50/50 antifreeze

Gary Mitchell · Oct 20, 2023

I don't get out and around as much as I used to but I didn't realize how far out of the loop I was. I stopped into O'Reilly's to get a jug of antifreeze for my 444 and was surprised at how many different options they offer, but most surprising was almost all of them were 50/50 mixes. I found one what was labeled as concentrated, that cost 15.99 as opposed to the 50/50 in the same brand that cost 13.99. That is NUTS! I ask the counter guy what kind of knucklehead would pay almost double for the 50/50. He looked offended and told me lots of people do. It looks like to me that we're being weaned from full strength antifreeze to half strength, which about doubles the price. Grrrrr,,,,,, gm

grandpa Love · Oct 20, 2023

Rural king , full strength was 6.99 last week. I stocked up.

pcsaw · Oct 20, 2023

The other thing is premixed 2cycle gas $30 a gallon and you see people buying it all the time

38 Sears Roebuck · Oct 20, 2023

Pretty sad when you can't even figure out to mix 2 cycle fuel. This is where our society is headed.

brooktre · Oct 20, 2023

I never get the 50/50, it doesn t make sense to pay more for less. When the 50/50 first came out it was a little more than the full strength. Now it sounds like it is close to the same price. Crazy

Angle Iron · Oct 20, 2023

(quoted from post at 16:24:37 10/20/23) The other thing is premixed 2cycle gas $30 a gallon and you see people buying it all the time

have seen a couple videos on the premixed fuel that did not sound good. One shop said on many occasions simply dumping the premix and refolling with a good mix fixed the no start issues. Never used it, saw this on several videos on different channels over the past several years.

tomtinker · Oct 20, 2023

That is kinda like people paying a restaurant sixty dollars to cook them a ten dollar meal.

Leroy · Oct 20, 2023

I have not bought full strength anti freeze for years. If it does cost a bit more and I have found it costing less it is not worth the agrivation to try to mix and not get the mix correct strength and then having to try to keep track of that partial jug of premix so you do not get it confused with full strength and weaken it down to one quarter strength when you have to add a bit due to loss. I have to watch so I do not get the full strength stuff.

Traditional Farmer · Oct 20, 2023

Agree with you.

ken44520978 · Oct 20, 2023

Here in Minnesota we always use a 50/50 mix. If you ever have to add water because that is all you have, you can't bring the mix back to 50/50 without draining it out and starting over. If you drain you truck and flush the cooling system with water, you will never get all the water drained out. Filling with 50/50 will give you something less than a 50/50 mix. I only buy full strength antifreeze.

Brian G. NY · Oct 20, 2023

I buy straight anri-freeze....pour 1/2 into another 1 Gal anti-freeze jug and fill both with distilled water. I mark the jugs 50/50.
Seems easy enuf to me.

buickanddeere · Oct 20, 2023

As long as people are smart enough to mix the concentrated anti-freeze with distilled water instead of tap water .

Loosehandle · Oct 21, 2023

Or premix 2 stroke gas.

jimg.allentown · Oct 21, 2023

Is the actual mix percentage all that critical? I doubt it. There is nothing ''magical'' about 50/50. So what if it is 55/45 or 40/60? It is easy enough to check with a hygrometer.
I have used tap water in my vehicles for over 50 years. So far, no ill effects. As such, I don't get silly about using distilled water. If it is available, I might use it, but probably not.
I don't find it confusing at all to keep the mixed from the full strength. I mix it as I need it.

I do find it overpriced to buy premixed coolant. If you want to pay nearly double for convenience, that is up to you. If my engine is a bit low on coolant, I can just eyeball it by pouring in some full strength and add some water. Nothing complicated or precision about it. They do publish charts telling what the freezing point is on the various percentages of mix. So, if you mix it a bit stronger, you get a lower freezing point. If you mix it weaker, you get a higher freezing point. So, if it isn't just exactly 50/50, the world will not stop turning.

Texasmark · Oct 21, 2023

I too can't see paying full price for 50% mix. A neat marketing ploy in the name of convenience (opinion). The reason for the mix is that plain water cools better than AF but water freezes. So way back when, the 50-50 ratio became popular for most people in cold and hot climates.

oldsarge · Oct 21, 2023

Yeah, @ $40.00 a gallon !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rich'sToys · Oct 21, 2023

I also do not buy the premixed stuff. I can't see spending that much extra just for water.
I used tap water for years with no problems, but in recent years have gone to distilled water. The dehumidifier in my basement puts out gallons of distilled water every year. I just collect it in jugs and use that. But even if you buy it, it's only a buck or two for a gallon.

Brown David · Oct 21, 2023

(quoted from post at 21:10:30 10/20/23) I don't get out and around as much as I used to but I didn't realize how far out of the loop I was. I stopped into O'Reilly's to get a jug of antifreeze for my 444 and was surprised at how many different options they offer, but most surprising was almost all of them were 50/50 mixes. I found one what was labeled as concentrated, that cost 15.99 as opposed to the 50/50 in the same brand that cost 13.99. That is NUTS! I ask the counter guy what kind of knucklehead would pay almost double for the 50/50. He looked offended and told me lots of people do. It looks like to me that we're being weaned from full strength antifreeze to half strength, which about doubles the price. Grrrrr,,,,,, gm

Full strength - 15.99

50/50 - 13.99

How did you come up with almost double?

Gary Mitchell · Oct 21, 2023

Math. gm

1948CaseVAI · Oct 21, 2023

(quoted from post at 19:08:36 10/20/23) That is kinda like people paying a restaurant sixty dollars to cook them a ten dollar meal.

That is not even in the same realm as the anti-freeze/fuel issue. I do not mind one bit paying $60 in a decent restaurant for a meal that I could have produced for $10. The restaurant provides the building and decor (ambiance) which is important to me, and it costs the mortgage fees on the premises, taxes, insurance, business licenses, etc. Then there is the rising cost of salary and taxes for staff to keep the place clean, prepare the meal, order the supplies, and clean up. Restaurant owners not getting rich on your cheap dime, nor are you being cheated.

50/50 antifreeze

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