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ANTIFREEZE in July?Apr 05 '01 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Your automobile is as good as the maintenance it receives. ANTIFREEZE in July? If you ever thought that antifreeze in your automobile(s) or farm equipment(s) radiator was only important during freezing weather, think again. Ethylene glycol, the chemical compound in most antifreeze, raises the boiling point in your radiator(s) from 212 degrees F to 265 degrees F. That 43 degrees F difference in boiling points seems small, however it can be very important on hot days and with many engines today that operate at temperatures around 200 degrees F. On a hot day or under an extra heavy load, engines can easily cause the coolant temperature to rise above the normal 212 degree boiling point of water. Without the proper mixture of antifreeze and water, the fluid in your cooling system(s) can boil and escape, creating even hotter conditions inside the engine. If you have not replaced the coolant mixture in any of your engines in the past two years, it is recommended that you drain the coolant from the total system. Be sure to collect the ethylene glycol and dispose of it or recycle it with an authorized disposal company. Next, flush the motor and radiator with clean water. Once the water coming from the cooling system is clear, let it drain empty, then refill with a mixture of clean water and antifreeze at the proper mix. In addition to providing cooling for the engine and anti-freezing properties to the mixture, additives are in antifreeze that coats and protects engines and radiators from rust and corrosion. In addition, it contains lubricants that help to seal and lubricate the water pump and seals within the engine. It is the loss of these additives that make changing the antifreeze after two years more important. Do not leave antifreeze that you have drained from cooling systems outside in open containers where pets or children can get into it by accident. Ethylene glycol is one of the most toxic materials we have on farms or around homes. Less than five parts per million of this compound can be lethal very quickly if accidentally ingested or inhaled as a liquid. Animals are attracted to ethylene glycol due to its sweet taste. However, they do not get a second chance to see if something else would have been better to drink because they are dead. While you are changing the antifreeze, check those hoses and belts. If they have not been replaced within the past four years, it would be a good time to replace them while your engine block and radiator are empty instead of waiting until a belt breaks or a hose ruptures. If that happens, you get to do the job for a second time.  |
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