Antifreeze History?

Bill Goddard

Bill Goddard

Well-known member
Question came up today about when antifreeze was first used. Thought I'd go to the barn. i have seen picturs of old "black" cars stuck in snow banks so there was some driving in the winter. Does anyone know when it came into use?
 
It is mentioned in my 1918 edition Dykes' Automotive handbook. They were alcohol-based, usually methanol.

"Permanent" anti-freezes ( ethylene-glycol ) such as Prestone go back to the very early '30s, possibly the late 1920's.

Prior to "permanent" antifreezes, alcohol was the principle ingredient; it would boil-off at temps above 160 * F, so it had to be constantly checked and replenished.

Even into the 1950's, there were 160* thermostats for folks who continued to use alcohol-based antifreezes, and 180* thermostats for folks using "permanent" anti-freezes in pressurized systems.
 
My 1930 Service Bulletins, page 520, specifies "Ethylene Glyco" (no L) for the Model A
The 1928 page just mentions Alcohol on page 288.
 
Bill Goddard .........................
Anti-Freeze was not invented, it was discovered. Back in the days, when chemical, or any other plants were allowed to dump all waste, right into the river, at the Union Carbide plant in South Charleston, West Virginia, they saw that this certain waste product was melting the ice in the Kanawha river.
They soon thought up the idea to sell this waste product as antifreeze for automobiles.
MIKE :)
 
Worked in a sevice station in rural central Michigan and we always had a 55 gallon drum of methanol in the corner of the wash bay. I was drafted in 1965 and there was a fresh drum at christmas time in 65.
 
Ethylene glycol is processed from sugar beets, thus the sweet taste. Wonder what Union Carbide was doing with sugar beets?
 
Don't know if this is a hard fact,but the current model A Times has an antifreeze article and said Ethylene Glycol became available in1937. It was sold as permanent antifreeze because you could use it in summer too.

They also caution against using the new organic acid technology(OAT) in our A's. This is the pink,orange and sometimes green stuff.

Also the "universal type" is OAT,do not use it, Use "permanent type" green antifreeze.

I think the acid type eats the solder in the. radiator.

John
 
I'm surprised after the sweetness comments no one mentioned this...

Ethylene glycol is poisonous. It does taste sweet and ultimately causes kidney failure.
Diethylene glycol is also poisonous. Polyethylene Glycol is not poisonous but it does do a great job of getting you ready for a colonoscopy. Propylene glycol is also safe as a food additive and also is called RV antifreeze.
 
"Ethylene glycol is poisonous"
TRUE
Antidote: Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol.
Read this in Mother Earth News in the '70's and I tell everyone that I know who has dogs, or other animals. Speed is of the essence.
Get Advice for Treatment. At first sign or if you suspect poisoning - begin treatment.
I have helped to treat a number of dogs, who went on to live long lives. A couple day hangover is better than a prolonged death.

Darryl in Fairbanks
 
The reason for using alcohol was the new "permanent" antifreeze was expensive by comparison, especially for old cars that tended to leak. I did know a Model A owner who drove his A as an everyday car at least as late as the early 90's. He used windshield washer solvent as antifreeze.
 
Also used as an antifreeze has been salt water. A friend in Idaho bought a 1906 Winton that had salt water antifreeze left sitting in it for years. The salt water prevented freeze up but over the years of storage, it ate holes through the cylinder walls. Also used as an antifreeze has been straight kerosene. No-freeze windshield washer solvent can foam up in the cooling system and over heat it. I presently use RV antifreeze for our Stanley steamers for winter storage. Works well but like it seems it is a little hard to get a quick steam up for winter use while using the RV antifreeze.
 

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I don't know what truth there is to this but I read that Ethylene glycol was designed for use in pressurized systems and that Propylene glycol works better in unpressurized systems beacuse it's not as prone to boil over. I run prestone Low Tox in my Town Sedan it's Propylene glycol you have to use the litmus paper test strips to test the mixture. it was easy to find a few years ago but harder to find now. Thanks to this thread I may check into using RV antifreeze.
 
My RV antifreeze cautions "NOT FOR USE IN ENGINES."
Maybe no antirust additives?

Propylene Glycol Antifreeze by Sierra is available from ACE under special order for $13 /gal.
 
FL&WVMIKE said:
Bill Goddard .........................
Anti-Freeze was not invented, it was discovered. Back in the days, when chemical, or any other plants were allowed to dump all waste, right into the river, at the Union Carbide plant in South Charleston, West Virginia, they saw that this certain waste product was melting the ice in the Kanawha river.
They soon thought up the idea to sell this waste product as antifreeze for automobiles.
MIKE :)
Click to expand...

Mike, I was debating on whether or not to post this same story. My Dad told it to me years ago when he worked in South Charleston.

Tim (Hillbilly at Large)
 
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