from Wikipeida -

"Brass has higher malleability than bronze or zinc. The relatively low
/melting point of brass/ (900 to 940 �C (1652 to 1724 �F), depending on
composition)"

I think that's a little higher than 160F .  lol.
Scott

On 7/3/2012 5:27 AM, Derek Drew wrote:
> The information throughout the Internet seems to be that brass barbed
> fittings are good to 160 degrees (at 2XXpsi).
>
> I called Dixon Brass and they said not to use the brass barbed Ts and
> pipe joining fittings for engine coolant where the coolant would go
> over 160 degrees (as it would in a car).
>
> This seems to imply that we cannot use brass in the coolant system,
> at least not the common barbed fittings, almost all of which, where a
> rating is given, are rated to 160F.
>
> So, I called McMaster and they said that you absolutely CAN use brass
> barbed fittings in the coolant system of a vehicle, and said the 160
> degrees rating was a sort of a mistake that keeps getting repeated
> over and over again, but that its source was originally from the
> rating of *hose* that was connected to the brass fittings, but that
> the brass fittings themselves will absolutely stand up to the needs
> of an automotive cooling system (210F?).
>
> Does anyone have any further info or experiences?
>
> Has anyone on this list ever had a FAILURE of a brass coolant system
> barbed fitting?
>
> The reason I ask is that there are some of these fittings in my
> coolant system right now, and I have to decide whether to go dig them
> all out and replace them with OEM VW plastic fittings, or Gates
> plastic hose fittings.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Derek Drew
> Washington DC / New York
> derekdrew@derekmail.com
> Email is best normally but...
> PHONE: 202-966-7907 (Call the number at left normally)
> (alt/cell for diligent calling only): 703-408-1532
>