Introduction:
      The combustion process in an engine creates heat, some of which is expelled through the exhaust system. Whatever heat is not dissipated in this manner remains in the engine. In order to reduce this residual heat so the temperature doesn't become too high, engineers devised two types of cooling systems: liquid-cooling and air-cooling. Some older cars, but very few modern cars, are air-cooled. Instead of circulating fluid through the engine, the engine block has fins that conduct the heat away from the cylinders. A powerful fan can also be added, ala some pre-1999 Porsche 911s, to force air over these fins which cools the engine by transferring the heat to the air.
      Liquid-cooled cars, conversely, use a radiator to dissipate the heat. A radiator is a type of heat exchanger and is designed to transfer heat from the engine, to the coolant that flows through it, to the radiator, and lastly to the air. Coolant flows from the inlet to the outlet through a number of tubes mounted in a parallel arrangement on the radiator. Fins connected to the tubes then transfer the heat to the air flowing through the radiator.
      Cars operate in a wide variety of temperatures, from well below freezing to well over 100 F (38 C). So the fluid used to cool the engine must have a very low freezing point, a high boiling point, and have the capacity to hold a lot of heat.
      Water is one of the most effective fluids for holding heat in a closed system. But water alone is generally not used in car engines since it is easily susceptible to freezing.
      The fluid that most cars use is a mixture of water and ethylene glycol (C2H6O2), also known as antifreeze. By adding ethylene glycol to water, the boiling and freezing points are improved significantly. The cooling system also uses pressure to further raise the boiling point of the coolant. Just as the boiling temperature of water is higher in a pressure cooker, the boiling temperature of coolant is higher if you pressurize the system.
      Antifreeze serves three purposes: It helps to keep the engine from overheating; it keeps the coolant from freezing; and it helps keep cooling system components from corroding. Most manufactures recommend a coolant mixture of 50% antifreeze and 50% water (preferably distilled water). A 50/50 mixture of antifreeze will protect the system from freezing down to –34 Fahrenheit and boil over to 265 degrees. The boil over point also depends, to a certain extent, on the pressure rating of the radiation cap: The higher the pressure rating of the radiator caps, the higher the boil over temp.
      For those wanting an even wider range of temperature variation, higher concentrations of antifreeze can be used to protect the cooling system in extreme conditions (for this area, Curry's recommends using a 50/50 mix). A 70% antifreeze and 30% water solution will protect the cooling system down to –84 degrees and boil over up to 276 degrees. But using anything higher than 70/30 should never be used since it will not effectively radiate enough heat from the solution to keep the engine cool. It should also be noted that antifreeze by itself will freeze at –8 degrees.
      Ethylene Glycol, however, does nothing to prevent corrosion in the system. For that reason, corrosion-inhibiting chemicals are added to the antifreeze. In conventional antifreeze, silicates, phosphates and or borates are used in combinations to form a protective coating on the cooling system surfaces. Eventually heat and other conditions dissolve these inhibitors. Once these inhibitors are gone, electrolytic corrosion begins.
      Aluminum components such as cylinder heads, intake manifolds, water pumps, etc, are the first parts attacked during electrolysis. Proper servicing of the coolant and correct installation of engine grounds can greatly reduce the electrolysis process.
      Recently, some manufacturers have been installing extended life antifreeze in their cooling systems. This type of coolant contains special additive packages that can extend coolant life up to five years or 100,000 miles and can be used in any old or new vehicle where long-term protection is desired – providing that the old coolant is completely flushed out the system before you install the extended life coolant. But before changing over to extended life antifreeze or changing the coolant recommended by the manufacturer (Volvo, for example, uses a special phosphate-free coolant in its cars even though it is green and looks like conventional coolant), check with a reputable automotive specialist or your dealer.
      Generally speaking, regular (non-extended life) coolants need to be replaced about every two years to offset the overheating, corrosion and freezing problems mentioned above. Postponing this maintenance will actually accelerate the corrosion process, rather than inhibit it.

Flushing Coolant:
      As is the case when changing brake fluid, there is a difference between a "drain and fill" and a complete coolant flush. We do not advocate just draining old antifreeze and then topping off the radiator. In brief, the effects of the "new" fluid will quickly loose its effectiveness because whatever "old" fluid was not drained will contaminate it.
      Curry's uses a state-of-the-art machine, BG's CT2 Coolant Transfusion System, to completely flush old coolant from the radiator, engine block and all hoses. We first inspect the radiator cap, drain valve, overflow reservoir, and all connections for deterioration before adding a cooling system flush additive to the existing coolant. The additive is allowed to circulate throughout the entire system for about 20 minutes (it essentially removes tough organic deposits that result from oil fouling, grease and glycol oxidation residues). The bypass valve on the CT2 is then opened and the old antifreeze is back-flushed from the engine's cooling system. This is the preferred method of replacing the old fluid since back-flushing removes scale and debris not accessible when the coolant flows in the normal direction. As the old antifreeze is forced out of the cooling system, the BG machine simultaneously introduces new fluid. Once all the old antifreeze has been replaced, we simply reconnect the hoses.
      As a matter of routine, Curry's also adds a cooling system conditioner whenever we flush a cooling system. This conditioner contains a balanced combination of pH buffering ingredients that act as acid neutralizers and work in conjunction with the coolants inhibitors to prevent corrosive damage to cooling system components. It also contains anti-foaming agents that help prevent bubbling in the system as well as oxide-forming ingredients that prevent corrosion of aluminum surfaces such as the radiator and the cylinder heads.

Conclusion:
      As part of our customer service program, Curry's inspects and tops off all vital fluids on every car we work on – including the antifreeze. But we usually don't test the coolant unless asked. If you don't remember when you last changed the antifreeze, or if you recently acquired a used car with no maintenance history, then we recommend having the fluid tested with a hydrometer. Hydrometers measure the specific gravity of the coolant, or in layman's terms it tells you how acidic the antifreeze is and if it needs to be replaced.
      You can stop by virtually any automotive shop to have the coolant tested. This time of year is a good time to check the condition of this vital fluid – before the heat of the summer sets in.
      Next month: servicing your transmission. If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please post them on the Forum at www.CurrysAuto.com. Please address any ideas for future articles to bill@currysauto.com.

TradingPost

230SL 1965: Almond with dark (eggplant?) hard top/black interior; 4 speed manual transmission. Was repainted & rust-repaired before my purchase and has been under cover ever since. Needs tires (due to lack of use of existing). Rebuilt engine. Body in average condition. Best offer. Alan E. Porter 301-429-3397.

280TE 1983: White with black interior. Euro model 123 body station wagon. DOT converted, EPA waived in states accepting federal waivers like VA. 5-speed manual transmission, A/C converted to R-134a. Stainless steel exhaust, extra tires, two good extra wheels. A hoot to drive, easy to maintain. Very good condition. $5000. Call Vern Luke at 703-323-1249 or email <vern.claire.luke@cox.net>

Engine: 1983 5-cylinder turbo diesel engine, #6170160301. Totally rebuilt (complete). Best offer. Alan E. Porter 301-429-3397.

Wheels for 107/126 series: Were for 560SL – 4 beautiful new Milne Migna Bello alloys in boxes. 16 x 7.5 inch, 5 x 112 bolt pattern offset ET25. 4 new MB center caps. Lug bolts. Perfect fit is 225/55-16. $500 for all 4. Call Doug at 410-592-2962 or email <dougehmann@comcast.net>

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