Why is water cycled around the engines of most cars, even though it can present a problem with rusting?
Thanx
Answer:
The water is cycled through the engine to disperse heat. Since water can rust the metal in an engine, antifreeze is added to minimize the corrosion and to depress the freezing point using ethylene glycol. 50% water and 50% antifreeze is usually the recomended amount.
ACTUALY THE ANTIFREEZ WE USE TODAY HAS LUBRICATING PROPERTIES!
You don't run straight water through your car. You mix it it with anti- freeze, with also acts as a lubricant and rust inhibitor.
The circulating fluid is used to remove excess heat from the engine otherwise the bearings and cylinders would seize up.
Special radiator coolent is used these days instead of water to alleviate the corrosion problem.
The molecular bonding per se, has no relevance
I always heard it was to keep the car from overheating.
I was under the impression that auto makers suggest to use 50% water and 50% antifreez. That combo makes a less rusting formula(maybe even a rustless formula). When the water in your car cycles it is under pressure and doesn't have air in it. The only place air should be is in the resivore. The air would be the cause of rust.
I don't know what they use in the warmer part of the USA but up here in Canada we use antifreeze and it is a glycol liquid and does not inhibit rust. It stays in the cooling system year round and not water.
When we first used water to cool engines, we were unaware
of 'coolant' as chemists had not 'invented' it. The water was necessary as an internal combustiuon engine produces significant heat.
Of course, all engines do not use water. Volkswagen engines were originally air cooled because Porche realised that such a motor was more reliable. Motor Cycles were also air cooled.
Because the heat is absorbed by the liquid and as it cycles through the radiator the heat is taken away by the air passing through the radiator. Something akin to wind chill.
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