Antifreeze or otherwise known as coolant, is the coloured fluid (usually red, sometimes green or blue) found in your radiator & cooling system. You should be changing your antifreeze at least every two years, it is just as important as engine oil.
Antifreeze costs very little but a new engine costs considerably more; preventing freezing will reduce the possibility of a cracked radiator or cracked cylinder head and the need for an expensive replacement. Corrosion can build up inside the engines cooling system which can block the system and easily overheat the engine.
Ensure the concentration of water in your vehicle’s antifreeze is correct quickly and simply with a quality antifreeze tester, you should test the antifreeze on every service to make sure the mixture will hold to the lowest temperature possible for your area. Too much water runs the risk of diluting the antifreeze, preventing it from doing its job.
Anti-freeze is not just for winter, it serves many purposes of which many are not aware of, most importantly;
- Preventing the water in your radiator and engine from freezing in cold temperatures, preventing obvious catastrophic and expensive results.
- It also helps prevent overheating and evaporation in hot conditions by increasing the boiling point temperature that water cannot reach, this allows the engine to run at its designed operating temperature; thus reducing heat-related problems and engine failure.
- The third function of anti-freeze, or coolant is lubrication, it lubricates the moving parts it comes in contact with, like the water pumps and thermostats.