Overview
Originally, motorists drove cars without heaters or side windows, making winter driving very
unpleasant. In addition, it was extremely difficult to start a car in cold weather. The eventual
development of car heaters and side windows, and the improvement of engines and lubricants led
to more winter driving and the requirement of antifreeze/coolant. Many compounds were used with
water, such as honey, sugar, molasses and, the most popular, methyl alcohol. Despite good
cooling ability, alcohol had the significant drawbacks of boilaway, odor and flammability.
Motorists were perpetually uncertain about their freezing protection.
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