If stuck in the desert - Refill coolant system w/ Sugar & Water?

Thinking how one might reduce the boiling point of water if say you sprung a leak in the desert and then after fixing it poured a bunch of sugar in with the water to get you to the other side.

The idea is you would rinse it out once you go the chance but it seems a syrup would both avoid boiling over better as well as conduct heat better than plain water.

TBerk

Reply to
T
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Bad idea, bad idea, bad idea. You're just going to have to keep filling it with the coldest water you've got on hand, and re-filling as the water boils off. Either you'll get somewhere where you can get coolant, or you'll end up stranded with no water. =) Steve Grauman

Reply to
Steve Grauman

I believe sugar lowers the boiling point of water. Not good. It can also caramelize very bad.

Reply to
Joseph Meehan

Jim B.

Reply to
jimbehning

Actually, sugar increases the boiling point of water (so-called Boiling Point Elevation); however, you can't get more than 10C out of sugar/water and as you indicate, things like caramelization may take place.

Reply to
Darryl

You might be better off with urine, as I think it can contain some higher boiling point constituents depending on diet and metabolic function. And depending on your aim and gender, you may not need a funnel to fill the radiator.

Reply to
Kent

been there! took turns drinking beer and standing on the front bumper of an IH scout with a bad head gasket during deer season to get it back out of the woods.

Reply to
northwind

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