What Does The Cooling System Do
The cooling system is designed to remove heat from the engine and keep it running at the right temperature. The system comprises of a radiator, fan and hoses which run around the engine block, allowing the coolant/antifreeze to absorb heat from every part of the engine.
This heat is then dispelled in the radiator thanks to the volume of cold air coming in through the front grille and fan, and the liquid recirculated to absorb more heat. As the process is continuous, this ensures that the engine is always running at the correct temperature.
If Needed Drain And Refill The Antifreeze
if you arenât comfortable doing it, take your car to a professional
- Using your ownerâs manual, locate the radiatorâs petcock valve
- Place your drain pan beneath the valve
- Turn the petcock valve counterclockwise by a quarter or a halfâyour old antifreeze should start draining out
- Once itâs done, close the valve tightly, lower the car down from the jack, and remove the wheel chocks
- Set the starter to the âonâ position so the battery activatesâbut donât start the engine
- Crank up your temperature and fan to their maximum settings, then turn the starter back off
- Consult your manual to find any bleed valves your engine has and open themâthis prevents air from getting trapped inside your coolant system
- With your bleed valves open, slowly add your antifreeze mixture to the coolant reservoir
- Stop when you reach the cold fill line and wait for 10 to 15 seconds for the fluid to settle, then continue filling
- Stop filling when youâve reached the fill line and it isnât going down any furtherâif you see coolant exiting bleed valves, stop filling and close them
- Once youâre done, close any open bleed valves and firmly replace the cap
Key Takeaway If youâre not experienced working underneath a car, antifreeze replacement is best left to a mechanic.
Donât Miss: What Is A Good Substitute For Car Wash Soap
Reach The Cold Fill Line And Replace The Cap
Once you have reached the cold fill or maximum line, its time to put the coolant cap back on. Ensure that the cap is fastened tightly. If not, it could lead to a serious leak caused by the pressurized system.
If you suspect that your system is leaking, regularly check to see if it isnt running low. Since coolant or antifreeze is reused constantly, you shouldnt be running low too frequently:
Recommended Reading: How To Change My Car Oil
Using Water Isnt Bad For Your Coolant System
Some will tell you that you should only use antifreeze in your coolant system without water.
However, water is still needed for the actual cooling process. If you only use pure antifreeze, the additives will settle, and the engine will run hot. The glycol in pure antifreeze cant effectively remove the heat from the engine, so youll end up with all sorts of problems.
Follow the instructions from the manufacturer and coolant company. In most cases, youre aiming for about a 1:1 mix.
In the same vein, you shouldnt use water solely without antifreeze. This will lead to a broken engine when the environment reaches freezing temperatures and could also cause corrosion problems.
Other Tips For Repairing An Antifreeze/coolant Leak:
- You should check your radiator fluid levels from time to time. This can let you know if your car has a more visible leak than a slow one.
- Flex Seal can be used for small leaks in radiator hoses. It will last long enough to buy a new hose.
- You can drive a short distance if the temperature of the air around radiator is below 30 degrees Fahrenheit and your radiator is able to evacuate its fluids. This is only for the worst-case scenario. However, we recommend a tow.
Read Also: How To Reduce Road Noise In Car
How Do You Know When To Refill Coolant
Rather than open the cap on the radiator, just check to see whether the liquid reaches the Full line on the side of the coolant reservoir shown here. Its part of the coolant recovery system. If the liquid doesnt reach the Full line, open the bottle and add a 50/50 mix of water and coolant until it does.
Keep The Cooling System Clean And Free Of Leaks
The cooling system helps remove excess heat from the engine.
Trying to keep your car cool in the summer heat is a never-ending battle.
But there are a few things you can do to help your cooling system run more efficiently.
First, make sure the coolant levels are topped off and that there are no leaks in the system.
Second, invest in a good-quality radiator cap.
A well-sealed cap will help to maintain proper coolant pressure, which is essential for proper heat transfer.
Finally, dont forget to regularly check the hoses and clamps for signs of wear and tear.
With a little care and maintenance, you can help keep your car cool all summer long.
You May Like: How Much Property Damage Car Insurance Do I Need
Phosphate Hybrid Organic Additive Technology
The main components of this kind of coolant are corrosion-resistance substances such as phosphates and carbohydrates. Depending on your brand, you will mostly find this kind of coolant in blue or pink. Phosphate hybrid organic additive technology is common in cars produced in Asia and other warm-climate continents.
What Is Coolant And Antifreeze
Coolant and Antifreeze are similar but not same. Antifreeze is the concentrated solution made from ethylene glycol and silica. Coolant is the mixture of distilled water and antifreeze that is added to the engine to regulate the temperature. Places with extreme cold weather use propylene glycol that can only freeze below the -74.2 degrees Fahrenheit temperature.
