Ethylene Glycol is denser than water and will therefore carry more heat away from the engine. The boiling point of Ethylene Glycol is up around 275°F vs 212°F for water. The reason that 50/50 mixture is commonly recommended is because it is a good all round mix that gives better heat conduction than plain water and covers most of the low temperature conditions that we run into in the States. Most Ethylene Glycol manufactures call out a maximum 70% mixture should you be exposed to extreme cold which will give you protection down to –75°F or –80° F. Of course these numbers will vary depending on the pressure the system is under.
If you didn’t have cooling problems in the past then it is only logical to assume that you are having a problem with the stat, the cap or with a blockage somewhere in the cooling system.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
