New-York tribune., 1920-12-05
Paradox of the
Auto Radiator
Defined by Expert
Tendency to Boil in Summer
and to Freeze in Winter
Puzzles Car Owner, Who
Needs to Know Remedies

The folloacing article ,cos prepcrca
for The Tribune BY Il. Clifford Broha,o,
technical director, West Side y ". c.
A. Automobile School, In It he deals
,c1th the subject "kccping the Radiator
Warm" q subject toh,ch is Of more than
usual interest to the car oacner at this
time Of the year.
Do you ever consider the paradox Of
the radiator7 You know you have to
keep it as cool as possible in the sum
mer time, and in the winter time the
effort is to keep it as warm as you can
without having the water boil; and
both these things are necessary for eff
tlclent auto operation. Of course, the
reason is the differing temperatures of
our fine Italian climate, the tendency
or the radiator being to boil in summer
and freeze in winter, and doubtless
thousands of autosts are puzzline over
the problem of how to keep the old
boat from freezing up these cold nights
The radiator really is a delicate part
of the automobile It is made IN OF
innumerable cells with very small nas-
sages for water and very large holes
through which air circuates. Water
passes from Tie bottom Of the radiator
through hosepipc connection and =
manifold into the water jacket Of the
cyinders. 1t comes out Of the top Of the
cylinder block, passes through another
nose connection into the top Of the radi-
ator. 1t goes into the water Jacket COM
paratlvely cool anda&merges hot.
AS it journeys down through the
meshes of the radiator honeyccmb. cool
air passing through reduces the tenn
perature of the water OF, in other
words, the heat Of the water radiatos
INTO these air passages and the rush
OF air carries out the heated air and
brings In more cool air. Water freezes
at 81 degrees Fahrenheit. and it does
not take very low temperaturo 10
form ice in those tiny passages In fact.
~ freezes easier even than water in 3
pail' because the heat has driven of
much OF the air in the water.
Cleaning First Essential
II is apparent, therefore, that some
thlng must be done to keen the radi-
ator from freezing up when the cold
gays come, especially il the car is to
~ ~ iSiO Win the engine not running.
ne hTst part of this process should he
a thorough cleaning Of the radio4n,
u. i ms may, be done BY putting in one Of
.nc goou cleaning compounds adver-
tiSed, though saturated solution of
"asalng soda VIII accomplish the s,n9a
result The cooling system shoulo ho
GRAINED and the radiator filled win
"ashlng soda solution
ne eng lie should be run for two or
."iee hGulS Nlth the solution in. Then /
1t should be drained out tbarona,l,l,'
and the cooling system ,nshnd g.it Si'S
clean water. If there is no draSncdcl.
on the bottom of the radiator it viii ho +
necessary to o9on the upper hose con-
"ecI!oh between the radiatol and engine
ana run the engine slowly with a hose
IN the filler opening to suDDIv the
water Tor flushing When this nrocece
has been completed the radiator should
be carefully tested for leaks. since thc
washing out Ct this sediment and minor
il"crusta6ons nay show that there has
peeN corroslon at number OF points
.1Saeoraliy' the sediment and mineral
deposits would tend to close 10 auy
leahs OF this nature. If there are leak,
OF any consequence 1t is much hettor to
nave radiator expert make the re-
pairs though any one who is HANDY
WIN soldering iron may be able to
close up minor leaks.
II one cares to make thorough test
remove the radiator, plug up thc outls
and inlet openings, screw down the
fao'ator cap with rubber gaske,
uhaer 1t to mahe it alright. plug rI,c
oVealo~ pipe, If any, and then attach
the nose from u hand pump to the.drio
cock. Place the radiator in a tub Of
water, put four or five pounds of air
pressure on with the pump and see if
there are any bubbles arising. Do not
make the mistake of using a heavy air
pressure or it will bulge the water
spaces and perhaps develop leaks where
there were none.
Avoid Acids or Alkalis
When leaks have been repaired the
radiator should be filled with fresh
water into which has been placed a
good anti-frcezing mixture. There are
several on the market which have been
IN use long enough for the car owner
TO know that they are effective and safe.
Do not buy one which is simply chcap
II may have acid or strong alkali