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Old Oct 31, 2002 | 11:25 AM
  #47  
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Scott T
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Originally posted by fujiwara takumi
not athlons, there's no way to accurately read a core temp...but 198 is a nearby temp, so you gotta figure that its running as hot as an engine.

considering nearby temps of a car and nearby temps of a computer are comparable...

though the thickness isnt the problem with antifreeze and computer cooling, its got to do with the heat transfer not being as efficient as water. water wetter is actually a pretty good substitute for it.
Ok you're missing my point - the huge difference is in the ambient temperature - it is a lot easier to cool the coolant back down (after it has done its job) if the anbient temperature is cooler - in fact, heat transfer is a logarithmic process, so a 20-30 degree difference in ambient temp is huge. If the outside temp is 100 degrees, the water coming out of the radiator is probably still 130-140 degrees - which increases the chance of boiling after another trip through the engine.

And viscosity IS the issue - go here

http://www.overclockers.com/articles609/index02.asp

Here is a key excerpt:

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Antifreeze vs Methanol
What we're looking at here are two very comparable substances. The differences between them are often times negligible, with Methanol generally acting a little bit better then Antifreeze. Where the differences REALLY become evident is in the Viscosity. The Viscosity of Methanol is what really gives it a HUGE lead over Antifreeze from the word go; and the colder it gets, the more apparent that fact becomes.

Antifreeze is most definitely a great product for cars because they operate at 200+ degrees. Viscosity doesn't become much of an issue in that kind of heat because heat thins it out. Methanol would be terrible in a car because of its extremely low evaporation point. Alternately, it's also why Antifreeze is going to be terrible in your computer. Viscosity becomes a BIG issue in computer cooling, especially the colder you go.
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Yes - water is the most EFFICIENT coolant, but it is not as EFFECTIVE in automotive application because of the low boiling point. (Which is what I should have said in the first place)
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