50/50 antifreeze

[NY 986]

Let's make sure we are talking apples to apples here. Some 50/50 mixes have corrosion fighting additives and some full strength antifreeze does not. Double check the labels for contents of each. I buy both at various times depending on what is needed and time relative to freezing weather. I also have distilled water via my dehumidifier.

 

[Steven Allen]

(quoted from post at 22:14:02 10/20/23) I buy straight anri-freeze....pour 1/2 into another 1 Gal anti-freeze jug and fill both with distilled water. I mark the jugs 50/50.
Seems easy enuf to me.

Around here, if a jug is sealed, it's full strength. If it is open, it is mixed. There is NO 3rd option, so no one has to wonder what is in the jug at hand.

 

[wp6529]

Undiluted "concentrate" only here. I have too little shop and storage space to waste shelf space on pre-diluted stuff.

I always keep a clear quart juice jug on hand for mixing and I mix with RO filtered well water which should be just as good as distilled and also doesn't take shelf space. I'd rather mix a few smaller batches to get the total I need than have leftover pre-mix taking up space. Also stock the green stuff for gas and the fleetcharge SCA stuff for the diesels.

And of course no pre-mix 2-cycle gas here either, just a few bottles of 2-cycle oil on the shelf to mix as needed.

 

[ss55]

For most people and professional mechanics premixed antifreeze is actually the way to go. Home mechanics can save a little money buying 100 percent antifreeze and distilled water to mix their own antifreeze.

Do you really want to pay a garage mechanic over $100 per hour to figure out how many gallons of antifreeze to add to a 21 1/2 quart cooling system, then how many gallons of distilled water it should take to get to full, then how to adjust the mixture if it didn't work out right, when it would be faster and more accurate to just fill the cooling system with the correct premixed antifreeze.

Most people do not bother to buy distilled water to mix with 100 percent antifreeze. Tap water or well water contains minerals including lime, rust and salt, so why bother replacing antifreeze?

 

[Leroy]

OK you guys I am going to ask you how do you know in you have poured out exactly a half gallon of the antifreeze into anouther jug, just eyeball it and guess you have a half gallon and not 3 quarts or 5 quarts that you are going to be mixing and then doing the same with the water? Or do you get a known measure to use to put exact same amount by volume in an empty jug? And I do not know if you could get the exact amount using a scale as I dought the the antifreeze will weigh the same as that same amount of water will. I have never found a good way to mix and come up with the 50-50 mix and not end up unknowing with a 40-60 ratio with either the anti freeze or the water being short so you are not getting the protection you want. If you do have something of known measure that you fill to same spot with both anti freeze and water then you are good but if you take an empty antifreeze jug to measure the water are you filling it to same height as the antifreeze was or not? No visiable markes to go by. All that is why it is not worth it to me to buy full strength. So some answers to my questions please. So how do you know you are getting the exact mix you are wanting? The only way I can see getting exact mix is that measuring cup.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

I buy full strength and distilled water, and make up two gallons at a time in a 2.5 gal container. But anyone I know who has a fleet, and/or employees, is better off buying pre mixed.

 

[wp6529]

Yes, I eyeball the mix however I:

1. Have a tester to check the final result and

2. I live in N. TX where the temps don't go that low so i don't have to have a perfect mix for freeze protection.

 

[J.Wondergem]

Sit the jugs down next to each other and see if both levels are the same. If it hard to see thru the jug, shine a light in it from the other side.

 

[olddavid]

(quoted from post at 16:24:37 10/20/23) The other thing is premixed 2cycle gas $30 a gallon and you see people buying it all the time

For occasional use premix is better in my humble opinion. First, they say no ethanol in the premix. Ethanol is not good in chain saws etc. I think it rots the fuel lines. I've had trouble in the past. I think buying premix is better than having a gallon that I premixed sitting around for a while and then wondering it's still good. Plus, it's not easy to find regular gas that's not ethanol.

 

[wp6529]

(quoted from post at 15:12:13 10/21/23)

(quoted from post at 16:24:37 10/20/23) The other thing is premixed 2cycle gas $30 a gallon and you see people buying it all the time

For occasional use premix is better in my humble opinion. First, they say no ethanol in the premix. Ethanol is not good in chain saws etc. I think it rots the fuel lines. I've had trouble in the past. I think buying premix is better than having a gallon that I premixed sitting around for a while and then wondering it's still good. Plus, it's not easy to find regular gas that's not ethanol.

If the saw or other tool is less than 10 years old or you've replaced the fuel lines and whatnot in that time the materials have changed and the ethanol isn't an issue.

Ethanol free gas is readily available around here however I don't bother with it and have not had any issues with my gas engines. I also routinely have a gal can of 2 cylce fuel mixed up for months at a time with no issues.

