> You know my TR8 is all right now but my TR3B has always ran hot no matter
> what remedy I have tried (even a re-cored radiator with more
> capacity) except for
> one thing: running straight water and no antifreeze at all. I
> wonder if the
> "Prestone Gel Effect" that you have mentioned plays a roll? In
> fact I have
> noticed that all my other regular TR's like straight water best
> for running
> cool. I still use a 50/50 mix in them except for the 3B where I
> go 25/75 so I
> will have in theory some corrosion protection but I am tempted to
> change to all
> water in the hot summer months.
I don't think the "Prestone Gel Effect" has anything to do with it ...
ethylene glycol (the major ingredient in most antifreeze) is simply not as
good a coolant as good old water. Normally, the cooling system has enough
extra capacity to work fine with glycol/water mix, but if you're right on
the edge, the difference can become quite apparent.
However, with straight water, you will almost instantly start getting
electrolytic corrosion of the inside of the thermostat housing on a TR2-6.
Unless you just can't find anything else that works (have you tried
replacing the carb jets ?), I would suggest always keeping at least 30%
antifreeze in there.
Another option is Fred's favorite, "No-Rosion", which supposedly protects
against corrosion (not freezing) in much lower concentration than is
required with anti-freeze. However, I tried to order from them many months
ago ... got an email acknowledging my order but never got any product
delivered.
Randall
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