Don’t Miss: Where To Get Car Seat Installed
Pour The Proper Coolant
Pour coolant until it reaches the middle between minimum and maximum. Dont overfill as this can cause excessive pressure build-up in the coolant system.
If you accidentally do, dont worry. You can use a coolant gauge or a suction tool to remove the excess coolant.
Sometimes the expansion tank can be blurry making it hard to see the coolant level. Then budge the car a bit backward and forwards so the coolant splashes a bit. It will make noticing much easier.
Besides knowing how to add engine coolant to your car, its also very important to know what coolant is inside the system. Mainly in terms of type, characteristics, and preferably from what manufacturer.
You should avoid mixing different coolants. This is best avoided by paying attention to the color of the coolant .
When you dont have the same one, its maybe better to add some distilled water to avoid causing damage to the system. Just have in mind if you do this that youll have to replace the coolant before winter as it becomes less freeze resistant.
Also, make sure not to add 100 percent antifreeze. It has to be diluted with water first and then added.
Is It Ok To Mix Green And Orange Coolant
As you can see, green and orange coolants are very different and cause significant damage to a cars engine when used in the wrong vehicle.
Green coolants can damage nonmetal parts in newer engines and orange coolants can fail to prevent corrosion if the correct additives are not included in the formula.
What about when you mix the two together? Is it ok to mix green and orange coolant? In short, no, mixing orange and green coolants is not recommended and can result in damage to the engine.
When green and orange coolants are mixed, a chemical reaction occurs that turns the two liquids into a gel-like substance. The last thing you want is a thick, sludgy substance trying to work its way around your cars cooling system.
The green and orange jelly mixture will effectively clog up the cooling system and stop the coolant from doing its very important job.
This thick substance will prevent the free flow of the coolant and lead to a total blockage in the system. When the cooling system gets clogged up, the coolant will not circulate around the engine and this will cause overheating.
If your car engine is not able to effectively cool down, total engine burnout can occur. An overheating engine is something all drivers should try their best to avoid and is the main reason green and orange coolants should not be mixed together.
However, even if the engine doesnt overheat, the sludge created by the two coolants can damage the water jackets, thermostats, water pumps, and other parts.
Also Check: How To Fix Car Door Latch
The Cars Heater Isnt Working
This could be caused by many things, but low coolant levels are one possibility.
If you find yourself driving in chilly weather with no heat, there are a few potential culprits.
The first thing to check is the cars coolant level.
If its low, the heater wont work because theres not enough hot liquid circulating through the system.
Another possibility is that the heater core is blocked.
This part of the system is responsible for actually blowing hot air into the cabin, so if its clogged with dirt or debris, youll be stuck shivering.
Fortunately, this is a relatively easy fix just remove the blockage and you should be good to go.
Finally, it could be an issue with the blower motor.
This component controls the fan that circulates air through the heater core, so if
Dont Remove Your Water Pump
Some people might have talked about removing their water pump or coolant tank. Dont do this!
Drag racers sometimes employ this trick because the water pump puts drag on the crankshaft, slightly decreasing horsepower. In a drag racing situation, this is great. The engine isnt running long enough for lack of coolant to make much difference.
However, its a catastrophically harmful plan for the car you drive daily. Without coolant, your engine will crack, seize, and generally break within ten or fifteen minutes.
Also Check: What To Do If Your Car Gets Stolen
Can You Top Your Coolant Up With Water
Coolant should only be topped up with water in case of an emergency when the coolant liquid level is lower than it should be.
While topping up with water will help you get safely to the nearest garage and identify any issues, it shouldnt be relied upon.
Adding a little water to coolant shouldnt do any real damage but adding too much will lower its boiling point and stop the coolant from working as efficiently.
What Happens If I Put Too Much Antifreeze In My Car
The reservoir is designed to hold a specific amount of coolant. If you put too much past the maximum mark, it will be expelled through a hose. You may notice the liquid under your car after filling the reservoir. At worst, an overflowing tank can result in electrical damage because the overflow comes into contact with the engine’s wiring. Therefore, you want to be careful not to go past the maximum mark.
Don’t Miss: How To Unlock My Car Door
How Do I Know If My Coolant Is Hoat
Traditionally, HOAT coolants were a yellow color. However, with several different brands selling HOAT products, this type of coolant is now available in a whole range of different colors.
Instead of looking at the color, check the ingredients list and make sure the product you are using has the correct formula to effectively work in your vehicles cooling system.
How To Add Antifreeze To Your Vehicle
Posted on May 7, 2022
Antifreeze or coolant is a key component in keeping your engine cool and preventing overheating. Checking your coolant regularly is a great way to catch problems early, and adding more antifreeze to your vehicle when needed. To help you add the correct antifreeze to your car safely, we researched this topic to provide an in-depth answer.
