P38 coolant advice

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Buttas

Buttas

New Member
Posts
51
Location
ballymoney, N.Ireland
A local land rover specialist told me the other day that at this time of year in UK, it's perfectly ok to top up the coolant with water. I just wanted to know if you guys agree, and if so, at what point does "topping up" become replacing completely, or would it be ok purely using water?:confused:
 
Coolant does other things beside "cool" - It lubricates things like the water pump. It inhibits the growth of bacteria, it reduces corrosion, it acts as a "Water wetter" - ie aids heat flow between the engine and the coolant. In all it is quite a complicated medium. best not to let it go below 50% mix. particularly on an injun prone to overheating.
 
The Mad Hat Man said:
Coolant does other things beside "cool" - It lubricates things like the water pump. It inhibits the growth of bacteria, it reduces corrosion, it acts as a "Water wetter" - ie aids heat flow between the engine and the coolant. In all it is quite a complicated medium. best not to let it go below 50% mix. particularly on an injun prone to overheating.
Click to expand...

Sorry mate but it certainly does not lubricate the water pump. Water pump bearings are sealed units. If any water gets into them even with super lubricating coolant in it they are destroyed PDQ.
 
Last edited:
The coolant mix also raises the boiling point, as well as lowering the freezing point...like lanmjdun says, if the water in the block freezes it expands and can do lots of damage.
 
It is ok to top up your anti freeze with neat water as long as you're not doing it every couple of days or even monthly. If you are topping up frequently then you must have a leak. You should change your a/freeze (corrosion inhibitor) every two years and run at 50/50 a/freeze/water and just topping up with water between fills would be ok as long as you do not have a leak. If your cooling system is working properly it will very rarely need topping up.
 
The Mad Hat Man said:
as I said ......... :p
Click to expand...

Ok how many things like the water pump does it lubricate? Because it certainly does not lubricate that other than the seal. There is nothing else in a cooling system to lubricate that i am aware of. The addatives certainly inhibit some contaminants in water to prevent deposit build up and corrosion. Glycol has a lower freezing point and higher boiling point than water. But that's about it really.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

MikeFl4
P38A Possible coolant in oil
Replies
9
Views
933
Datatek
Datatek
B
Freelander 2 (LR2) Freelander 2 coolant issues
Replies
6
Views
575
GrumpyGel
GrumpyGel
T
TD5 crank no start after overheating
Replies
1
Views
460
tom1979
tom1979
G
TD5 Mysterious Coolant Leak?
Replies
3
Views
824
Shedload
S
W
Dexron 11D1998
Replies
6
Views
908
Wayzgoose
W
Back
Top