FAQs

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The following are questions most often asked by our customers regarding the installation and use of Waterless Coolants referred to as WC throughout this document.

 

Where are Waterless Coolants available?

Waterless Coolants are solely available through Power Kleen Corporation and its distributors. For global distribution (except Taiwan and China), please contact Power Kleen directly for your nearest authorized dealer at: 813.854.2648. For PowerKool distributors in your area in Taiwan and China, contact Scantech Co. Ltd. at: +886-3-328-6630

 

Which automotive coolants are water-based?

There are only a few manufacturers of waterless engine coolant. All other commercially available automotive coolants are water-based or meant to be diluted with water. All waterless coolants must truly contain no water.

 

Is PowerKool waterless product designed to be used in any cooling system and any (all) applications?

 

Waterless Coolant is used in cars and light duty trucks, boats, light aircraft, light duty diesels, LP and CNG engines. I Heavy duty  class 8 trucks, generators and off-highway equipment, motorcycles, ATV’s, snowmobiles and other off-road powersports applications.

 

Call us for further specifics regarding use of NPG propolene products.

 

Do I need to use Line Flush Pre-Treat Prep Fluid?

Line Flush is used as a waterless flush to remove remaining water-based coolant from the cooling system prior to installing WC. Prep fluid is 100% compatible with Waterless Coolants.

How do I install Waterless Coolant (WC) in my vehicle?

 

Is it important to do a thorough job in removing all the old coolant before installing WC.

Do I really need to use Prep Fluid?

It is highly recommended that you use a prep fluid for all installations to ensure removal of all remaining water-based coolant from the cooling system before installing WC. In a new or dry engine it is not necessary to use prep fluid.

 

How will I measure water content after installation of Waterless Coolant?

There are two methods to methods to determine water content after installation of WC:

1. Using a refractometer – A refractometer is a device used to measure the final water content after conversion to WC and uses a Brix scale. The refractometers are most commonly used by fleets or conversion facilities where installations are regularly performed.  Instructions for use are included in the installation instructions.

2. Use the included test strips with instructions.

 

What happens if I have water in my cooling systems after installing coolant? What is the best method to correct?

It is important to closely follow directions during the intial WC installation. A water content higher than 2 % to 3% will lower the boiling point and may reduce the corrosion and pump cavitation protection of WC. I a water test shows there is between 3% and 5% water in the coolant the corrective action is to drain half of the system volume and add back new WC. This will reduce the water content to an acceptable range. If the measured water content is greater than 5% the system must be drained and refilled with new WC.

 

Do I need to change my radiator cap when using waterless coolant?

A different radiator/pressure cap is not required with WC. A water-based coolant generally requires anywhere from a 7 to 15 psig pressure cap. Higher pressure raises the boiling point of water-based coolant. WC expands slightly as it warms creating pressure of 3-5 psig and the existing cap does not need to be changed

 

Does installation with waterless coolant require periodic maintenance?

No periodic addition if supplemental coolant additives are required, nor should any ever be added. It is recommended that inspecting the cooling system at least once a year to ensure that no contamination has occurred.

 

If I have a leak or other event where I need to top off or refill my coolant and WC is not immediately available, what can I safely add to the cooling system?

With WC the likelihood of coolant loss and the need for topping up are greatly reduced. In the event that there is significant coolant loss from the system during operation and no WC is available to fill the system and reach a repair facility, water or water-based coolant may be used. However, repairs should be made as soon as possible and the system should be drained, purged and re-filled with WC.

 

While driving with waterless coolant mixed with water or water-based coolant what effects will it have on my cooling system?

In the short term there should be no concern about the performance of mixing a small amount of conventional coolant or straight water with WC. The high boiling point and corrosion protection of WC

 

How do waterless coolants control engine metal temperatures as compared to water-based coolants under stressed conditions?

Water-based coolant boils at a temperature only slightly higher than the operating temperature of the coolant. The boiling point of water-based coolant is somewhat above the boiling point of water for the pressure of the system. Localized boiling releases water vapor that can only condense into coolant that is colder than the boiling point of water. Any vapor that doesn’t condense occupies a volume that displaces liquid coolant. Water vapor is a very poor conductor of heat. Hot engine metal insulated by water vapor becomes an engine hot spot. This can cause pre-ignition and detonation. In contrast the boiling point of WC is much higher than the bulk coolant temperature and any locally generated vapor condenses immediately into the surrounding bulk coolant. There is no persistent vapor to insulate between hot metal and the liquid coolant. Liquid coolant is in contact with all of the coolant jacket at all times, providing a path of excellent heat transfer away from the hot metal.

 

Will coolant lower the operating temperature of my engine?

The effect of WC on cooling system temperatures will depend on the engine and cooling system configuration as well as driving conditions. Vehicles running under normal operating conditions should show no change or a slight increase in temperature. In high horsepower applications the temperature effect of running WC will depend on the engine and cooling system components’.

 

Is advocating operating engines at high temperature?

Not at all. With WC operating temperatures may be modestly higher than those of water-based coolant depending on driving conditions and whether the vehicle is stock or configured as high-performance. When the engine is stressed the coolant absorbs more heat and temperatures rise. This is not a concern when using WC. The combination of the high boiling point of WC and a correctly sized cooling system means that an increase in temperature can be accommodated without cooling system failure.

 

Are there engine types or cooling system configurations where WC would not be a preferred coolant choice?

There are a few high performance radiator configurations where waterless coolant may not operate as well as a water-based coolant. Waterless works best with a single pass radiator of the proper core size. The following are minimum radiator core suggestions:

300 HP or less without AC            4 rows ½” tube, copper/brass

300HP to 400 HP with AC             2 rows 1” tube, aluminum

400 HP to 600 HP                            2 rows 1 ¼” tube, aluminum

600 HP plus                                       3 rows 1” tube, aluminum or 2 rows 1.5” tube, aluminum

 

How does waterless coolant prevent afterboil?

Afterboil definition: coolant boiling after the engine has shut down because of the inability of the engine to rest to dissipate excess heat. Occurs in an automotive engine after engine shutdown when the heat in the system cannot be rejected to the air because the coolant is no longer being circulated to the radiator. A coolant which is near its boiling point will not be able to absorb additional heat without boiling and being forced out through the pressure cap. Conversely the huge separation between the operating temperature and the boiling point of WC enables the coolant to act as a heat sink into which heat from hot metal parts of the system can be readily dissipated. Boiling is avoided and there is no build-up of pressure to force coolant out of the system. Stresses on cooling system components are avoided because metal temperatures are kept under control.

 

How does waterless coolant prevent water pump cavitation?

Power Kool Waterless coolant  WC inhibits vapor development in the pump over a broad range of temperatures. With WC the suction side of the coolant pump is never at a low enough pressure to flash vaporize the coolant. So the pump never gets vapor-bound and has the ability to pump coolant over broad range of temperatures. No vapor bubble are formed to collapse against the metal and cause cavitation erosion damage to the pump.

 

What it the flash point of coolant?

The flash point definition: the lowest temperature at which a combustible substance produces sufficient vapor near its surface to generate an ignitable mixture with air. WC is similar to that of conventional water-based coolant. i.e. 120 degrees C

 

Over time will coolant absorb water?

WC is hygroscopic which means it has the ability to absorb moisture. As such containers of unused coolant should be kept tightly closed. In the cooling system WC should not absorb a significant amount of moisture from the atmosphere as long as a conventional pressure cap is used. Under normal circumstances the cap should not open allowing air to enter the system.

 

Will using waterless coolant void my warranty?

No!