This news letter is designed to keep you up to date with motoring issues and what service are available that will save you money and also  avoid you falling foul of the law. In addition to these motoring tips, you will find useful information that will help you with the upkeep and maintenance of your vehicle...
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Before going on to this months subject "Antifreeze" here is a brief overview on how your cooling system works. As this is a long and complex topic I will break it down as much as possible. Although petrol engines have improved a lot, they are still not very efficient at turning chemical energy into mechanical power. Most of the energy in the petrol (perhaps 70%) is converted into heat, and it is the job of the cooling system to take care of that heat. In fact, the cooling system on a car driving down the motorway dissipates enough heat to heat two average-sized houses! The primary job of the cooling system is to keep the engine from overheating by transferring this heat to the air, but the cooling system also has several other important jobs. The engine in your car runs best at a fairly high temperature. When the engine is cold, components wear out faster, and the engine is less efficient and emits more pollution. So another important job of the cooling system is to allow the engine to heat up as quickly as possible, and then to keep the engine at a constant temperature.

Antifreeze, also known as engine coolant, is a liquid substance which circulates through an engine and draws off excessive heat. The two most common chemicals used as antifreeze are ethylene and propylene glycol, both of which have lower freezing points than water (32° Fahrenheit or 0° Celsius). This allows antifreeze to flow freely even under cold winter conditions. Antifreeze also has a higher boiling point than pure water, which makes it ideal for summer use as well.

Internal combustion engines generate a significant amount of heat as part of their normal operations. This heat is eventually transferred to the metallic and synthetic parts of the engine which in turn causes friction and expansion. Engine oils and lubricants may reduce the friction, but the heat still needs to dissipate away from the engine. This is where antifreeze enters the picture. A closed system of hoses and a water pump circulates either pure antifreeze or a water/antifreeze mixture throughout the engine block.

The excessive heat is drawn away by the 'heat sink' effect of the antifreeze chemicals. By the time the antifreeze has passed through the entire engine block, it may be near the boiling point of water. This superheated liquid is pumped into a radiator placed in the front of the engine compartment. A combination of outside air and forced air from a fan help to reduce the temperature. The radiator itself has numerous chambers and channels which allow heat to pass through to the outside air as well. As the antifreeze reaches the other side of the radiator, it should be cool enough to re-enter the engine block and start the process all over again. Not all antifreeze compounds are created equal. Some are intended for regions with extreme temperature variations, while other are formulated for summer months with higher heat ranges. There may also be variations in the ratio of water to antifreeze for optimal operations. Too little antifreeze can lead to boil-overs or a completely frozen radiator. Too much antifreeze may not harm the car's operation, but it can be too expensive for drivers to use undiluted product all of the time. Antifreeze is generally inexpensive.

I can supply antifreeze in 25 litre barrels. This could prove cost effective for multicar families and friends.

Email me for for further info. tonysimpson@carworldhq.com
Please visit my website for other services and offers. www.carworldhq.com