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Old 12-16-2008, 11:48 AM   #15 (permalink)
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WonderWagon - '94 Ford Escort LX
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bennelson View Post
As to compatibility of anti-freeze with the Mr. Tea, what's the concern? It's an aluminum tube. Aren't there lots of aluminum parts on cars nowadays? Do those cars require special coolant?
I wasn't thinking of Mr. Tea's compatibility with anti-freeze.

Imagine something unexpected comes up and the car is parked out in cold for several days. Straight water would freeze => expand => burst heater core & reservoir tank(s). A 50/50 antifreeze mix will protect from freezing and will have a higher boiling point than water, maybe the higher boiling point is sufficiently high to actuate cut-off switch? If so, it might simplify design.

If you pressurize the system (with a standard radiator cap), that would further raise the boiling point. Maybe the combined effect of 50/50 antifreeze and increased system pressure is both necessary and sufficient to trigger the cut-off switch?

The hotter the liquid stored in the reservoir, the longer it will be effective.
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