What Is Coolant Exactly
Coolant is commonly also called antifreeze. It is comprised of a 50/50 mix of ethylene or propylene glycol and water. Coolant/antifreeze is added to a vehicles cooling system, which circulates the fluid throughout the engine and radiator to prevent overheating. If your vehicles cooling system is functioning properly, it will effectively reduce the heat produced by the engine and keep everything running smoothly. Without regular coolant service, the cooling system may not function as it should, causing the engine to become too hot and cause damage such as warped heads, blown head gaskets, or even engine failure.Coolant is also called antifreeze because, as the name suggests, it will not freeze even in extremely cold temperatures. As coolant keeps the engine from overheating it also keeps it from freezing up when left to sit in the cold. Frozen fluid may prevent your car from starting on cold winter mornings.
It is important to make sure that you have enough coolant in your vehicle at all times to stave off premature coolant system corrosion, as well. The best way to stay on top of potential problems with your coolant system is with regular coolant service as a trusted auto repair shop.
How Do I Add Antifreeze To My Vehicle
If your antifreeze level is just a little low, you can top it off yourself fairly easily. Follow these steps to add antifreeze to your vehicle:
If you think that your vehicle needs to have the antifreeze flushed or you suspect another problem with the cooling system, take the drive from Winona or Byron to our service center in Rochester, MN. We’ll inspect the problem and help you keep your vehicle on the road.
Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.
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What Is The Anti
As we already clarified, the anti-freezes a part of the coolant that prevents water from freezing quickly. In other words, anti-freeze helps water drop its freezing point below the specific numbers, so coolant helps serve your vehicle in very cold environments.
Thus, when coolant consists of a mixture of water antifreeze, it achieves new characteristics. These characteristics include operating up to 200 degrees without issues with evaporating and operating at minimum temperatures up to 30 degrees below zero without any issues with coolant freezing.
Anti-freeze consists of many interacting chemicals. The most important one is ethylene glycol, which is responsible for reducing the freezing point for water when the temperature gets extremely low. Furthermore, it helps lubricate the internal engine components to keep them working properly.
Anti-freeze comes in two common colors, orange, and green. While people think that these colors don’t mean anything, the orange color indicates that this entire freeze lasts much longer than the green one. It also has certain additives to help prevent corrosion.
With that, if you’re still wondering and looking for antifreeze vs. coolant, you should immediately know that anti-freeze is not coolant and cool. Instead, it needs both a mixture of water and antifreeze and extra additives to help add certain characteristics to the coolant. These characteristics help prevent freezing and enhance the vehicle’s engine’s performance.
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When Should I Change The Coolant/antifreeze
Youll need to have the coolant/antifreeze in your cars engine cooling system flushed and replaced from time to time. And because of its importance, its vital you keep a regular check on the condition of the fluid.
So, pop the bonnet, locate your coolant bottle and remove the lid. Take a sniff and if the fluid smells hot and burnt then its time to have it flushed and filled with new coolant/antifreeze. More than that, youll need to check and find out what caused your system to overheat in the first place, so take your car in to your mechanic.
Similarly, if you look at the fluid and it looks a little milky then its possible that oil has got into the system via a leaking head gasket or transmission cooler or the intake manifold. And this can kill your cars engine. Get the car to a mechanic ASAP.
Ideally, the coolant/antifreeze should look a vivid green and it should feel slippery, like oil. If it feels gritty to the touch, then you should get the cooling system flushed and replace the fluid mix. You dont want to risk scale or rust being washed around your cooling system which could cause the water pump to seize and the engine to overheat.
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Should I Use Ready To Use Coolant/antifreeze Or Concentrated
Prestone Ready to Use Coolant/Antifreeze is specifically developed to offer an easy and convenient way to top up your vehicles cooling system. The Ready to Use formula can be added to your coolant reservoir directly from the bottle, whilst the Concentrated alternative will need to be mixed with water prior to use.
Both Ready to Use and Concentrated versions of the Prestone Coolant/Antifreeze are supplied in an easy-to-pour-bottle, making it simple to top up the coolant yourself.
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What Are The Signs Of Low Coolant
When coolant is low, it affects the internal temperature of your cars engine that is protected by the antifreeze. To know that your coolant is empty, the temperature gauge should rise because your engine will heat up rapidly. Secondly, if you have a modern car, the engine cut-off feature would be enabled, and the car would cease. Thirdly, low or empty coolant triggers the malfunction illumination light that we mostly refer to as the check engine light.
