Brakes

[Mortblanc]

Sorry Pete, but never boil over does not equal never overheat.

Your engine is designed to operate inside a narrow heat band no matter what fluid is used for coolant. Your thermostat and the pressure cap do the most to control the temperature of the engine, not the type of coolant you insert into the system.

My Jeep operates at 98c in a system under pressure, just like a pressure cooker. It must reach a temperature above 125c to "boil" and it will only do that if the system leaks.

The temperature gauge shows the danger zone beginning at around 125c. Once the temperature enters that zone the parts are reaching their design tolerances and things begin shrinking, warping and leaking due to excessive heat and pressure. They can do that with no steam shooting out of the bonnet, no fluid leaking on the ground, nothing "boiling", and the system fully enclosed.

An engine with aluminum block and/or heads will be trashed on the first incident. The old cast iron block and head engines were a bit better at tolerating overheating but not by much. Usually their head gaskets went first followed by a warped head.

Sometimes the head gasket would blow across the divider between oil and water channels, allowing coolant under pressure into the oil system. That type blown gasket would not show a leak or steam. The water in the oil would cause it to foam up and a rod would soon be knocking or poking out the side of the block.

When the aluminum block engines first appeared in American cars, back in the 1960s, I remember my mechanic warning me that I needed a temperature gauge rather than the indicator lights on the dashboard. His explanation was that when the temp light came on it was telling me I needed a new engine!

Put what you wish into the coolant system but remember to keep your eye on that temperature gauge no matter what mixture you use.

Freezing is an entirely different matter and the worry there is simple chemistry. The coolant freezes when it is sitting and not running through the system. Almost any good coolant will protect to -40.

The real test is when you are at -40c, or even -10c, outside temp and heading down the highway at 90kph and the wind chill hits -90 against that radiator! That is why the lorry drivers have those zip up screens on the front of their rigs in winter.

I remember back during my childhood folks would use a cardboard barrier in front of the radiator to protect it from wind chill freezing. I once froze a Chevy pickup as I drove down the road. I also had the same thing happen in a big Buick Estate Wagon back in the 1970s. You guys would have a field day over that vehicle. 5 meters long, 2 meters wide, 7.5L engine and seated 10 in comfort!

I actually never ran into the freezing on the roadway issue until the temps were down below -20c when no sane person should be out anyway.

Now that I am retired I do have an issue with flat spotting tires. Sometimes I do not drive my daily use vehicle for several days at a stretch and often my Jeep sits for a couple of weeks. The Jeep usually behaves like it has square wheels for the first 5 minutes or so. The fact that is has huge steel radials on rough treads does not help. Sometimes I feel like I am riding one of those big bouncy balloons you sit on and hop. Boing...boing...boing...

My experiences with brake systems is that they are good for corrosion resistance for about 15 years. At that point they need complete system replacement. If you like to take risks you can stretch it to 20 years but bad things will be in store. At 20 years all that is holding the lines together is the rust.

A couple of years ago I hit the brake pedal on the Jeep and actually heard the line POP! Instant and complete loss of brakes!

I got under the vehicle and discovered the entire system was shot. It had to be replaced from the master cylinder to the wheels. New lines, fittings, calipers, pads and drum shoes. Even doing part of the work myself the cost was $600U.S.

Actually it was closer to $5k with the medical bills for the repair of my back, the doctor visits, medications,,,,, I am too old for this $h!t.