To add antifreeze to your car, follow these steps:
Please keep reading. We’ll discuss using modern antifreeze types, whether to add it to a cold or hot engine, and suggest the best antifreeze for your engine. We’ve also covered some other commonly asked questions about how to replace antifreeze in your car.
Before you continue reading, let us say We hope you find the links here useful. If you purchase something through a link on this page, we may get a commission, so thank you!
Don’t Miss: How To Get Rid Of Spiders In Car
How To Flush The Coolant
If you want your entire cooling system to run with brand new antifreeze, you might want to flush your coolant first. Even though it might sound a bit complicated, it is still a simple process that you can do on your own. The process is exactly the same as we looked at previously, except for one additional step. You have to drain the coolant, before adding the new liquid.
Draining The Coolant
As mentioned in step 01, you should wait till the engine cools down completely. To make the process easier and more comfortable, jack up the front tires. This will give you more room to work under your car making it easier.
Now crawl under and find the radiator drainage valve. If you are having trouble finding it, try looking at the area directly below the radiator. Make sure to place a large enough vessel to collect the fluid, that youd be replacing. Open the valve and let everything drain out.
For a complete flush, you need to follow this step as well. Once you removed the old liquid, close the radiator drainage valve. You will see that the coolant reservoir is now empty. Fill that with clean water. Now start the engine and let it run for about 15 minutes.
This will ensure that water flows through the entire cooling system, and drags any trace amounts of old coolant left. Repeat the procedure and drain the water that you poured in. Once youve got everything out of your system, close the drainage valve.
Assess The Coolant Level
To check the coolant level you will need to access the coolant reservoir. The coolant reservoir has a cap that you can remove and in some the radiator also has a cap that you can take off.
On the side of the reservoir youll see a Min and Max scale. Make sure the coolant level is within the range if it is not, you need to top it off.
Also Check: Where Is My Car Registration
How To Check Your Coolant Levels
Its just as important to check coolant levels, refilling when necessary, as it is to check and refill the motor oil. Knowing how to put coolant in your car not only saves money but can save time as well.
NOTE: Always wear gloves and eye protection when working in the engine area.
Your vehicles owner manual will tell you how often you should check coolant levels. If the engines hot when the coolant level is checked, it should fall below the max line on the reservoir. If the engine is cold, it should fall at or above the fill or minimum line.
If youd rather not check coolant levels yourself, its an included service with most auto care centers. They will also top the coolant off for you if levels are low.
The Check Engine Light Is On
This could indicate a variety of problems, but one possibility is low coolant levels.
The check engine light is one of the most feared symbols on a cars dashboard.
For many drivers, it signals a costly trip to the mechanic.
However, there are a few simple things that can be checked before resorting to professional help.
One common issue is low coolant levels.
If the light comes on, its worth opening the hood and checking the coolant reservoir.
If its empty or close to empty, simply fill it up and see if the light goes off.
Of course, if the reservoir is full, there may be a more serious problem that will require a mechanics expertise.
But for those who like to live on the edge, checking the coolant level is always worth a shot.
Read Also: How To Reduce Drag On A Car
What Happens If Water Gets In The Coolant
When coolant is added to water, the characteristics of water change. It begins to boil at a higher temperature. This boosts its capacity to endure heat and, as a result, its ability to cool down everything it comes into touch with.
Water is a good conductor of energy, therefore it absorbs a lot of it. Whenyou add coolant to the mix, the boiling point rises, making it even better at conducting.
In other words, the fluid solution may hold on to more heat before converting to a gaseous form. In laymans terms, coolant-containing solutions are better at cooling down heated engine parts as they run through your engine blocks.
Coolant also acts as a carrier for a variety of additives that help to decrease the corrosive effects of the solution. These additives may include sodium silicate and antifoaming agents, among others.
Always check the manufacturers instructions to learn how and if coolant and water should be mixed.
Its also worth noting that coolant is extremely hazardous to animals. It appeals to dogs and cats because it has a pleasant flavour. If given the opportunity, they will try to drink it, and it is typically fatal.
Check The Spark Plugs Regularly
Worn or damaged spark plugs can cause misfires, which can damage the engine.
As any car mechanic will tell you, spark plugs are essential for keeping your car running smoothly.
They help to ignite the air-fuel mixture in the engine, and over time they can become fouled by deposits of oil and other materials.
As a result, its important to check the spark plugs regularly and replace them as needed.
Thankfully, its a relatively easy process that anyone can do at home.
Simply remove the spark plug wire from the spark plug, unscrew the old plug with a wrench, screw in the new one, and reattach the spark plug wire.
Of course, youll also need to add some fresh coolant to the radiator before you put the car back together but thats a whole other topic.
In any
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Old Car Smell
