patnben wrote:Harry wrote:... strength isn't that critical either
The problem with antifreeze is that it's called ANTIFREEZE.
Antifreeze has been called antifreeze since before the second world war
and the term has become entrenched in the English language. It's certainly
not antifreeze only any more and this has been the case for the last
60 years or so. It only relies on it's antifreeze properties for about
20 or so days of the year in the southerly parts of the UK; and if global
warming predictions prove to be correct even less so.
For the remaining 345 days; the solution is protecting the cooling system
by preventing corrosion, raising the boiling point of the coolant, providing
some lubrication for shaft seals and a few more things I have probably
forgotten about. It has become a technical masterpeice in it's own right
and certainly doesn't deserve to be called ANTIFREEZE. If it were called
something more appropriate then perhaps users may be more inclined to
consider the benefits of proper coolant and corrosion control.
Anyone interested in dreaming up a suitable acronym ??.
Ben.
Isn't that why the motor industry itself, where there is or should be clear understanding of the multi-faceted wonders of the stuff, mainly uses the term coolant, not anti-freeze - for both the concentrate and the mixed solution?
If it wasn't needed to remove heat from the engine ("coolant"), it wouldn't be there at all, there would be no related issues of freezing, boiling or corrosion, and lubrication of seals or whatever would be done in some other way. Therefore, simply universal use of "coolant" rather than anti-freeze would cover it best, wouldn't it?
The problem of understanding is surely the reverse one of many users not appreciating that use of water based heat transfer/coolant, brings problems of corrosion and boiling, as well as prevention of freezing, all of which aspects it's vital to take account of by proper coolant maintenance. It's not so much that coolant in itself is a magic liquid, doing essential jobs other than cooling - without cooling considerations, we don't need it all.
Therefore, an acronym primarily intended to emphasise its clever non-coolant properties, would perhaps cause even more lack of understanding.
It's COOLANT - and we all need to learn that coolant needs controlled maintenance.
EDIT: Hmmmh! I'm wrong where Comma are concerned, at least - have just seen that they call the concentrate "anti-freeze", and the solution "coolant". OK - perhaps "anti-freeze"
should just be called coolant additive, coolant conditioner or coolant concentrate, instead? Certainly anti-freeze is a big misnomer, which they of all people should not be using. Wikipedia, at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifreeze, suggests "colligative agent", and provides a linked explanation. Can't see that catching on, in fact I can't see any change readily taking place, so perhaps it's mainly just important to make sure that the facts are as clear as possible for BF members. (They're sure much clearer to me now than they were a week ago!!)
