allways thought it was bein a pressurised system that upped the boilin point
It is mostly pressure that raises the boiling pint of the coolant water.
In round numbers,
with NO added pressure, the water will boil at 100°C / 212°F that is, in a pan on the stove or with the radiator cap off.
If a 15 pound pressure cap is fitted, such as on a Pressure-Cooker or the car radiator, the water won't boil until it reaches about 120°C / 250°F. which is VERY hot.
Because of this, we have to keep in mind that if the system is pressurised, and is hotter than 100 degrees C, the water will practically explode out the filler hole if the cap is taken off and the pressure released. This can be very violent, and many people have been badly scalded doing it.
All our engines are HEAT engines, and they are at their most efficient the hotter they get, up to the point the whole engine goes into melt-down.
In a power station, using steam to drive turbines, the water in the boiler will be up around 375°C / 700°F and under a pressure of 220 BAR / 3,200 psi! After that they super-heat the steam even hotter, well over 500°C and sometimes nearly double that.
A burst pipe there would be quite exciting!
CharlesY