The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Coolant/antifreeze amount

How many gallons of coolant will I need to fill the radiator in my 52 Chevy truck ?
I’m not a big fan of the 50/50 mix I had it in the truck before and it looked as if I just had tap water in it.
So I’m going to put prestone (lime green ) and should I use distilled water for the mix?
Thanks

Ethylene Glycol antifreeze needs to have some water in the mix to work properly. It is neither a good coolant nor an effective antifreeze if it's used straight. Never run more than a 70% concentration of antifreeze, which has a freeze point of around 60 below zero F. Straight antifreeze without water mixed with it starts to get a little slushy at 13 degrees ABOVE zero. The standard 50/50 mix freezes at -37 degrees, and also is a good heat transfer medium. Unless you're running your truck somewhere like Fairbanks Alaska, there's not much need to run stronger than a 50/50 mix. Installing 2 gallons of straight antifreeze and topping the system off with water will result in a 50% mix, or slightly stronger. Any water you can drink will be fine in a cooling system. Distilled or demineralized water is ridiculously unnecessary.
Jerry

Thanks Jerry I’m in California so will never see extreme cold weather I think I will get the coolant and do the mixing myself I don’t care for the Premixed stuff looked to clear as if I just had tap water.[img]http://[/img]

Rule #1: only read your own post.

Every antifreeze bottle I've seen has a graph showing the ratio for a given protection level. Just follow the manufacturer's recommendation on the jug. Don't overthink it.

I guess the question I should have asked was if anyone knew how many gallons a stock radiator for a 47/54 Chevy truck was.
I bought 3 gallons of prestone concentrate coolant so I know that I will have enough and than some when I fill and bleed out air bubbles from the cooling system .

Thanks to all for info and I do tend to overthink issues

Thanks Tcl 15 quarts = 3.75 gallons

Concerning the pre-diluted, ready-to-use stuff.

I checked my Walmart online and the Prestone concentrate is $10.87 per gallon. The stuff pre-diluted with water (50/50 assumed) is $8.68 per gallon.

So for every 2 gallons of 50/50 needed, you'd be paying $6.49 for Prestone's water if you chose the pre-diluted stuff rather than diluting the concentrate yourself.

The OP's photo shows why one should use de-mineralized water. There is so much calcium in our well water that my bones are getting stronger by the day and I have to clean the on-demand water heater annually. Distilled water for irons is cheap and should be used if you have high mineral content water. Make sure you tell your wife you used it up or buy more before she goes to iron her favorite blouse.

Some antifreeze has or has had sacrificial zinc and a silicate to scrub the insides of the cooling system. This stuff will make short work of any face seals found in several manufacturer's water pumps. Don't ask how I know. On expensive diesel engines one often finds a coolant filter that uses a spin-on element with sacrificial zinc embedded in it. I pulled one off a Cummins marine diesel planning to install it on my AD pickup but then I decided I would die before enough time passed for it to do any good so it's still in one of my parts boxes. On the other hand, it might save the trouble of a reverse flush with all the nasty chemicals that entails.

I was blown away. Just installed a 228 GMC and it took 16 plus quarts. The manual will tell ya what is required.

I would be glad maybe it wont overheat in a stalled traffic hot soak !!