Visited a shop in Ohio and saw a heated debate about coolant types

I was at a small job shop outside Cleveland last week and two guys were going back and forth about whether synthetic coolant is worth the cost over semi-synthetic. One said it saves on tool wear and lasts longer, the other argued it's just marketing hype and the old stuff works fine for 90 percent of jobs. Has anyone else seen a big difference after switching, or is it mostly about what your machines need?

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derekward3mo ago

Honestly, synthetic coolant is worth it if you're running tough materials or pushing feeds and speeds. The semi-synthetic stuff breaks down faster and can smell like a dead animal after a few weeks in the sump. Ngl, the upfront cost stings but you end up changing it way less often so it balances out. Just make sure your machines are compatible or you'll get foam everywhere. Tbh, the old stuff still works for basic aluminum and mild steel jobs.

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tarar273mo ago

And who wants to spend twice the money on coolant just to save a few water changes?

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