chapmag Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Hi, I took my caravan in for servicing on the 1st April and decided to travel the night before and overnight on the Service Centre forecourt. Note the van had been in storagr since late October and wrapped in it's caravan cover from the beginning on November til the end of Februar. Imagine my surprise on arrival when I discovered fluid on the dinnette table and adjacent floor standing storage unit. Upon investigation I found that a Diet Coke can had exploded sometime after late October. The was half a can of coke in the cupboard above the dinnette along with four other intqact cans wrapped in the plastic wrapper it came in. When the can exploded it blew the can lid through the plastic wrapper and sprayed coke all over the unerside of the cupboard. The result was that the halfcan of coke that escaped found it's way into the spotlight fiting under the overhead storage cupboard and serious corroded the spotlight fitting. I'm sure it hadn't expoded when it went into storage but the corrosion on the light fitting points to the fact it didn't happen on the journey on the 1st April. So beware. .. here are a couple of photos. .. note the hole in the plastic wrapper, the rinfpull lid that has turned inside out and the base of the can which has also turned inside out. The rust on the light fitting speaks for itself. .. £9. 95 for a replacement! Cheers G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianI Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 It probably did not explode, but more likely caused by the coke freezing and the resultant expansion of the ice forcing off the top of the can. Either way coke is quite corrosive. Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chapmag Posted April 11, 2009 Author Share Posted April 11, 2009 It probably did not explode, but more likely caused by the coke freezing and the resultant expansion of the ice forcing off the top of the can. Either way coke is quite corrosive. Brian Hi Brian, You could be right but why only one of 5 cans I wonder? G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RADIOTWO Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 It probably did not explode, but more likely caused by the coke freezing and the resultant expansion of the ice forcing off the top of the can. Either way coke is quite corrosive. Brian And we drink this stuff, so what is it doing to our guts ? Radiotwo Quote Steve - Land Cruiser Amazon Auto + Pageant Series 5 Champagne The match between car and caravan is perfect in accordance with a mix of European standards. However, according to the British Towing Code the percentage (loaded caravan / kerbweight tow car) is 49%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arc Systems Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Freezing would be the answer, why just one, a slightly weaker can than the rest perhaps? What though I don't understand about that is, if it was cold enough to freeze, then first there is an 'air' gap filled with CO2, the pressure of this gas inside would have decreased somewhat due to the cold, seems incredible then that the coke could have expanded enough to push the lid off?. Most likely then the can was overfilled Quote Arc Systems are specialist Carver caravan product repairers, committed to providing a comprehensive service as well as spare parts for these popular heaters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Freezing would be the answer, why just one, a slightly weaker can than the rest perhaps? What though I don't understand about that is, if it was cold enough to freeze, then first there is an 'air' gap filled with CO2, the pressure of this gas inside would have decreased somewhat due to the cold, seems incredible then that the coke could have expanded enough to push the lid off?. Most likely then the can was overfilled Most liquids have a quite simple behavior when they are cooled (at a fixed pressure): they shrink. The liquid contracts as it is cooled; because the molecules are moving slower they are less able to overcome the attractive intermolecular forces drawing them closer to each other. Then the freezing temperature is reached, and the substance solidifies, which causes it to contract some more because crystalline solids are usually tightly packed. Water is one of the few exceptions to this behavior. When liquid water is cooled, it contracts like one would expect until a temperature of approximately 4 degrees Celsius is reached. After that, it expands slightly until it reaches the freezing point, and then when it freezes it expands by approximately 9%. So for a 330ml can of Coke it will expand an additional 30ml. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chapmag Posted April 11, 2009 Author Share Posted April 11, 2009 (edited) Logic says it could have frozen. .. but the evidence somewhat differs. The other 4 cans didn't freeze/fail and neither did the 6 bottles of water (with sports caps) in the open fridge (which incidently is a floor level where as the coke was at eye level). Also the underside of the shelf above where the coke can "let go" is sprayed with coke. ... surely if the coke was frozen it would not have gone off with such force as to travel 4 inches (?) vertically! If I get a chance I'll take and post a photo of the underside of the shelf. Cheers G. Edited April 11, 2009 by chapmag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Logic says it could have frozen. .. but the evidence somewhat differs. Cheers G. If only Rob-Jax was around, he would have known and been able to explain it in a way we all would have understood. GPS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legsmaniac Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Looking at your photo of the base of the can and at the lid, they lead me to believe it was frozen, forcing not only the lid off but the normally indented base to be forced out too. I doubt an explosion alone would have forced both ends of the can. Bursting usually occurs as the ice starts to melt and this would explain the liquid being sprayed as you describe. I've experienced this from cans the kids have placed in the freezer and from plastic bottles of milk which had been frozen in a freezer. Quote Carry On Camping! Legsmaniac's World -my own personal web space with campsite reviews - http://www. legsmaniac. org. uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianI Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Bursting occurs when the liquid freezes as the ice expands. There would be quite a stress build up in the can until it eventually failed, possibly explosively. It is also probable that not all the liquid had frozen, resulting in some being sprayed around. The reason many people think its the thawing that causes pipes to burst is that it is only then they notice the liquid running out. Up until then the frozen ice has contained it. Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BertieBassett Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Have you thought of sending details to Coke, I'm sure that they would be interested and may come back with a suggestion as to what happened. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couiza Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 (edited) ** Edited July 8, 2009 by couiza Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 This is a regular occurence in my domestic fridge when the thermostat is set too cold, of course no one admits to adjusting it. This has happened with Coke, Sprite, Tango, John Smiths, Heineken and others. Hi couiza (+chapmag) Out here in the Alps that list is pretty near the inventory of the honesty bar and when it is cold we'll usually bring the bottles in as they always pop the top if not the glass. .. We have had it 'really' cold on a few occasions and it has popped the odd can in cases of ten or twelve and sometimes they seem to survive but often 'let go' sometime later - my advice is if in doubt to drink it all just in case neil Quote Bailey S5 Pageant Auvergne & Vauxhall Signum CDTI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan leslie Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 And we drink this stuff, so what is it doing to our guts ? Radiotwo In my previous (working) life, I travelled a lot in the Morocco area and often picked up stomach bugs - our company doctors advice was to drink coke at the first signs as it would kill any issues!! Coke is also great for cleaning dirty coins. Quote Bessacarr Cameo 525 towed by SsangYong Rexton 2.2 auto in Brown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachcomber1995 Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 had some hinges from a worktop in the caravan bit rusty and stiff, put them in some coke a cola for a few days, got rid of the rust and freed the hinges, as you say we drink the stuff, . ......................mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arc Systems Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 The 'cleaning agent' in Coke and many other pops is phosphoric acid!! it's used as a preservative in minute amounts, thankfully, otherwise it's evil stuff that's also used to etch glass!! Quote Arc Systems are specialist Carver caravan product repairers, committed to providing a comprehensive service as well as spare parts for these popular heaters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.