Detergents are "Wetting Agents".

"Soap" is not a detergnet, it has detergent in it. Detergents are
chemical additives to soap to do exactly what you have said, break the
water tension, which allows the deeper penetration of the soap. In
combination they do a better job of cleaning. Detergents without the
soap can be acquired, if one want to run without the soap. it may be
that the soap also serves a purpose on the racing circuit. Not sure
about that part.

Saw an interesting experiment once. A clay hardpan had been developed to
hold water. Just clay sediment allowed to settle out from water in a
puddle on the ground. The clay fines plugged the spaces in the soil so
the water would not pass through into the ground and dry out the puddle.
The water sat for days slowly drying due to evaporation. The Prof.
spritzed the thing with detergent and in a little while all the water
was gone.....passed right through the hardpan and into the soil below.

Neat stuff.

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

John Connolly, Aircooled.Net wrote:

>NASCAR guys have been putting 2 drops of Soft Soap in their coolant for
>years for the same effect, even if they run the Water Wetter sticker on the
>bodywork. ;-)
>
>Detergents eliminate the water tension, that's all it does.
>
>
>John
>Aircooled.Net Inc.
>
>
>