jan writes:
<< Those of us living in the "sub-arctic" conditions here in the northern USA
used to drain and flush the cooling systems twice a year. In the Spring
...a new 160 degree (fahrenheit) thermostat would be installed. Come Fall
(October) a 180 degree thermostat installed for the winter. >>
Interesting because in the arctic (Anchorage, Alaska) we did just the
opposite, put the 160 decree thermostat in for winter. When it is really
cold a 180 degree thermostat would not open up often enough to circulate
water to the radiator and it could freeze up, crack and leak. When it is 30
below and you are driving at 30 mph with no hot water going to the radiator
it can freeze, even with 50% antifreeze mixture, because of the wind chill
effect.
One winter in the Yukon driving from Seattle to Alaska in December at about
60 below zero the steering and suspension would loosen up when you stopped
driving because eliminating the wind chill was like putting a blow torch to
the grease.
Rob Carpenter
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