How Often Do I Need To Change The Coolant
In general, you will coolant needs to be flushed once every 100,000 miles. However, if you’re driving an older car, you might want to flush it out more frequently. The best recommendation is to check with your vehicle owners manual and know how often to change your vehicle’s coolant.
In some scenarios and depending on your driving style, your vehicle, the type of coolant, the environment, you might need to change the coolant more often. Since the coolant is a critical fluid in your car, it is important that you keep an eye for any symptoms indicating that your vehicle is due for a coolant change. The good news is that your car is smart enough to grab your attention by showing you some specific symptoms indicating that you need to change your coolant soon.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the common symptoms that your vehicle needs a coolant flush:
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What Is Coolant Made Of It’s Just Water Right
Coolant is normally a concentrate fluid, usually made of Ethylene Glycol together with some protective additives that is mixed with demineralised water to produce coolant. Propylene Glycol, which is non-toxic, is sometimes used in the mixture, as well as, or even instead of, the more toxic Ethylene Glycol.
Glycol does not absorb heat as effectively as water, but when added to water it has the ability to lower the fluids freezing point as well as raise its boiling point. A common Glycol to water ratio used is 50:50. This will lower the freezing point of the fluid to minus 39°C and raise the boiling point to 108°C. Manufacturers can recommend other specific mixture ratios, but below 33.5% Glycol the coolant will give inadequate freeze protection, and above 65% Glycol the mixture has inadequate heat absorption.
Coolant Or Antifreeze Is One Of The Most Important Fluids In Your Car We Explain What It Is And Why Its Essential To The Good Health Of Your Cars Engine
AS ITS NAME SUGGESTS, antifreeze is designed to keep the water in your cars engine from freezing. But its also designed, rather confusingly, to keep your engine cool by reducing the chances of the water in the engine from overheating just about every single engine on-sale today is water-cooled. Confused? Dont be.
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When Coolant Should Be Flushed
After learning what coolant does my car need and the proper coolant mixture, lets see when should the coolant should be flushed.
As you know, coolant is not something that will last forever. The engine coolant has to be flushed at precise intervals. Or refreshed before the winter so the vehicle does not freeze at below-freezing temperatures.
So, when should the coolant be flushed for optimum performance of the cooling system? Lets elaborate.
Lets say you are having an older car and you use the IAT also known as green coolant. In this case, you will have to flush the coolant every 3 to 4 years or at about 30,000 miles.
If you run a more modern solution like the OAT and HOAT types of coolants you will have to replace the coolant every 5 years or after 50,000 miles. Meaning that these coolants have a quite longer lifespan.
Also, whenever the coolant is 3+ years old it is often advised to refresh it a little bit. Release some coolant from the expansion tank and pour some concentrate to make the coolant stronger. Overall, thats it when it comes to what coolant does my car need and also the change interval of coolant. Now lets see how you can flush the coolant at home using common tools.
After How Long Should I Change My Coolant
Coolant deteriorates with time. Therefore, it is recommendable to check your engine coolant at least twice a year.
Alternatively, you can schedule your checks after every 30,000 or 50,000 miles. If the coolant level has gone down, you should top it up.
Also, a regular antifreeze flush and coolant drain are necessary
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Can I Use Prestone Coolant In My Mercedes
Yes. Prestones Coolant/Antifreeze is guaranteed to be compatible with all cars, vans or light trucks. Thanks to its unique and patented formula, Prestone Coolant/Antifreeze remains the only coolant on the market that can be mixed with another product within the cooling system without causing damage.
How Long Does Coolant Last In A Car
The average duration of coolant in a car depends on the type of coolant and the vehicles make and model. Typically, silicate coolant lasts up to 2 years or 30,000 miles, while extended drain coolant lasts up to 5 years or 100,000 miles. Note that you can differentiate between coolants from the coolant color.
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Antifreeze: The Ultimate Guide
When cold weather approaches, its time to give your car a once-over to make sure its fully prepared for the drop in temperature.
With all of the external features that need to be checked, such as the lights, windshield wipers, and tires, its easy to forget to make sure your cars cooling system is topped off and running properly.
Not using the right coolant or the correct proportion of antifreeze can easily lead to serious engine issues.
So what is antifreeze and how can we use it properly to protect our cars?
Continue reading to know everything about this viscous fluid that offers much-needed protection to the insides of your car.
The Difference Between Antifreeze And Coolant
Now, you may have noticed that the terms antifreeze and coolant have been used interchangeably so far in this article.
Thats because coolant is simply a pre-mixed solution of antifreeze and water typically, in the proportion of 50-50 or 70-30.
Because the coolant already contains water, you dont need to dilute these products before use.
However, antifreeze has to be mixed with water before it can be used.
