I'm running low on coolant----I know you need a 50/50 mix but how much do you put in of each? I'm never sure of how much to put in----like how many quarts. I have a 96 saturn
2007-09-26 10:11:21 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
First, do yourself a favor and buy an antifreeze tester. These are around 2 to 5 bucks. You have a squeeze bulb in which you draw the cold coolant into it and a gauge or so many balls float telling you how strong or weak your coolant is.
If it's really weak, you may need more than a 50/50 mix. Maybe 70/30.
Also, look in your owner's manual for the capacity of your radiator. But, you keep putting in coolant until it's full. That means it may be a quart or a gallon.
When you think it's full and the thermostat opens up allowing it to travel inside the engine, you may suddenly need to add more.
You can buy a 50/50 mix which you can add directly to the radiator without mixing but you're paying for water. Keep an old container and make your 50/50 mix from that. But, again, it depends on what's in there to start with and that's why it's important to buy a tester before you do anything else.
2007-09-26 10:39:54 · answer #1 · answered by rann_georgia 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
50 50 Coolant
2016-12-12 11:25:04 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Antifreeze ethylene glycol should be mixed with at least 25 percent water. If you use straight antifreeze your engine will run hot because it has a higher boiling point than water. Also the lowest freezing point is when it is mixed with some water. Mix it 50/50 or no more than 75/25. Fill the radiator all the way up and look on your overflow tank to fill level. Caution when you buy the coolant. The stores are selling a 50/50 and a 100% mix. If you buy the cheep 50/50 mix just use it. If you buy the 100% mix put half water in it first.
2007-09-26 10:34:28 · answer #3 · answered by Carl 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Georgia is right.
Whatever you do, do NOT run straight anti-freeze. There is a reason why automakers specify a 50/50 mix. With a 50/50 mix your coolant can much more efficiently dissipate heat and can also sustain lower temperatures than a straight anti-freeze mix. Likewise for a weak mixture. The only situation in which I wouldn't mix anti-freeze to water 50/50 is if the manufacturer specified otherwise. Do what Georgia said and get a tester, they're extremely useful and very easy to use.
2007-09-26 13:45:56 · answer #4 · answered by The Face 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
50 50 Antifreeze
2016-10-02 22:10:57 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I alway keep the empty container, then I buy a full container of coolant, fill the old container half full of water and then pour half of the new container into it, then fill the new container back up with water, presto, 2 pre mixed containers of coolant. then just pour it in till your radiator is full and your good to go.
2007-09-26 10:20:43 · answer #6 · answered by randy 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's bull. You don't need a 50/50 mix. I was running straight ethylene glycol in my cars from day one. It does not ruin the seals. Whatever you do, don't by the pre-mixed stuff. You're paying alot of money for half a gallon of water!! If you insist on mixing it, it doesn't have to be exact. Find out the coolant capacity of your car and divide it by two to get your 50/50 quantities.
2007-09-26 10:19:28 · answer #7 · answered by blueshiva7 2 · 1⤊ 6⤋
buy a gallon of the stuff that is already mixed for you, and add until full. Get the "yellow" stuff because it can be mixed with either conventional antifreeze (green) or Dex-Cool.
2007-09-26 10:14:45 · answer #8 · answered by James B 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