Cadillac 1937 LaSalle VVI Information page 33

In cases where the accumulation of rust and scale is so
great that this method does not clean the system adequately,
the system should be flushed out, using a solution of water
containing one pint of sal-soda (washing soda) and one quart
of kerosene, and running the engine for half an hour. After
this operation, the system must again be thoroughly flushed
in order to clean out all traces of this cleaning solution. D o
not allow any of the solution to reach the car finish.
Anti-Freeze
Anti-freeze solutions that can be safely used are of two
types: The volatile types such as denatured alcohol and
methanol or the non-volatile types such as distilled glycerine
and ethylene glycol.
If you prefer to use alcohol or methanol solutions, it is
important that the solution be tested at frequent intervals,
and that sufficient anti-freeze be added to replace any lost
by evaporation; otherwise there is a danger of damage by
freezing. When using these solutions, it is also important
to avoid spilling any on the car finish, or if any is spilled, to
flush off immediately with a large quantity of water.
Distilled glycerine and ethylene glycol are more expensive
in first cost but, as they are not lost by evaporation, only
water needs to be added. Solution lost through leaking or
foaming must, of course, be replaced and on this account it
is especially important to make sure that the system is leak-
proof before adding this type of anti-freeze.
Glycerine and ethylene glycol should be used in accord-
ance with instructions and in the proportions recommended
by the anti-freeze manufacturer. Ordinarily they should not
be mixed with other solutions. N o additional rust inhibitor
should be added when the anti-freeze contains an inhibitor.
Many branded alcohol anti-freezes and most non-volatile
anti-freezes contain rust inhibitors.
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Whenever anti-freeze is to be installed, check over
the entire cooling system. Replace any tvorn hoses and
tighten all hose connections. Inspect wafer pump, fan
belt, and radiator shutters and thermostat for proper
operation. Clean cooling system thoroughly to remove
all rust and scale.
When glycerine or ethylene glycol are to be installed,
one special precaution must be taken. The cylinder
heads must be tightened thoroughly to prevent any pos-
sibility of the cooling liquid getting into the engine
crankcase. If necessary, install new cylinder head
gaskets and tighten thoroughly,
Salt solutions, such as calcium chloride or magnesium
chloride, sodium silicate, kerosene, honey, glucose and sugar
solutions are not satisfactory for use in automobile radiators.
Use of Hydrometer—In using a hydrometer to de-
termine the temperature at which a solution will freeze, the
test must be made at the temperature at which the hydro-
meter is calibrated. I f the solution is warmer or colder, it
must be brought to this temperature or errors as large as 30
degrees F . may result.
Alcohol and methanol solutions have, for all practical
purposes, the same specific gravity and they may be tested
with the same hydrometer and mixed in the same solution.
When t e s t i n g
alcohol or metha-
nol s o l u t i o n s ,
allowances must
be made for the
effect of the i n -
hibitor on the
h y d r o m e t e r
reading. W i t h
the inhibitor in
the cooling sys-
tem, the actual
f r e e z i n g tem-
perature is five
degrees higher
t h a n indicated
by the hydro-
meter.
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