Coolant additives tech article for discussion.

[Cp1]

CONCERNING ANTIFREEZE ADDITIVES: ROYAL PURPLE; PURPLE ICE vs RED LINE; WATER WETTER

ok guys ive been using red lines water wetter religiously for the last 5 years in my cars running a 30/70 glycol/de-ionized water mix and its worked very well. i only use Ford motorcraft coolant seeing as thats what mazda uses but does not sell here.

I go today to buy more water wetter and two stores no longer carry including napa. I was reccomended to try its closest albeit much more expensive competitor: Royal Purple; Purple ICE, i was asssured repeatedly it was basically the same stuff just different brand. ok i pick some up, but i also in the mean time find some more Red-line water wetter.

My chemist friend helps me devise some simple tests to compare (yes im that anal) and things dont look so good for the royal purple immediately when i cant find a tech sheet anywhere on their website, or anywhere else.

They both advertise the same benefits but i find a website*1* listing its composition as comprised of a GM Dex-cool and Ethylene Glycol mixture. really not looking good, especially considering its price.

Heres the break down of our tests:

Surface Tension:
Done by measuring the "dome" formed upon overfilling identical containers with the desired mix. our controls were 50/50 Water/glycol, and straight water.

the water wetter/straight water measured slightly lower than the water control thus proving its effects on the tension, while it did not seem to have any effect when mixed with water coolant.

The royal purple mixes in both mixes when compared with its controls had ZERO effect and were the same.

GOOD OLD FASHIONED SHAKE TEST for antifoam properties:
two identical containers each mixed with water/coolant/additive, water/additive and just straight additive.

The results were actually surprising, the water wetter in all mixtures formed bubbles but they quickly dissipated within a minute or so, the bubbles lasted the longest in the water/coolant/additive by a mere 25 seconds.

The royal purple did not fare near as well. the bubbles formed from the water/coolant/additive mix took nearly 40 or so minutes to dissipate while the bubbles formed from the straight additive as i sit here writing this after 3 hours since doing the test are as though i just shook the container... it is still just near straight foam.

Then the simple though probably far from a real scientific test as i could perform which was the heat transfer test.

I took a pot of water (750ml) on the stove and brought the temp up to 90C and quickly poured it into room temp cast aluminum pan and timed how long it took to cool the water down to 30C. since i didnt want to be boiling coolant in the house i only did water/additive mixes.

I cant say by this point i was surprised by anything, i brought the 750ml mixes up to the same 90 degrees and the water wetter/water mix cooled 3.5 minutes faster than the purple ice/water mix and for those with a keen eye yes i made sure to return the pan to its room temp before repeating. this was as good of a test for heat dissipation as i could perform at home with what i had, a good thermometer and clean utensils.

All in all i dont think mainly because of the foaminess of the purple ice i will ever use it, seems silly to put something that promotes bubbling into your coolant.

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*1*Oh and heres a tech sheet for the Redline water wetter:
http://www.redlineoil.com/content/fi...ech%20Info.pdf

Nothing available for the Royal Purple; purple Ice except for this supposedly stating the composition:
http://www.globalspec.com/datasheets...4-1E50EEC84DBC

Price i paid (though ive seen on the net for cheaper)

RP:PI = $19.99 for 16oz = $1.24 per ounce Bought at napa
RL:WW = $11.99 for 12oz = $1.00 per ounce bought at partsource