FYI: alternative non-water/corrosion-blocking coolant WITHOUT replacing OEM radiator
Discuss FYI: alternative non-water/corrosion-blocking coolant WITHOUT replacing OEM radiator on AllFordMustangs.com, the place for Mustang enthusiasts.
Welcome to AllFordMustangs.com. We look forward to you registering on our forum and making your first post.
FYI: alternative non-water/corrosion-blocking coolant WITHOUT replacing OEM radiator
In researching how to maintain a "cooler" coolant system WITHOUT replacing the OEM radiator (as many do when installing supercharges), I came across a product that purports to be a superior replacement to the standard/recommended Motorcraft product for 2005+ Mustangs.
The product is made by Evans Cooling and is called Evans NPG+.
Below are links to (1) the Evans Cooling site; (2) a general description of the product; (3) link to FAQs regarding the product; (4) a list of vendors throughout the U.S.; and (5) a link to performance data re NPG+ vs. 50/50 glycol products (e.g., Prestone, Motorcraft, etc.).
NPG+ WATERLESS COOLANT ELIMINATES BOIL OVER, CORROSION AND ELECTROLYSIS NPG+ OFFERS 'POUR IN' INSTALLATION - BETTER HEAT TRANSFER - AND STILL "SAFE!" NPG+ is new coolant providing dramatic improvements in heat transfer and viscosity that make the new fluid a "pour-in," not requiring changes to cooling system components. Conversion to NPG+ waterless coolant from the use of conventional antifreeze and water coolant mixes, to take advantage of the benefits of non-aqueous engine cooling, is now simple to accomplish. NPG+ waterless coolant virtually eliminates boil over in gasoline or diesel engines - the waterless coolant allows engines to tolerate running hotter, without boiling over, and allows the cooling system to run at very low or no pressure. Because there is no water in the system engines operating with NPG+ will be free from corrosion and electrolysis, and the engines will run well no matter how hard they are driven or how hot or cold the environment is. A blend of non-aqueous ingredients, NPG+ retains all of the benefits of Evans original NPG coolant, while improving upon its thermal conductivity by about 32 percent and reducing its viscosity by about 65 percent. It is perfectly suited for the demands of any hard working engine, and there are no plumbing or pump changes needed to use this coolant. A cooling system according to Evans technology uses a non-water-based, high boiling point coolant (over 350º) and controls the temperature of the coolant substantially below its boiling point. This is in sharp contrast to conventional water based coolant systems that operate near the boiling point of the coolant. In conventional systems, locally generated coolant vapor may not condense but rather form an insulating barrier between the coolant jacket metal and the liquid coolant, causing hot spots to develop. Coolant Vapor Condenses Immediately In Evans' waterless systems, any locally generated vapor is immediately condensed back to liquid coolant and an insulating layer of vapor can't develop. Another advantage is that cooling system pressure is minimal, prolonging the life of hoses and other components, which lowers replacement and related maintenance costs. NPG+ works well with liquid-to-liquid oil coolers and radiators. It is important to remember that although the thermal conductivity of water is great, conversely for water vapor it is about zero. Although not a requirement, engines running with NPG+ can be operated, by choice, at higher coolant temperatures while control of metal temperatures is maintained. This fact permits the selection of higher fan control temperatures and less fuel robbing parasitic drag. NPG+ is ideally suited for handling the extra heat that comes from EGR coolers for NOx emissions control. With increased cooling system load from EGR cooling, conventional coolants can barely handle the extra heat without larger and heavier radiators and/or larger fans that add to parasitic engine losses. NPG+ coolant, held to a temperature well below its boiling point, can successfully transfer all of that heat without requiring larger radiators or fans. Looking ahead, NPG+ is ideally suited for handling the extra heat that will be coming from the EGR coolers in 2002 model engines for NOx emissions control. With increased cooling system load from the EGR cooling, conventional systems will likely be unable to handle the extra heat without larger and heavier radiators and redesigned engines. NPG+ coolant held to a temperature well below its boiling point, can successfully transfer all of that heat without requiring larger radiators. Retaining Cooling Efficiency at Higher Temperatures Engines run more efficiently when they're hot. But up until recently, inefficient cooling has limited how hot you can run a gasoline or diesel engine before serious damage occurs. Conventional coolants containing water boil (vaporize) around 225ºF near sea level. Cooling systems are pressurized to raise the average coolant boiling point, to around 250ºF, but that doesn't solve the real cooling problem, which occurs inside the water jackets of an engine. Until the advent of Evans waterless coolants, inefficient cooling has limited how hot you can run a gasoline or diesel engine before serious damage occurs. Conventional water-based /ethylene glycol coolants, pressurized to 15 psig, boil (vaporize) at about 263ºF at sea level. Straight water boils at about 249ºF under the same conditions. The boiling points drop for increases in elevation. With water-based coolants, cooling system problems crop up at temperatures that are lower than these figures. Furthermore, this super-heated, vaporized conventional water based coolant doesn't fully condense back into liquid until it circulates to a location that is colder than the boiling point of water. In some cases vapor can travel all the way to the radiator. Vapor entrained coolant, no matter where it is, transfers heat poorly. Super-heated, water-based coolant is very inefficient as a heat transfer medium as it circulates through a hot engine, and even through the radiator. Sometimes entrained vapor can make it through the