Perry Mick wrote:

OK, what are the facts regarding coolant being flammable?
I tried to ignite some this morning with a bic lighter, no go.
More alarmism?

The vapors of glycol have a fairly low flash point.  I don't think the

fluid

is very flammable.  Flash point is defined as the temperature of the

fluid

in an open vessel when the vapors will ignite if a flame is passed over

the

top of the vessel.  I tried this with pure propylene glycol a while

back

'cause I couldn't believe it myself.  We had a good little weenie roast
going at a temp well below where we planned to operate (around 200 deg
somewhere...I really don't remember).  That was all fine and good until

the

young machinist who was standing watch with the fire extinguiser

decided to

put it out by shoving the snout of the FE right up to the vessel.  The

FE

material (I forget which type) didn't have enough time to vaporize and

was

dumped into the hot glycol as a liquid.  It then vaporized with a bang

and

shot hot glycol all over the shop.  It was not one of my better days.
Luckily the fire was out and noone was hurt (as long as you don't

include

pride)

Jeff Spitzer

Bill Freeman wrote:

Wow!   Sounds a bit "interesting".     Does this happen with ethylene
glycol, too?  Propylene glycol is the non-toxic coolant, which I have
never used, and might not want to.   Seems like another fine addition
to a coolant leak - FIRE !    I had always assumed (and you know what
that means) that coolant, which is half water would be non-flammable.
Sounds like another reason for aircooling, if 50-50 water-ethylene glycol
mix is flammable, as it sounds like it might be.

Bill
Long EZ builder & pilot
mechanical engineer

Tom Jelly wrote:

I think e-gly is only flammable after most of the water evaporates.  there
was a recall for this on FD's because coolant would leak near the turbos,
water would evap as the underhood temp of the car rose after parking it, the
coolant would ignite and the car and garage  (and house, in a few instances)
would burn to the ground.

Tom

The turbos are liquid cooled so a leak in the plumbing would put the e-gly
in the wrong place. What are our options if any?

Paul Lamar
 
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