Antifreeze Water Wetter

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 11:28 am

Anyone recommend running any kind of extra cooling additive in the srt?

Going to change the fluid next spring.

Hudson_Neon · Post by **Hudson_Neon** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 11:58 am

why would you want a cooling additive? it's winter!

personally the only additive i've ever used is the addition of cardboard in front of like half of the radiator to help it warm up and stay warm. idk about PA, but in WI we see -20 on the regular.

if you're gonna be letting it just sit over the winter, just leave it. unless you're worried about it freezing and expanding and cracking something... then just drain it now

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 12:34 pm

No lol. I'm changing the fluid in the spring. I'm asking now, because I'm making a list of things I will need and get a rough estimate cost wise for the maintenance I want to do to it. I want to know if I should add any additives when I change it in the spring.

Hudson_Neon · Post by **Hudson_Neon** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 1:08 pm

oh, i've never used anything. as an ASE certified mechanic... my personal opinion is that those "additives" are kinda pointless

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 1:18 pm

I agree. Forget about additive nonsense... Just toss some Stabil in the gas tank if it's not gonna get run all winter.

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 2:02 pm

Already got a thing of Stabil waiting. And okay. I've never used any before, but some people swear by it so I wanted to get some opinions.

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 2:43 pm

heydockyle wrote:Already got a thing of Stabil waiting. And okay. I've never used any before, but some people swear by it so I wanted to get some opinions.

A lot of people also swear by the fact that an SRT-4 IS a neon too... Doesn't make them right, BRAH!

I have a better idea, let's get that GLHS back on the road lol

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 2:48 pm

I have used Royal Purple and most recently, Redline Water Wetter in the V8. Works according to the temperature gauge.

Fuzzyneon · Post by **Fuzzyneon** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 5:14 pm

I used it (got it free from a friend) it helped i guess but its not like perfect probably not worth the money unless your already running hot but i doubt it will hurt.

tons of guys use it near me and swear by it

thttxboy · Post by **thttxboy** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 5:48 pm

if ur worried about running cooler that just throw in a 180 thermostat when ur decide to change the fluid. that definitely helped me out alot but I do alot of spirited driving.

Post by **racer12306** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 5:53 pm

Unless you are really taxing the cooling system it shouldn't provide much if any benefit.

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 7:16 pm

All my driving is spirited, but I read alot of mixed reviews about 180tstat on srt forums.

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 8:12 pm

Water Wetter will help the turbo more than anything. It works best with 100% water, but it does make a difference with antifreeze too. It basically helps break the surface tension, so the coolant bonds to the surfaces better, improving heat transfer.

For the $8 it is well worth it for the turbo's sake. Not like it is a $40 to $200 UDP that you may or may not see a difference.

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 10:25 pm

heydockyle wrote:All my driving is spirited

That's what you call that?? lol

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 2:09 pm

I would be more concerned about the type of water used with the coolant than an additive.

Use distilled water.

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 10:05 pm

+1

Well/city water can have some fairly high amounts of iron and calcium, that may reduce the life of the additives in the antifreeze. I doubt it would build up in the engine to cause harm, like my parents water heater, but the life of the coolant will be reduced. which can cause other problems, like heater cores leaking/corrosion.

As for the thermal transfer additives, they do work, because the heater puts out heat much better than before. The temps are still going to be what the t'stat dictates. But if you have a 190º t'stat, and are running at 210º constantly, then it might help there.