F22 add?

[erhayes]

2014 CX5 T. I checked the coolant with a Prestone gauge (floating needle type) and found the coolant a -22 F degree level. In addition; the coolant level is ~ 1 inch below the lower recommended level. Is there an OTC coolant I can add to not unset the chemistry? Thanks Ed

 

[Buddywh2]

2014 CX5 T. I checked the coolant with a Prestone gauge (floating needle type) and found the coolant a -22 F degree level. In addition; the coolant level is ~ 1 inch below the lower recommended level. Is there an OTC coolant I can add to not unset the chemistry? Thanks Ed

Any long-life anti-freeze that's for Japanese cars (silicate, nitrate and phosphate free). Just make sure it's a 50/50 mix with distilled water... most stores sell it pre-mixed and full strength. Know which you got.

 

[paris1]

Just add distilled water. I don't think there's much chance of freezing where you are!

 

[yrwei52]

In addition; the coolant level is ~ 1 inch below the lower recommended level. Is there an OTC coolant I can add to not unset the chemistry?

I'd get Mazda OEM coolant for the peace of mind. Or like paris1 said, adding some distilled water if you don't want to get a gallon of the OEM coolant.

 

[dergibog]

I'd go with distilled h20 to top off. F22 is expensive. Also wouldn't mix with non F22 coolant.

 

[Buddywh2]

Just add distilled water. I don't think there's much chance of freezing where you are!

There IS, however, a very good chance of boil-over and corrosion; the other two benefits of modern anti-freeze additives.

 

[paris1]

There IS, however, a very good chance of boil-over and corrosion; the other two benefits of modern anti-freeze additives.

Not when you're adding the small amount we're talking about here.

 

[MikeM.]

Not when you're adding the small amount we're talking about here.

True. As a matter of fact, water is better at transferring heat than pure, undiluted coolant. As long as the ratio is in the 50/50 ballpark, you're fine. I run 60% water/40% coolant in my water cooled Ducati motorcycles ever since I noticed they handled 100F plus desert temperatures better than the standard 50/50 mix. Specifically, the coolant temperatures stayed lower and I didn't lose as much power due to the heat.

 

[erhayes]

My reading of minus 22 F = a concentration of 45%.

 

[Srad600]

+1 for adding distilled water. Simplest solution by far, and for a +/1" add, you won't have any issues.

 

[Buddywh2]

Not when you're adding the small amount we're talking about here.

Except it establishes a pattern of maintenance that represents 'bad habit' to me. If it's an eMERgency plain water is OK, but as practice I try to always maintain a proper ratio. If 60/40 is your chosen ratio then keep your pre-mix handy but randomly dumping in pure water is dangerous because you'll never know when the corrosion protection is lost.

I personally used a 70/30 ratio when I lived in El Paso... but I'd never go lower than that for boil-over protection and the most important with modern aluminum blocks and radiators: corrosion protection. But never, ever use 100% water, no matter how nice the heat transfer properties are. First is the inevitable corrosion that will destroy your engine and radiator. But also: it's not 'wet' enough. Pure water's surface tension is too great so it won't flow properly in and around the radiator galleries so that marvelous heat transfer property is wasted. Also, some cars' water pump will cavitate and that erodes the impellers. People used Red Line Water Wetter to fix that problem when I was a desert rat.

Lastly: truck stops carry additive packages for you to pick up, unless you don't mind it eating up your engine and radiator in a couple years. Your choice.

 

[paris1]

Except it establishes a pattern of maintenance that represents 'bad habit'. If it's an eMERgency plain water is OK, but as practice always maintaining a proper ratio is essential for reasons other than freeze protection.

OK-fine.