"

Kevin, I think you are talking about wrinkle cream, it doesn't work for me. Seriously, I have seen the antirust additives in auto parts stores. I think I even used some a long time ago but how do you know if it is working? Probably just makes you feel like you did something, Kind of like wrinkle cream! LOL

Sure thing, Ken. Sorry. I got caught up in that there stuff and just had to tell it like it is around here.

As to the antifreeze, I don't change it at all. Just add some now and then when it needs it. Down here in the South antifreeze doesn't have much to do anyway. So why should it wear out? It just sits around lazy like, a-waiting for the next cold snap that may or may not come.

Maybe I need Chipper to tell me that all those anti-freeze molecules go bad at some certain point. I'd believe him and then do the changes. Maybe every three years or so as Gene does.

Charlie

The ethylene glycol and water don't deteriorate much so the freeze protection is maintained. It is the corrosion inhibitors that get used up. If you don't care about rust and corrosion, solid build up and those other things then don't change the coolant. If you are a bit concerned that the radiator might get a few pinholes (or larger) or the "red mud" might just be plugging those outside radiator passages then flushing and replacing every two or three years is cheap. Cracked heads, radiator recores, water pumps can cost many times the cost of new antifreeze. Sorta like the crankcase, you can just keep adding the oil that is lost or you can change it and preserve the internal parts much longer. The choice is yours. As the old TV ad stated "you can pay me now or pay me later".

Chipper,

Excellent reply. Every two to three years is a good standard.

I was just messing with everyone about never changing it.

Your explanation on the scientific side is greatly appreciated and good to know by all of us.

Back in the day (40-50s) of our radiator shop, we tried to sell a rust inhibitor product after every rod job. I can't remember the name of it but I remember it was milky white. I think it was a good product and that it did its job.

Thanks,
Charlie

Charlie, That is what I was asking previously, do any of these anti-rust additives work?

Charlie,
The white milky stuff is soluble oil. Coats everything inside the cooling system. Helps prevent both rusting/corrosion and also heat transfer to and from the coolant. There are some very good inhibitors sold for over the road and off road equipment. See your local 18 wheeler, farm equipment or construction equipment dealer. Most of the rest of the stuff on the market is not worth the gas to the store to get it much less the price.

Water "soluble" oil is the "slang" term for emulsifiable oil..Like Chipper said, "Don't waste your money on it"...It will leave an oily residue on everything...It can turn a "ransid" smell to boot...It's used as an additive to water, used in machine shop machinery during the machining process to keep your material/tooling cool...Don't put it in your radiator...My 2 cents...