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Alternative Radiator Coolants

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gear_dawg
gear_dawg
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Joined: 01 Sep 2004, 23:50
Location: Texas

Alternative Radiator Coolants

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I was informed this weekend that you could use other kinds of coolants in your radiator to avoid cracking your block in the winter time. This got me thinking... :twisted:

Are there alternative Radiator Coolants out there besides anti-freeze from petro-chemicals?? Can you make them at home?? Are they affordable, and what do they use in F1??

Thanks,
Gear
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Carlos
Carlos
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Joined: 02 Sep 2006, 19:43
Location: Canada

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Here in Canada - where the Winters are a little coolish - we use ehthylene gycol with anti- corrosion-rust-foam-wear additives. In other slightly warmer seasons - just water.

Would you consider 4 > 5 litres of a good single malt scotch? :wink:
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Tom
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Joined: 13 Jan 2006, 00:24
Location: Bicester

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Well ehthylene gycol is basically all anti-freeze is, although I believe the some of the chamicals can also be found in Uria (sp) which, yes you guessed it, it a key ingredient of...Urine. In theory for the cheapest anti-freeze just piss in your radiator.
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manchild
manchild
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Joined: 03 Jun 2005, 10:54

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Tom wrote:just piss in your radiator.
Works with frozen key locks too :wink:
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Sawtooth-spike
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Joined: 28 Jan 2005, 15:33
Location: Cambridge

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manchild wrote:
Tom wrote:just piss in your radiator.
Works with frozen key locks too :wink:
Oddly also if piss on some cloth it will protect you against some gas attacks (WW1 info there)

I can see this becoming 101 uses for Piss.

Back to the subject, Vodka work fairly well
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Venom
Venom
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Joined: 01 Feb 2006, 15:20
Location: Serbia

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Sawtooth-spike wrote:Vodka work fairly well
True! (tested)

engine likes it too... :D
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gear_dawg
gear_dawg
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Joined: 01 Sep 2004, 23:50
Location: Texas

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It would seem that most coolants are of the alcohol type, hence the name(s). Ethy, Methy, ect, ect...

Would it be possible to use a sugar cane or even a cellulose-alcohol type of coolant that would be far superior to normal anti-freeze. This would be far more economical to make than to buy if it would indeed work. I am currently searching for other chemicals that can be purchased at your local store. ie. Dollar General, Wal-Mart, ect, ect...

I found some Industrial Coolants with a link:
http://www.dynalene.com/guide.html

Thanks,
Gear
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
And all things that were created were created through Him, and anything that was not created, has not been created. John 1:1-3
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Mikey_s
Mikey_s
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Joined: 21 Dec 2005, 11:06

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gear_dawg wrote:It would seem that most coolants are of the alcohol type, hence the name(s). Ethy, Methy, ect, ect...
Gear... just to be accurate, the bit of the name that determines the functional group is the end, i.e. -ol; that is the part that tells you its a kind of alcohOL.

the ethyl-, methyl- part tell you the length and type of carbon chain attached to the alcohol group.

There are lots of reasons for selection of ethylene glycol as the main component for antifreeze; amongst others are boiling point - they are there to protect the coolant against freezing point, but they also must remain in the coolant when the engine is hot, so ethanol and methanol would work, but are prolly a bit volatile for "normal" operating temps. Furthermore, the coolant comes into contact with lots of organic materials (hoses, gaskets, seals, etc) and must not soften them, or corrode the metal components in the engine.

Finally, although it could not be recommended to drink radiator fluids, ethylene glycol is not very toxic (remember the Austrian wine scandal (topping the wine up with EG?), methanol is pretty toxic (interestingly the genuine antidote for methanol ingestion is to drink vast quantities of ethanol... the ethanol blocks the receptors and can save your life... the only side effect is that you get extremely drunk!).

I have no clue what the composition of the coolant is for an F1 car, but I guess freezing point depression is not required on the current circuit, so my sense is that they prolly do not use antifreeze. Neverthless, the coolant should posess good heat transfer properties, be low viscosity and have a high boiling point... using those criteria water doesn't sound like a bad solution!

(reminder to self... check what the regs say....)
Mike
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Canmcman
Canmcman
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Joined: 24 Jan 2007, 04:32
Location: Canada

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I’m a newbie and so I should begin my first post by saying hi to everyone.

Since I also live in Canada I’m somewhat familiar with engine coolants. As has already been discussed I can also verify that ethylene glycol is not only great for preventing coolant freezing in frigid winter temperatures but is also very effective in raising its boiling point too.

But to get back to the original question “Are there alternative Radiator Coolants out there besides anti-freeze from petro-chemicals??” I can’t see why a low viscosity oil wouldn’t work as an engine coolant.
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Ciro Pabón
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Joined: 11 May 2005, 00:31

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Mikey_s wrote:...Finally, although it could not be recommended to drink radiator fluids, ethylene glycol is not very toxic...
I read ethylene glycol is not toxic. However, the byproducts, once you metabolize it, are toxic. http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic177.htm (mentions 16 deaths per year in USA).
Ciro
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Carlos
Carlos
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Joined: 02 Sep 2006, 19:43
Location: Canada

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Canmcman - Some motorcycles engines used oil in conjunction with a radiator and pump - Welcome to the Forum - We have several Canadian members - so in addition to our many members from many countries - your in good company! :wink:
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Canmcman
Canmcman
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Joined: 24 Jan 2007, 04:32
Location: Canada

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Thanks Carlos. :D
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