Thread: Thermostat
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Old 03-15-2011, 09:08 PM   #55
Special Coupe Frank
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Default Re: Thermostat

A historical note: the 160* F point was arrived at as the maximum temperature you could run the coolant at before you started boiling-off the alcohol-based antifreezing solution.

Once ethylene-glycol "permanent" antifreezes arrived (late 1920's - early 1930's), it was found that the thermostat could be stepped-up to 180* F.

Alcohol-based antifreezes stayed around through the '50s and perhaps into the 1960's, and for years you could usually buy a choice of thermostat temps depending on which type of anti-freeze your were using: 160 for Alcohol, 180-190 for Prestone, Xerex, etc.
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