Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2003 17:46:22 -0700
Reply-To: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Subject: it will actually freeze
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Gary,
You assume much, just because I live 40 miles from the valley world renown for the strength and quality of its organic recreational pharmaceuticals,I DO NOT SMOKE ANYTHING, except maybe punks in souped up Honda's(even if they are my customers).
You do not need -70F to see a gallon of antifreeze turn to ice! Living 34 years, and working 20 years in the automobile business in Anchorage, AK I have seen entire pallets of frozen antifreeze. If I recall correctly it happens around -25 to -35F, not frozen solid, but definitely frozen more than I want in my engine. Your household freezer does not get cold enough to duplicate the temperatures that many parts of the world see. Cold weather is just as good a reason to not use full strength as hot weather is. The chart that the antifreeze manufacturer puts on the back of the bottle is NOT there for decoration, Ethylene Gycol needs water added to give your engine maximum protection from cold as well as heat. A quick check of the print on the back of one of several different types of antifreeze that we have in stock reveals the warning to never use it above 75% strength. A 60/40 mix will be good for about -60F, about as good as you can get it, but not good enough for some areas
. The poor souls that live near Fairbanks, AK, about 370 miles north of me can see temperatures as high as 100F in the summer, and as low as -75F in winter.
If you would like further verification on this I would be glad to provide the names and numbers of clients that run automotive repair shops up here.
Mark in AK
87 Westy Syncro
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2003 12:45:31 -0700
Mark,
What in god's name have you been smokin.
Perhaps you have been inhaling too much of that half
and half. Only reason not to use full strength is
that it's heat capacity is lower and boiling point is
lower. Alcohol freezes at a much lower temperature
than water. Ethylene gycol is an alcohol. Water
absorbs more heat per gram than alcohol but it freezes
at 0 centigrade. Take a cup of antifreeze and put it
in your freezer. Maybe at minus 70 you will see
ethylene glycol freeze. gary
From: Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET>
Subject: Re: water pump R&R
Another reason to NOT use straight antifreeze, it will
actually freeze
in cold temperatures. The automobile and antifreeze
manufacturers know
what they are doing on this one. If you want to limit
the corrosion mix
your antifreeze with distilled water, but add water,
do not use it
straight.
Mark in AK
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