School me on waterless coolant in E30

[Aleman]

I've heard of Evans waterless coolant on a few TV shows, and I want to see if anyone here has put the stuff in an E30. If so, which product did you buy? The Evans website mentions 'Conversion Centers', but I can't find any info on what exactly needs to be converted before using the waterless coolant.

I like the idea that it is a lifetime fluid and that is doesn't corrode metal. I replaced my water pump, thermostat and radiator a year ago. Last week, I was checking my thermostat, and I already see traces of rust in the coolant. I know BMW is very specific when it recommends using ONLY BMW brand coolant, so I'm not so sure about using the Evans coolant.

If you are curious yourself, check out what Jay Leno says about it:

http://youtu.be/t7PykrgzWPQ

[Schnitzer318is]

Look up "wheeler dealers" on youtube. Ed put that stuff in one of the cars they did and he explains exactly what is necessary to run it. It wasn't anything super complicated if I remember correctly... just involves A LOT of flushing of the system. I wish I could give you a specific episode to check out, but unfortunately I can't remember.

[chadthestampede]

Looking on their website, it looks like the 'conversion' just involves completely draining the system of current coolant, blowing it out, then adding the waterless coolant and testing the water content.

[Cynical 1]

sounds about as worthwhile as nitrogen in a street car's tires...

[Aleman]

Looking on their website, it looks like the 'conversion' just involves completely draining the system of current coolant, blowing it out, then adding the waterless coolant and testing the water content.

That's what I thought. Evans actually sells a conversion fluid that you can run thru the system before putting the coolant in. It is supposed to evacuate the system of any remaining water.

Wheeler Dealers used the waterless coolant in the Triumph TR6 project car. I found the clip that got me curious about this coolant...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQk_X33B2iQ

[JinormusJ]

Why would you need a lifetime fluid if your just gonna dump it in 4 years when you do the timing belt?

[Aleman]

Why would you need a lifetime fluid if your just gonna dump it in 4 years when you do the timing belt?

You can filter it & reuse.

[mbonanni]

Then a coolant hose randomly blows and there goes your reusable coolant.

[z31maniac]

You can filter it & reuse.

Why?

I just can't imagine it being worth the hassle when normal anti-freeze is what $6-7 bucks a jug?

Even fancy BMW stuff from the dealer is $20.

[JinormusJ]

Yeah..
Sorry to be the thread crapper, but I really don't see any benefit to this... Just buy BMW Blue for $20 and use Distilled water and be done with it


The only reason you'd get rust in your cooling system is if you ran straight water in it at one point. If your getting rust, that means your block is rusted inside and you're F'ed no matter what you put in there; ask me how I know

[Aleman]

Then a coolant hose randomly blows and there goes your reusable coolant.

I can't imagine the hose would randomly burst if there was no pressure in the system.

Why?

I just can't imagine it being worth the hassle when normal anti-freeze is what $6-7 bucks a jug?

Even fancy BMW stuff from the dealer is $20.

Did you guys watch any of the info videos? It's better for the environment and it doesn't corrode parts. You know all that white cake stuff you have to scrape off the hose connection points? Never again. I also like that it doesn't boil and doesn't require pressure to cool.

Anyway - has anyone here tried it? That was the original question...

[jeffnhiscars]

I know they say 3/4 of the earth is covered with water and that our bodies are 98% water but I think that's all just snake oil perpetrated by the bottled water companies so we will drink the stuff and put it in our radiators.

Finally someone has busted that myth

[dnguyen1963]

I was going to try, but the hassle of flushing the system free of all water does not warrant the effort.

[dnguyen1963]

And, if you keep your coolant system clean then there is no worry about corrosion or build-up.

[logantv]

The Wheeler Dealers episode was the 2012 season Triumph TR6; that's what got me searching for this. Edd flushed the system but he also ran the engine up to temperature with a water wicking "primer" that he then drained out.

I was also hoping to see where someone had actually used it but +1 to the low risk of a burst hose since there's no water to expand and create pressure. Edd took the radiator cap off a hot engine while it was running and there was zero pressure.

Last time I did my timing belt I went the opposite direction and used Red Line Water Wetter with zero issues in summer and winter (St. Louis). Hopefully this'll bump the thread and catch someone who's actually used it.