Boy, if we want to get a real debate goin on this one Bill,
see if my calculations are correct or where they are flawed.
The water in the radiator isn't gonna be 180°F but let’s just
simplify things for the purpose of discussion and say that
the 'system' average is a uniform 180°F. Using this high of
an average, would present a worst case scenario.
Water expansion, when heated and cooled is not a linier rate,
but again since we are not really concerned with extremely
small numbers we can use .00023% per degree F for an expansion
rate.
Now lets fill our cooling system with 60°F water and heat it to
180°F giving us a temperature difference of 120°F.
.00023 x 120 = .0276% expansion.
I’ll round off the system to hold 2 gallons or 128 ounces of
coolant.
.0276% of 128 ounces is 3.5328 ounces.
So…..filling our radiator with 60°F water and warming up our 216
to 180°F should add a little less than 4 ounces of volume to
the system.
Now we all know that, just above the cooling tubes in the
radiator to the top of the filler neck is a bunch more than
just under 4 ounces. And I’m sure, like me, you’ve all topped
off your radiator and let it seek its own level by letting the
access puke out the overflow. When mine cools down it ends up
just above the cooing tubes. In other words, the tank is 80%
empty and the tank is roughly 100 sq. inches which should hold
roughly 50 fluid ounces or a quart and a half.
So my question is, where is all this extra expansion coming from
if it should only expand by 4 ounces???
Denny Graham
All heated up in Sandwich, IL