Dont worry about getting the two mixed up, the labels on the bottle will clearly state what you have just purchased.
And the different types of antifreeze/coolant are color-coded for your convenience as well.
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Bmw Approved Coolant: These 5 Is The Best To Use
BMW is a luxury car and a top-notch performer in the motor industry. However, in its over 100 years of operation, the company has been through it all.
It survived two world wars and was on the verge of bankruptcy in the 1960s. Nonetheless, it is a famous global automaker that is growing strong by the day.
Over the years, the company has recorded incredible success with new car models flooding the market. In 2018 alone, BMW released over 2.5 million vehicles in the global market.
Recently, the company introduced the all-new eight series, which is a new halo model. They have plans to release more electrified models into the market through their eDrive platform.
Since these cars have high-end luxury and design, they use special coolant and antifreeze for their engines. Read on to find out the BMW approved coolant as well as other critical details of this car.
Whats The Correct Antifreeze For My Car
Unsure what antifreeze you need? Multiple types of antifreeze are available, with each using a different type of corrosion inhibitor. This is indicated by a coloured dye:
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IAT Silicates Green
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OAT Organic Acids Orange
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HOAT NAP-free Turquoise
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HOAT Silicates and organic acids Yellow
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Si-OAT Silicates and organic acids Purple
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P-HOAT Phosphates and organic acids Blue or pink
If you are wondering which of these types of antifreeze is correct for your car, always check your owners manual every vehicle differs, and using the wrong type of antifreeze will likely cause expensive or irreversible damage to your engine.
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How Do I Know If I Need More Antifreeze
You can check the antifreeze level in your vehicle by looking at the coolant reservoir or radiator. You should see a clear plastic tank with a fill line clearly marked on it. Make sure your vehicle is sitting on a flat, level surface and the engine is cool to ensure the antifreeze level is most accurate.
Typically, you need to change the coolant in your vehicle every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Your owner’s manual should give you more specific guidance for the make and model of your vehicle. On some cars, you can drive as much as 150,000 miles without changing the coolant. Speak with a mechanic if you’re concerned about the coolant in your car.
Aside from those general guidelines, you may have an issue with your antifreeze or the cooling system if you notice:
- An oily or sludgy layer on top of the antifreeze.
- An extremely low level of coolant.
- Cracked radiator hoses.
- Colorless or rust-hued antifreeze.
- Particles floating in the antifreeze.
These are all indicators that you should take your vehicle to a professional for an inspection. A reliable mechanic can let you know what’s going on and recommend the right repair for your cooling system. Don’t ignore these issues, as they could cause irreparable damage to your engine.
What Is Engine Coolant
Engine coolant keeps your engine from overheating and helps you avoid a costly repair bill. Coolant helps protect your engine from extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. Your cars engine runs hot while in use, hot enough to damage essential parts. The coolant absorbs the heat from the cars engine and circulates back to the radiator. During the winter, extreme cold can cause your engine block to freeze and even crack. Coolant prevents both overheating and freezing. True to its name, engine coolant, aka antifreeze, does not freeze in sub-zero temperatures. Commonly referred to as antifreeze, engine coolant contains ingredients that help prevent corrosion of your cars engine parts. Engine coolant comes in several different varieties, but its basic ingredients include ethylene or propylene glycol and water.
Your cars radiator has a reservoir that stores engine coolant. From that reservoir, coolant flows into and circulates through the engine block, protecting your vehicle from extreme heat or cold. The coolant system works as a simple loop. A pump will send engine coolant to your engine block when the car is running. From there, the coolant will run to the cars radiator, also called the heat exchanger, and then back to the pump. When you first start your car, allowing the engine to warm up, the coolant will bypass the radiator. As the car heats up, the coolant system valve will allow the coolant to flow through the radiator.
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Can I Put Any Type Of Coolant In My Car
Years ago, when full service gas stations were common place, the attendant had only one option for topping up coolant in your car, it was green. Today we have multiple choices of coolant, each which their own specific concoction to improve the cooling system of your car.In order to answer the question, lets discus coolant and how it works. Coolant in its base form is Ethylene Glycol. Now most people will be surprised to hear that coolant plays almost no role in the actual cooling of your engine. Engine cooling is done by the 50/50 mixture of distilled water in the radiator. The Job of the coolant is simply to inhibit rust and lower the freezing temperature of the water.
The need for different types of coolant came about when manufacturers started using more exotic metals for their engine blocks, heads and gaskets. Some metals require more rust inhibitors than others, while some require the ability to dissipitate heat faster than others. The type of coolant your car requires is simply based on the types of metals in your engine.
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