# Pure Coolant **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** nissan, maxima\ **Created:** [December 2, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225 "2010-12-02T21:26:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![c0r8g11a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@c0r8g11a](https://community.cartalk.com/u/c0r8g11a)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/1 "2010-12-02T21:26:32Z")
I’ve heard people say they use pure coolant and no water in their cooling system. Doesn’t this harm the water pump? What else can it harm? ---
**Author:** ![DfromSD](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dfromsd/32/1669_2.png) [@DfromSD](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DfromSD)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/2 "2010-12-02T21:32:10Z")
Increasing the concentration of antifreeze above 60% actually hurts the engine?s freezing and overheating protection. More is not always better! ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/3 "2010-12-02T21:32:20Z")
I believe it is done in climates where extra protection is needed because of extreme temperatures. Unless that applies to you, I wouldn’t do it. I doubt would do any harm, but I suppose it might if the product is concentrated, and depends on the added water to work properly. ---
**Author:** ![jesmed1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jesmed1/32/2097_2.png) [@jesmed1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jesmed1)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/4 "2010-12-02T21:37:52Z")
“Coolant” is actually a misnomer, because “coolant” doesn’t “cool” as well as water. That’s why you add water. What you’re talking about is “antifreeze”, which is a mixture of non-freezing chemicals and anti-corrosives to protect the metals in your engine. Anyone who runs pure “antifreeze” is risking overheating their engine. If pure antifreeze worked better than a mixture of antifreeze and water, dontcha think that’s what the car makers (and antifreeze makers) would recommend? ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/5 "2010-12-02T21:42:15Z")
Some antifreeze comes pre-mixed, so you just pour it straight in instead of mixing it with water first. Some people get confused about that, and think they’re using straight coolant. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/6 "2010-12-02T21:42:27Z")
Two Different Coolant / Antifreeze Choices Are Available; Straight, Undiluted Stuff (Not Ready To Use) And The Stuff That Is 50 / 50 Diluted With Distilled Water (Ready To Use). Is this possibly causing the confusion with what you are hearing ? Straight, undiluted coolant freezes at a higher temperature than properly diluted coolant and causes an engine to run hotter. CSA ---
**Author:** ![DfromSD](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dfromsd/32/1669_2.png) [@DfromSD](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DfromSD)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/7 "2010-12-02T21:43:35Z")
Actually a 60/40 AF to H2O mix gives protection to -60 degrees. After that you gradually start losing freeze protection. I can’t think of many places even Alaska that gets much colder than that! ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/8 "2010-12-02T21:53:21Z")
Since We’re On This Topic . . . If any of you store coolant in an unheated garage or if you’re handling coolant (changing it, adding it, etcetera) in cold weather, be careful ! Several years ago I spilled a little coolant (ambient temp below 10F) on my hand and it instantly caused frostbite (frozen flesh - turned white). Also, similar deal . . . those walking dogs in the winter, be alert to the fact that salted, melting snow / slush on a below-freezing day can painfully freeze the animals paws should it walk in it. Cold liquids cool flesh much faster than cold air. How long can you survive in 40F air ? How about 40F water ? CSA ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/9 "2010-12-02T21:53:56Z")
Antarctica? ---
**Author:** ![DfromSD](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dfromsd/32/1669_2.png) [@DfromSD](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DfromSD)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/10 "2010-12-02T21:58:10Z")
I had to look it up, but pure anti freeze (ethy. glyc.) freezes at -8F. ---
**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/11 "2010-12-02T22:01:52Z")
In the really cold places, they generally keep a block heater going when the engine isn’t. In any event, pure anti-freeze will freeze sooner than a water/anti-freeze mix, if I remember the charts that I have seen correctly. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/12 "2010-12-02T22:05:13Z")
Along those lines everyone should also be aware that pets consider coolant to be a tastty treat, but it’s actually toxic. Any spills should be well cleaned up and any residue washed away. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/13 "2010-12-02T22:08:19Z")
The temperatures to which a coolant mix will protect are in a chart on the back of the bottle. Pure coolant will not protect to as low a temperature as a proper mix. But pure coolant will not harm the water pump. Unless, of course, it freezes… ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/14 "2010-12-02T22:59:53Z")
Coolant in water has a higher boiling point than water alone. Therefore it is both coolant and antifreeze. ---
**Author:** ![jesmed1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jesmed1/32/2097_2.png) [@jesmed1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jesmed1)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/15 "2010-12-02T23:05:23Z")
Yes, but my point was that pure antifreeze has a lower thermal conductivity than water and therefore is not as effective in conducting heat away from the engine as a water/antifreeze mix is. It’s not just a matter of boiling points, but also thermal conductivity. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/16 "2010-12-02T23:10:36Z")
As I recall, the recommended water/coolant mix is also better at conducting heat than either in pure form. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/17 "2010-12-03T00:21:47Z")
Not rocket science. Mix antifreeze with water at 50/50 mix ratio. Provides the best antifreeze/boiling point protection all year long. Tester ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 1:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/18 "2010-12-03T01:26:14Z")
It depends. Unless they’ve changed their policy Subaru recommended using pure anti-freeze as it was less corrosive to aluminum. On a side note, the leaking and rotted out timing covers I’ve seen on Ford small blocks had one thing in common (at least near as I could tell); aged or heavily diluted anti-freeze. I’ve run pure anti-freeze quite a few times over the years and have never had a problem because of it. Just my 2 cents anyway. ---
**Author:** ![irlandes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5e925/32.png) [@irlandes](https://community.cartalk.com/u/irlandes)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 4:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/19 "2010-12-03T04:19:42Z")
Most people still think that. But, it has been quite a few years now that anti-freeze has been reformulated, and will provide better antifreeze and boiling points at a greater percentage than 50/50. Go to a parts place, and look at the charts on their good anti-freeze containers. I retired in 1997, and it was several years before that. However, the 50/50 is adequate for most normal circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![orangevega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9fc29f/32.png) [@orangevega](https://community.cartalk.com/u/orangevega)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pure-coolant/58225/20 "2010-12-03T15:02:29Z")
Did they also tell you to use an antifreeze/water mix if it dropped below about 0F outside? Just wondering because that sounds strange since pure antifreeze doesn’t work as well as a “coolant” due to lower heat transfer abilities.