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Antifreeze

The only other anti-freeze I recall was alcohol based that boiled at 180*.
Some farmers used Kerosene in the old tractors or just plain water with frequent drainings.

Vern
 
(quoted from post at 20:46:55 08/29/11) Today we use Ethlyne glycol for anti-freeze. So what did they use before Ethlyne glycol in the old tractors like my Super A?
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In cold country where a farmer had to clean barn and spread manure even at -30 water would freeze in the radiator even if just added while the tractor was running. Most of em with more than one tractor drained all but one and added alcohol based anti freeze. Alcohol based anti freeze had to be checked often because of evaporation.

Rick
 
Same thing; ethlyne glycol.

It's been around since 1859 and prior to that, the work horses and mules just didn't need any anti-freeze. :>)

Allan
 
We used alcohol called Zerone. We used it over the winter months and drained it in the Spring. Never had any radiator problems back then. Permanent antifreeze doesn't mean forever. When we had the 10-20 we drained the water from the radiator and engine when it wasn't used. Hal
 
From what Dad says, they were still using plain water and draining the tractor engines every day in the winter into the 1950's.

Ethylene glycol may have been around but apparently it was expensive.
 
(quoted from post at 05:33:56 08/30/11) From what Dad says, they were still using plain water and draining the tractor engines every day in the winter into the 1950's.

Ethylene glycol may have been around but apparently it was expensive.
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I was around in the 50s. Everything had permanent anti-freeze in it. If you had livestock, and everyone did, the tractors were used in the winter just as much as in the summer.
 
(quoted from post at 09:21:17 08/30/11)
(quoted from post at 05:33:56 08/30/11) From what Dad says, they were still using plain water and draining the tractor engines every day in the winter into the 1950's.

Ethylene glycol may have been around but apparently it was expensive.
Click to expand...

I was around in the 50s. Everything had permanent anti-freeze in it. If you had livestock, and everyone did, the tractors were used in the winter just as much as in the summer.
Click to expand...
Same here... I remember Prestone and Zerex from the late '40s. Lived in NE Iowa where it got plenty cold in the winter.
 
I can remember when I was in the cub scouts/boy scouts in the '50's. We used to sell anti freeze as a fund raiser. We sold products called Zerex and Zerone. Zerex was considered 'permanent' and I'm assuming it was ethylene glycol. Zerone was alcohol and had to be drained at the end of the Winter or it would boil away from the hot Summer driving. Plus you had to keep a close eye on it in the Winter and add as needed. I always remember my dad using the alcolhol product which was cheaper. He was also very conservative person and was anti-change. Never went for this newer, better stuff. Could never figure that out.
 
I remember in the early 1950s We had a JD L that we parked for the winter Drained. When Dad got the JD B he would put kerosine in it for winter use. If I rember rite, He used that kerosine in the spring to start fires in the brush piles.
 
Ethlyne glycol didn't come into wide spread use untill military air craft like the P40, P38 and P51 with liquid cool engines were being used. An aircraft at idle on the ground would cook alcohol out of the system before the plane could clime to cooler hights. After the end of WWII it became very common and everyone was using it.

I remember my dad telling stories about the "old" anti freeze.

Rick
 
Have any of you guys ever used windshield washer fluid (winter grade) in your old tractors? It is supposed to be good for -20 degrees. It's also cheap compared to regular anti-freeze.
 
Like some others said, in So Dak in the 1950's my dad must have thought ethyline glycol was too expensive as he would drain the tractor daily after feeding the cattle in the winter. Next day he would carry out a pail of water and refill the tractor with plain water. He covered the radiator to keep from freezing when he was driving it. Roger
 
An expert would probably say that "real" antifreeze (as compared to windshield washer fluid) has a higher boiling point, better heat transfer characteristics, corrosion inhibitors, water pump lubricants, anti-foaming agents, etc. That's just a guess.

But I'd say for 15 percent of the price of the real stuff, the washer fluid may be worth a try. Maybe you could add your own corrosion inhibitors and/or lubricant if you want to. I'm not aware of anything in the washer fluid that would do any harm (leave deposits or dissolve gaskets, for example), but don't take my word for it.

I'm with you; I have to believe that if these tractors did all right with water as a coolant then they can likely handle the washer fluid.

Mark W. in MI
 
One "old timer" told me that he used alcohol and water (like alot of the other posts I see on here,)but he would add about a quart of grapefruit juice to it to keep the waterpump packings/seals lubricated.

Sounds like the start of a good drink to me,as well!!!
 
Reminds me of "zarex" that nasty liquid concentrate drink mix we used to drink as kids...

Probably made of the same stuff!
 
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