Coolant for TIG ?

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What type of coolant do you guys use in your closed loop coolers ? I know Miller and other manufacturers sell coolants specifically for this application for good $$$$, but are there any inexpensive subs. ?graham-
Reply:fawalz has a thread on his homemade cooler.. Search and check it out.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:I actually did a lot of searching before building my cooler. Some people use coolant specific for welding, others use automotive, and some just plain old tap water. I don't know what the difference is between the two types of coolant but I would think that tap water (with the calcium and other added chemicals) would be more likely to build up deposits and eventually cause a blockage. I went with the automotive "green" coolant (not premixed) and I mised it 50/50 with distilled water, so far so good.Here's the link Zap was referring to...http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=9123Sure, I can fix it... I got a welder!!!
Reply:we recommend the coolant specifically for water coolers.  It has pump lubricating properties, for one thing...  and automotive coolant sometimes has stuff that is made to plug up tiny leaks in an automotive cooling system, which is good for autos... but bad for TIG torches, and can plug up the small passages in a in your torch.We also recommend distilled water.-----------------------Carmen Electrodewww.CarmenElectrode.comand the boss blogs at  www.JoeWelder.comall powered by  www.Arc-Zone.com
Reply:Thanks for all the answers....Fom research here is what I have found:Lincoln Electric recommends-50% pure ethylene glycol mix.  50/50 w/ deionized waterNO AUTO ANTIFREEZE WITH RUST OR LEAK INHIBITORS NO OIL BASED COOLANTSMiller makes their own coolant that has a low level of elctrical conductivity.Thermal Arc uses a pure propylene glycol...pink stuff VW uses a G-12 coolant for their engines that is basically the same thingTap water will eventually cause build up problems even with an open loop system...just takes a lot longer.  Tap water (in closed loop systems) can build up electrical charges and create frequency disturbances that can interfere with the functioning of the torch or machine. Overall....automotive coolants that are chemically the same and perform the same as the welding coolants are basically the same price....just buy the fluid developed for the purpose-
Reply:At my job we use distilled water in all our Tig and Mig welders.  They order it by the pallet.