Lower Grill block that can open and close

[3-Wheeler]

Originally Posted by ShadeTreeMech

I would be interested in knowing more info on the peculiarities of antifreeze.

I honestly wouldn't recommend maintaining temps of 250°F, but I would hope holding steady at 200°F would be fine.....is this a bad assumption?

And I think having the ability to control air flow is starting to sound way cool, especially considering the cooler temps heading our way this time of year.

Hi ShadeTree,

Yes, holding 200°F is fine. I suppose that most of us assume that since it's anti-freeze, AND it's rated to some value, let's say 265°F, cause it says so on the can, then we also assume it's perfectly safe to drive at this temperature all the time.

The same can be said of motor oil. If the can says it... it must be OK.

Well just like motor oil, anti-freeze likes it better at cooler temperatures. Although I should mention that most engine manufacturers would like to see oil temperatures just slightly above boiling to burn of water condensation that occurs in the oil when the engine cools back down.

At the extreme temperatures of 265°F or so, I have seen anti-freeze turn into it's own form of sludge. It comes out looking like someone poured sawdust into the mix and let it settle to the bottom. That's what happens when it gets too hot.

Jim.

[Varn]

Sludge in the cooling system. Sounds like what the federal government was doing to traded in cars last fall. Taking a good car and frying it. Bless them.

I worked in Milton in the 70s as an electronics tech.

Originally Posted by 3-Wheeler

Hi ShadeTree,

Yes, holding 200°F is fine. I suppose that most of us assume that since it's anti-freeze, AND it's rated to some value, let's say 265°F, cause it says so on the can, then we also assume it's perfectly safe to drive at this temperature all the time.

The same can be said of motor oil. If the can says it... it must be OK.

Well just like motor oil, anti-freeze likes it better at cooler temperatures. Although I should mention that most engine manufacturers would like to see oil temperatures just slightly above boiling to burn of water condensation that occurs in the oil when the engine cools back down.

At the extreme temperatures of 265°F or so, I have seen anti-freeze turn into it's own form of sludge. It comes out looking like someone poured sawdust into the mix and let it settle to the bottom. That's what happens when it gets too hot.

Jim.

[ShadeTreeMech]

Originally Posted by Varn

Sludge in the cooling system. Sounds like what the federal government was doing to traded in cars last fall. Taking a good car and frying it. Bless them.

The cash for clunkers scam was the biggest waste of tax payer dollars invented since the creation of long term welfare. And it was an enviromental disaster to take perfectly good running vehicles off the road and replace them with ones that might not have been sold otherwise, which might have caused factories to slow production and would have forced them to put off fewer toxic emmisions into the atmosphere.

When will the US admit to its gluttony of the latest newfangled thing?

[Weather Spotter]

I took some time (10 min) today and hooked up a second switch so that I can choose to control one grate or both.



I set it up so that the second grate is hooked into one wire just like before. I interrupted the second wire with a switch so that I can choose to operate that one or not.

I was also out driving today and with temps at 55F I was holding 191F with both grates open. On my next trip I will see if only one grate open will keep the temps below where the fan comes on.

[NachtRitter]

Grate stuff!!

Cool to see how well you've got it working now!

[Weather Spotter]

Month and a half update:

It is still working

As the temps drop I can leave it closed for the the whole trip if it is a short on (less then 8 miles) On the freeway at hypermiler speeds I need one grate open (half of lower grill). At the speed limit 65 or 70 MPH I need both both open above 54 F One is fine till the ambient temp drops below 35. then I can close and open as needed.

I need to see if I am getting any leakage as it still takes a while to warm up (4-5 miles) when the temps are under 40 F.

[Weather Spotter]

Month and a half update:

It is still working

As the temps drop I can leave it closed for the the whole trip if it is a short on (less then 8 miles) On the freeway at hypermiler speeds I need one grate open (half of lower grill). At the speed limit 65 or 70 MPH I need both both open above 54 F One is fine till the ambient temp drops below 35. then I can close and open as needed.

I need to see if I am getting any leakage as it still takes a while to warm up (4-5 miles) when the temps are under 40 F.

[Angelus359]

Good weatherspotter

Everyone seems against the cash for clunkers dealio.
My mother clunked in her dodge caravan with a dying transmission, and my stepfather's motorcycle that was no longer being used (trade in, not clunked).

She replaced it with a nissan cube with a CVT which she gets around 35 miles per gallon out of.

That is more than double what she used to get.