Car heat gauge going over midline where it's never gone

[Racer X]

N-OS X-tasy! wrote:
[quote=Speedy]
Never use water except in an emergency. Antifreeze is useful required both in hot and cold climates.

FTFY. "Antifreeze" also acts as coolant and is required, not optional.
Bzzzzt! Wrong answer. Antifreeze raises the boiling point of the liquid over straight water, but so does running the system pressurized. If you run the vehicle with a pressurized sealed system, and use the appropriate water pump lubricant/anti corrosion additives, you don't need glycol.

Adding glycol to the water actually retards the flow of heat from the metal to the liquid because it has higher viscosity and poorer heat transfer. Seriously. There are actually water additives that are water pump lubricants, anti corrosion chemical mixes and something magical that lower viscosity and improves heat transfer that will actually lower engine coolant temp @10 degrees, and significantly cooler heads around the exhaust valves and ports because of the more efficient thermal transfer. My big Buick gets by just fine with a 500 HP motor, and the standard 3 row radiator because I have it filled with double dose of Redline Watter wetter. Runs close to 20 degrees cooler than with 50/50, and far less detonation because the exhaust valves run cooler. Kept in an enclosed garage that doesn't freeze. You can add Water wetter to 50/50, but its effects aren't as drastic, but will still help with a heavy truck, boat or RV under heavy loads.

Now, for practical every day use, glycol/water mix is the best compromise for the vast majority of the population.

Know your basic thermodynamics and fluidics!