 

[Rich'sToys]

(quoted from post at 14:52:29 10/21/23)

(quoted from post at 15:12:13 10/21/23)

(quoted from post at 16:24:37 10/20/23) The other thing is premixed 2cycle gas $30 a gallon and you see people buying it all the time

For occasional use premix is better in my humble opinion. First, they say no ethanol in the premix. Ethanol is not good in chain saws etc. I think it rots the fuel lines. I've had trouble in the past. I think buying premix is better than having a gallon that I premixed sitting around for a while and then wondering it's still good. Plus, it's not easy to find regular gas that's not ethanol.

If the saw or other tool is less than 10 years old or you've replaced the fuel lines and whatnot in that time the materials have changed and the ethanol isn't an issue.

Ethanol free gas is readily available around here however I don't bother with it and have not had any issues with my gas engines. I also routinely have a gal can of 2 cylce fuel mixed up for months at a time with no issues.

So how did a thread about anti-freeze turn into a thread about chainsaw gas? You need to start your own thread.

 

[Rich'sToys]

Quote: [i:7e13fb3a29]"OK you guys I am going to ask you how do you know in you have poured out exactly a half gallon of the antifreeze into anouther jug, just eyeball it and guess you have a half gallon and not 3 quarts or 5 quarts that you are going to be mixing and then doing the same with the water? Or do you get a known measure to use to put exact same amount by volume in an empty jug? And I do not know if you could get the exact amount using a scale as I dought the the antifreeze will weigh the same as that same amount of water will. I have never found a good way to mix and come up with the 50-50 mix and not end up unknowing with a 40-60 ratio with either the anti freeze or the water being short so you are not getting the protection you want. If you do have something of known measure that you fill to same spot with both anti freeze and water then you are good but if you take an empty antifreeze jug to measure the water are you filling it to same height as the antifreeze was or not? No visiable markes to go by. All that is why it is not worth it to me to buy full strength. So some answers to my questions please. So how do you know you are getting the exact mix you are wanting? The only way I can see getting exact mix is that measuring cup."[/i:7e13fb3a29]


Quite simple, actually. You pour the whole jug of anti-freeze into a bucket. Then you fill the jug with water (or if you have another jug full of water, use that), pour the water into the bucket, stir, and --VOILA ! You have a 50/50 mix!
As far as the exact amount in the jug, many jugs have a clear stripe on one side, which lets you see the level of the liquid. Others are thin enough that you can see through them if you hold them up to the light. Make a mark on the jug and fill with water to the same level. A tablespoon or two variance is not going to make that big a difference--it's not like you're off a whole quart or anything.
If you don't need the whole two gallons, put the rest back into the jug and label it with a tag, or piece of tape, or write on it with a magic marker.


This isn't rocket science!

 

[Leroy]

And you have 2 or mote gallons setting around for a few years you do not
need. And I have not found jugs like that.

 

[jimg.allentown]

A garage mechanic does not take the time to measure out a 50/50 mix. Manufacturers have guidelines as to how much each engine should have.
Example: Ford considers that an engine should have 1 quart of 100% antifreeze per cylinder of the engine. Given that the engine I worked on was pretty much drained out before I worked on it, I put in the recommended amount and topped it off with water. And, SO WHAT if the resulting mixture was a bit more concentrated than 50%? Who cares? This is not brain surgery or rocket science. The whole reason for anti-freeze in the first place is to protect the engine from freezing coolant.

I just don't see why you guys are getting so picky about it. It just is NOT a ''precision'' requirement. Check your level of protection with a hygrometer and get on with your life.

 

[jimg.allentown]

I don't know about you, Leroy, but I have several other uses for mixed anti-freeze. With 3 dail driver cars and one antique, I can promise you the mixed anti-freeze will NOT be ''sitting around for years!''

 

[Hobo,NC]

I mix my own I buy it in 55 gal drums I do the same for motor oil I buy 55gal drums and 200gal totes. WHY I like to make money the same money your local parts store makes off of you. I would wager they double their investment on each gal. of coolant and motor oil you buy. For those that think this is confusing what happens if the mix in the engine is not up to par and you add 50/50 its still not up to par. Topping off with 50/50 guarantees nuttin.

This 50/50 mix is a racket to get your money 99.9% never question it. I am not complaining its part of good business practice. You work on a tight 2% profit margin of 2% = buy it for a dollar and sell it for $2, 2% : )

 

[jimg.allentown]

Anybody with a fleet should be buying consummable supplies like anti-freeze, oil, and any other common items in BULK. 55 gallon drums of anti-freeze, same with oil, and grease in pails or barrels. Any other way is wasted money and poor business practice.

Once again, that 50/50 is only a RECOMMENDATION!!! NOT a hard and fast rule. So what if it isn't exactly 50/50? That just isn't a reason to run around with your hair on fire.

 

[buickanddeere]

Distilled water is cheap .
Tap water here is full of minerals that plate out as white crust in the cooling system . Reducing heat transfer on surfaces and plugging passages .

 

[buickanddeere]

Until a couple of months ago . Non ethanol was available in Ontario .
Only some marinas , native reservations and airports .

https://www.pure-gas.org/

 

[Leroy]

Have only one vehical to drive and that is a 2001 Dodge Dokata. Was different when I was still on the farm.