[Farmall] Tires for an H

[Jim Becker]

I must have never read that part of an Owner's Manual, because I don't 
remember ever hearing that before.  My first thought is that doesn't make a 
lot of sense.  CaCl is a salt and the reduced freezing point comes from it 
being a salt solution (ionization in water and all that).  I wouldm't expect 
it to be particularly acid.  But there has to be some reason for the 
recommendation.  Maybe tire-grade CaCl typically has some acidic impurities? 
Without an acid to combine I wouldn't expect much lime to disolve and most 
of it would tend be in suspension and settle to the bottom whenever it is 
parked.  To whatever extent there is acid, the lime should combine and 
neutralize it, producing a salt as a byproduct.  More salt would reduce the 
freezing point.

I am not a chemist.  My chemistry education consists of a high school class 
that I struggled my way through 45 years ago.  So I petty much expect to be 
corrected on all the above.

Jim Becker        jim.becker at verizon.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <szabelsk at gdls.com>
To: "Farmall/IHC mailing list" <farmall at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 8:12 AM
Subject: Re: [Farmall] Tires for an H


> In going through the owner's manual that I got with my H, I noticed that
> they mention adding lime to the calcium chloride mixture to cut down on
> the acidity. Wouldn't adding the lime weaken the solution so that is had a
> higher freezing point, thereby defeating the real purpose for adding the
> calcium chloride? Has anybody ever tried this?
>
> Carl Szabelski