Liquid Intelligence 600 Super Soluble oil radiator coolant

Owners of older cars will be familiar with the bugbear of their vehicles overheating in the warmer months, making club runs and weekend cruises in summer a finger-crossing exercise sometimes!

But was this the case when these classic and vintage cars were new? Well, yes. The cooling systems in liquid-cooled engines back then were functional, but far from perfect, so summer boilovers were common. Also, few cooling system components, especially on non-Australian cars, were made with our extreme summer temperatures in mind.

As engines have become more powerful and efficient, modern radiators and cooling systems have advanced accordingly. Those modern efficiencies include the sort of inhibitor-style radiator coolants that came into broad use in the 1970s. More recently, the greater use of alloys and plastics in engine and cooling system construction has gone hand-in-hand with the development of even more modern coolants using complex chemical formulas; to the point where using straight water for ‘coolant’ is unheard of – and certainly not recommended - these days.

That’s all well and good for modern cars, but what about keeping classic and vintage machines cool? Well, there is a form of “old-tech” cooling available for your classic in the form of oil.

Granted, the idea of putting oil in your car’s cooling system seems counterintuitive. Water in the oil and vice versa – the dreaded ‘mayonnaise’ - used to be a sign of blown gaskets, warped heads, cracked blocks and impending engine doom!

However, what we’re talking about here is an oil and water emulsion known as soluble oil, which was a common solution for engine cooling in the past and can be an effective cooling solution for these cars today.

The benefits of soluble oil coolant in iron-block engines back then included the oil’s lubricating qualities for water pumps, its (generally) higher boiling point than water and the fact that the oil content coated metal parts to prevent corrosion. These soluble oils were by no means perfect, but they were certainly better than straight water for both cooling the engine and prolonging its life.

Now, this old solution has been given a new spin in the form of ‘600 Super Soluble Oil Radiator Coolant’ from Liquid Intelligence.

Formulated specifically for classic, vintage and veteran vehicles – including trucks, tractors and water-cooled stationary engines – and suitable for both pressurised and non-pressurised cooling systems, 600 Super Soluble uses organic inhibitor (no glycol) for effective anti-boil protection. While less relevant for Australia, the product has impressive anti-freeze properties, too.

With 600 Super Soluble once again available after a brief absence, Peter Maher from Liquid Intelligence explained the six key benefits this product delivers.

1. Water pumps in most early vehicles were never designed for Australia’s extreme summer temperatures, so have low flow rates and poor thermal conductivity (the rate at which heat is transferred). 600 Super Soluble counteracts this with its much higher, and thus more efficient, thermal conductivity, specifically 0.609W/m K, whilst glycol-based coolants are rated at about 0.300W/m K.

2. Related to the above point, 600 Super Soluble has higher heat transfer characteristics, too. While its boiling point is lower than glycol-based coolants, heat transfer is actually 20 per cent higher. That means your vintage or veteran vehicle’s engine runs at a lower overall temperature when using this coolant. For those of a technical persuasion, the specific heat rating of 600 Super Soluble is approximately 4·2 joule/gram °C

3. For effective flow through the cooling system, the viscosity of the liquid is important – the lower the viscosity the greater the velocity of flow and heat-transfer ability. 600 Super Soluble has been formulated for low viscosity (0.652 @ 40°C and 0.354 @ 85°C), which, compared to past soluble oil formulas, maximises fluid velocity and thus aids overall heat transfer properties.

4.  600 Super Soluble’s oil content means it almost entirely eliminates electrolysis caused by coolant formulas coming into contact with metals. As many vintage – and particularly veteran – engines combine both anode (eg. iron and steel) and cathode (eg. brass and copper) metals, this is a particularly important consideration. 600 Super Soluble has 134 times less chemical conductivity than radiator water containing 5 per cent corrosion inhibitor and 75 times less conductivity than a 50/50 solution of glycol coolant and water.

5.  The oil content also means engine and component corrosion is greatly reduced compared to straight water. Independent testing has shown that 600 Super Soluble meets or exceeds the corrosion specifications set out by the Standards Association of Australia for Engine Cooling Systems Testing Methods (AS 2108.2004 Type B). This local method reflects similar standards in Japan, the USA and UK, which means this product is as effective for classic cars produced in those countries as it is for locally-manufactured vehicles.

6.  Finally, 600 Super Soluble has a low toxicity and is environmentally friendly. While few engine coolant and lubrication products are 100 per cent ‘green’, 600 Super Soluble has been classified as non-dangerous, according to WHS regulations and the local ADG (Australian Dangerous Goods) code equivalent, so is not considered toxic for humans or animals.

Liquid Intelligence 600 Super Soluble is now back in stock, available exclusively through Liquid Intelligence in a 15-litre tub that makes 30 litres of coolant.

For further information on 600 Super Soluble, including its applications and a more thorough explanation of its beneficial properties for liquid-cooled vintage and veteran engines, contact Peter Maher at Liquid Intelligence on 1800 441 163 (7AM to 7PM, seven days a week). More detailed or specific questions can be lodged through the Contact page on the Liquid Intelligence website http://liquidintelligence.com.au/