radiator and back into the engine, a condition that will surely cause the coolant pump to cavitate, and coolant circulation to cease. NPG Coolant Cures Many Problems! Evans NPG (without the plus), the immediate predecessor of NPG+, is propylene glycol with proprietary additives. The benefits of NPG have been proven in thousands of applications. Of particular interest to users of heavy-duty diesels, the Evans waterless coolants avoid pump and cylinder liner cavitation erosion, again because of the large separation between operating temperature and coolant boiling point. The anti-corrosion additives in NPG are stable and remain in solution for the life of the coolant (at least 500,000 miles) and no SCAs (supplementary coolant additives) are necessary. NPG also has almost no electrical conductivity, eliminating the damage to metals, hoses and gaskets caused by electrolysis. Both Evans NPG and NPG+ are used as pure coolant - no water added. The non-aqueous solution boils at 370ºF (NPG) or 375ºF (NPG+), greatly reducing vaporization and eliminating vapor problems. Both coolants bathe the entire cooling jacket (permanent surface "wetting"), and significantly improve coolant surface effectiveness. Heat transfers more efficiently from the metal to the liquid coolant, and is carried off to the radiator for more effective elimination. Furthermore, any vaporized coolant recondenses while still in the engine, so the coolant continues to absorb damaging heat on its way to the radiator. Run Hotter without Trapped Vapor When you eliminate vapor pockets and entrained vapor from the coolant, control of metal temperatures improves because liquid coolant remains in contact with the hot engine metal at all times. With metal temperatures kept under control, coolant temperatures can be increased beyond the failure temperatures associated with water-based coolants. The ability to control metal temperatures over a much broader range of coolant temperatures opens opportunities for gaining increased performance and fuel efficiency. Physical changes to the cooling system are not necessary to take advantage of the benefits of NPG+. For the benefits that are specific to applications, please refer to the pages for those applications. Because Evans NPG and NPG+ Coolants don't "after-boil" (boil over or vent) in the operational temperature range of a gasoline or diesel engine cooling system, you can change to a low-pressure or no-pressure cooling system (0.0 to 7.0 PSIG). While anyone servicing a cooling system must remain cautious around hot liquids, the danger of an explosive discharge of coolant from accidental cap removal or component rupture is minimized or eliminated. Low or no-pressure systems also enjoy reduced hose and gasket leakage, and longer cooling system component life. NPG or NPG+ Coolants are safe for use with all metals and totally non-corrosive to many. Lifetime Coolants NPG and NPG+ are virtually "lifetime" coolants. Conventional coolant must be flushed and changed at regular intervals to eliminate contaminants and renew its effectiveness. But the limits of Evans NPG and NPG+ Coolants have yet to be reached - they contain no water and only a few lifetime additives. The elimination of water virtually stops corrosion, water pump and cylinder cavitation. This means major maintenance savings to all forms of operators. Evans NPG+ Coolant out-performs conventional coolant in freezing weather too. A 50/50 mix of conventional coolant and water typically freezes around -34ºF. Evans NPG+ Coolant - pure, with no water - remains liquid until -40ºF, when it contracts slightly and merely turns into a light viscous slurry. It will not freeze solid and expand. Non-Toxic to Mammals NPG+ Coolant has been determined to be non-toxic in mammalian testing. Independent tests on laboratory rats exposed to Evans NPG+ Coolant showed no ill effects. The coolant is essentially non-toxic and non-hazardous in all EPA "GLP acute oral toxicity" tests because Evans has developed a proprietary formula based on a blending of chemicals called "DIOLS," including propylene glycol. An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruling is being sought regarding an anticipated "safe" classification for the NPG+ Coolant. The NPG controlling chemical, propylene glycol, is non-poisonous, and used in such products as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and even foods and therefore NPG is already classified as "safe".
Yes- although it isn't cheap, it's been successfully used by F1 teams and MANY other racers for a substantial period of time with excellent results under extremely grueling conditions.
The least expensive vendor of the product that I found on the net has the following link:
In addition to the coolant you will also need to "flush" your exisiting coolant out with the Evans Cooling "prep" fluid. Instructiopns for doing this are on the Evans Cooling site.
The coolant can be had for $29.00 and the prep fluid for $27.50, both of which are, at least at first glance, very expensive compared to "normal" 50/50 anti-freeze products
However, the Evans Cooling NPG+ product is guaranteed (1) to be a LIFETIME product instead of having to be replaced every few years (which quickly makes its cost much more reasonable when compared to the total cost of replacing "ordinary" fluids periodically); (2) to NEVER freeze, unlike even 50/50 products can do under extreme conditions; and (3) to absolutely eliminate H2O from the system, thus preventing i. "hot spots" from developing in the engine and elsewhere and ii. higher engine/coolant sytem temperature from occuring, all of which affect performance and engine longevity/increased potential for detonation in supercharged applications.
Cost of replacing exisiting coolant in a 4.6L engine: 4 gal. @ $29.00/gal and $27.50 for the prep fluid: $172.50 (plus $10.95 shipping) vs. approx. $300-600 dollars for an aftermarket aluminum radiator to replace the dinky OEM unit.
Peace of mind that your engine won't overheat/develop "hot spots"/ have a decreased life span due to detonation/ etc.:
FYI: alternative non-water/corrosion-blocking coolant WITHOUT replacing OEM radiator 
