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Thread: Zero Pressure Cooling System in your car

  1. #1
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    Zero Pressure Cooling System in your car

    http://www.evanscooling.com/npg/

    Anyone have any experience here? This is the first time I've ever heard of such a thing.

    BMWs are known for having their PLASTIC (yes, plastic) radiators explode.

    I just picked up a myriad of items to basically replace the cooling system on my own BMW....

    I have a link to a BMW forum that has a long thread discussing this very thing...PM me if you're interested in seeing it.
    Wood: a fickle medium....

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  2. #2
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    Where does the no-pressure part come in? All I see is a coolant that does not require watering down...
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  3. #3
    Cooling systems are under pressure so the coolant can exceed 212 degrees.

    The coolant is rated to certain specs at 0 pressure (typically sea level bar.), it does not say the systems need to be 0 pressure.

    Boiling at 375 degrees at sea level is nice but if your engine's coolant hits that, you have a problem.
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  4. #4
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    It really isn't zero pressure but the boiling point of this fluid is very high so presumably, the system will not pressurize very much under normal engine operating temperatures.

    As you know, when water boils and turns to steam, it expands tremendously and thus it increases the pressure inside a car's cooling system. This increase in pressure will serve to increase the boiling point of the water thus allowing it to stay liquid water at higher temperature than normal zero pressure (sea-level) conditions. Think about a pressure cooker...same thing.

    So the main point is: this fluid allows zero to very low pressure in the cooling system of a car and thus this might lead one to believe that the components of the cooling system might last longer if under less pressure (i.e. less stress).

    Even though I have connections that get me very very VERY good prices on OEM BMW parts, it still cost me ~$600 in parts plus several evenings of work to revamp the cooling system of my car. This fluid, while pricey, might prevent me from ever having to do this work again.

    But, I wonder if there are other good reasons that one might want their car's cooling system under pressure?

    I'm not sure if I'm going for it or not. Hmmm....
    Wood: a fickle medium....

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  5. #5
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    The coolant in an engine requires corrosion inhibitors to prevent galvanic action from electrically machining your engine into crumbs.

    This is what "wears out" in the coolant, so we test the coolant on annual basis in large engines, and add corrosion inhibitors.

    Eventually (3 years for conventional and 6 years for long life) we change the coolant.

    Then the lab analysis/corrosion inhibitor addition until the coolant once again is at end of life.

    I have a hard time believing that they have a "lifetime" coolant unless lifetime is defined as the time period until it needs replacement.

    Regards, Rod.

  6. #6
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    Zero Pressure

    Most vehicles, practically all run under some pressure approaching 12-15 psi. I had never heard of BMW's zero pressure system. Interesting??
    David Woodruff

    If you don't know where you're going, it doesn't matter how you get there.

  7. #7
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    David,

    This isn't specific to BMWs...that is just what I have and they are known to have leaks and exploding cooling system components. Just one of the joys of owning one, I guess.
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  8. #8
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    water boils at 212 degrees at zero psi but if the unit are sealed so that the steam can not escape then the boiling point will increase quick-----no psi/no increase in temperature

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by ray hampton View Post
    water boils at 212 degrees at zero psi but if the unit are sealed so that the steam can not escape then the boiling point will increase quick-----no psi/no increase in temperature
    ..............
    Last edited by Dan Hintz; 08-31-2010 at 2:56 PM.
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  10. #10
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    Nope...

    As pressure increases, so does boiling point.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  11. #11
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    Bah, confused myself with my own wording My mind was telling me as pressure goes up, less and less material goes to vapor... but my fingers were saying otherwise. <sigh>
    Hi-Tec Designs, LLC -- Owner (and self-proclaimed LED guru )

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  12. #12
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    Where are all those links about learning physics now? haha
    Wood: a fickle medium....

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  13. #13
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    Ouch Touche...
    Hi-Tec Designs, LLC -- Owner (and self-proclaimed LED guru )

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  14. #14
    If only there were some substance we could make a radiator out of other than plastic...

    I'm on Volvo radiator number 3, by the way.

  15. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by Dan Hintz View Post
    ..............
    I think that means Dan's biting his tongue.
    .
    "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning".
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