Quick question about the coolant for Great War inline engines. Was it straight water or did they mix in some glycol?

Thanks,

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To the best of my recollection Epower ethylene glycol was available in only very limited quantities in WWI. Plain water was used in most (if indeed not all) cases and was drained from the engines after each use, even in the warm weather, in part due to the fact that water could seep into the crankcase via the waterpumps on some engines if it were left in. In the winter the water was preheated to near boiling before being poured into the radiator in order to keep the engines from freezing during run up. Antifreeze would have made things so much simpler for the AMs.

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Thanks Lou! Big help and now my DID accounts of exploding coolant systems will be historically accurate.

And excess water can be used for the Ack-emma's tea. Now that's sensible

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mmmmmm, you'll love the bold, rich, metallic flavour! Ack-emma's that know, know to ask for it by name - Engine Block Tea. Available at the back of only the finest Bessonneaus.

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Epower, this is a simple ditto to Lou's post. Glycol existed and was used in explosives but was too scarce to be a coolant until the post-war years. I noted on the Vintage Aviator site that they use a 70/30 water-glycol mix, but that is a modern expedient.

Haha! I meant the hot water left over after filling the engines.

Although some stories I've heard about tea brewed in petrol tins suggests this wouldn't be an issue.