From: Everette (194cbteng@bellsouth.net)
Date: Fri Jun 16 2006 - 22:14:34 PDT
at last true light to end discussion on flammability of anti-freeze - thanks
from another " olde phart who remembers." who also has "been there done
that - and has hat to prove it"
E
..
----- Original Message -----
From: "Edward Greeley" <etgreeley@earthlink.net>
To: "Everette" <194cbteng@bellsouth.net>
Cc: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2006 12:04 AM
Subject: Re: [MV] antifreeze
> Excuse me for butting in, but...
>
> "Back in the day", anti-freeze certainly WAS flammable. Prior to WW-II and
> for a few years after, ethylene glycol was relatively expensive and
> relatively scarce. Methyl alcohol (or was it denatured ethyl alcohol?) was
> very commonly packaged and sold as automotive anti-freeze. In either case,
> the uncut alcohol certainly would burn. Many unenlightened old-timers
> don't understand the difference between glycol and alcohol, hence the
> confusion about the flammability of "anti-freeze."
>
> Among the drawbacks to the use of alcohol as anti-freeze was the fact that
> it would boil away and needed to be replenished periodically. Woe be unto
> the one who forgot to check the gravity of the alcohol-water mix
> anti-freeze before a cold snap. That was a common cause of busted blocks
> and/or popped core hole plugs "back in the day." Been there, done that.
>
> Just an olde phart who remembers...
>
> Everette wrote:
>> I was aware that mixed with water it would not burn, what I heard was
>> that undiluted anti-freeze would, apparently from what Dave wrote it is
>> the fumes from boiling anti-freeze will, I checked MSDS on ethylene
>> glycol that I have used in manufacturing and it provides instructions
>> dealing with spills that indicates it to be flammable...
>>
>> I suppose from a technical standpoint rum will not burn, when you make
>> Bananas Foster and sit them alight it is the alcohols in the rum that
>> burns.
>>
>> E
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Julian Burke" <julian@knology.net>
>> To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
>> Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 3:34 PM
>> Subject: Re: [MV] antifreeze
>>
>>
>>>
>>> Anti freeze is not flamable-never was. Who told you that? Your mixture
>>> of kerosene was. Cars would be exploding in crashes or common radiator
>>> leaks! That's why it isn't flamable.
>>>
>>> Antifreeze was never meant to be used straight. 50/50 is the proper
>>> mix. You're right, straight antifreeze does not give proper protection.
>>> Think about it...................why isn't straight antifreeze better???
>>> It has to have a water content for the chemical mixture. Because of
>>> shipping is why it comes straight. You would need more mix and would
>>> then come in 5 gallon bottles. Would make it cost more too.
>>>
>>> Julian Burke
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> How much fluid in CUCV Radiator
>>>>
>>>> I have been told that the old familiar anti-freeze as it comes out of
>>>> bottle is flammable - never tried it - has anyone heard this, and what
>>>> about new stuff is it flammable?
>>>>
>>>> And while on subject - straight anti-freeze does not give same
>>>> protection from low temperature as 50/50 mix, it will freeze at a
>>>> higher temp than mix will. - so I have heard, never tried it.
>>>>
>>>> Back many years ago my buddies and I could not afford antifreeze - we
>>>> used 2/3 kerosene, 1/3 water and hand full of detergent - detergent
>>>> kept mixture mixed, at least we thought it did. Never had a freeze up.
>>>>
>>>> E
>
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