With winter upon us and freezing temperatures looming, we often forget that our vehicle cooling system requires attention and maintenance. The antifreeze/ coolant in an engine is equally important as its oil, therefore choosing the correct antifreeze/ coolant for your vehicle is the difference between a smooth clean running engine and experiencing engine malfunction or permanent damage during the winter months. With various antifreeze/ coolant brands and formulations available it is important to know the basics and the right ratio for your vehicle to perform at its best when the temperature drops. If you need assistance in preparing your vehicle for the colder months ahead, the friendly staff at Silverton Radiators will provide you with extensive knowledge on all your coolant queries.
Antifreeze is a pretty self-explanatory and straightforward in the automotive industry. It simply maintains the running of the engine and ensures that the engine does not overheat by keeping it at a consistent temperature whether it is a blistering summer’s day or the dead of winter. Research over the years have led to the development of antifreeze/ coolant that has the ability to resist low temperatures along with fighting against corrosion and wear within the cooling system itself. As simple as it may seem, one can just not add the antifreeze and forget about it. It needs to be inspected periodically and replaced if need be as the constant use and daily driving of the vehicle will eventually take its toll on the additives within the antifreeze that keep the vehicle’s motor running smoothly. Your car’s engine is especially vulnerable during winter due to the extreme drop in temperature.
Antifreeze is made up of ethylene glycol, when used in combination with water creates a mixture which assists in cooling your engine and preventing any freezing. Interestingly, ethylene glycol only gains and displays its ability to resist freezing when mixed with water. For warmer seasons or areas the most commonly used water to antifreeze ratio is 70:30, however for colder seasons and areas the ratio recommended by manufacturers is 50:50. The 50:50 antifreeze and water mixture provides protection at both ends of the temperature spectrum. The mixture can reach almost -45 degrees Celsius before signs of crystallization occur and in a similar way, increase the boiling point of water. The attributes of an antifreeze and water mixture outperform the properties of pure water when taking environmental extremes into consideration.
Although a glycol and water ratio is commonly referenced, antifreeze contains more than that. Antifreeze itself is tasked with the responsibility of increasing the longevity of your motor vehicle by preventing corrosion within the engines water channels and radiator along with keeping the temperature of the engine cool and constant. It is for this reason that manufacturers have to include numerous additives to account for scale, minerals and rust. Typically inorganic oxides (phosphates and silicates) are used which give antifreeze a green hue. To achieve a wider spectrum of colours, inorganic oxides are used in combination with organic additive technology. Each additive contributes to forming a protective layer over the inside of the cooling system. The protective layer over time will wear out and would require the antifreeze to be replaced.
Getting your antifreeze ready for winter
With various brands available, it is difficult to predict how long the coolant in your vehicle will maintain its protective and cooling properties before it needs to be replaced as each brand will differ from each other. The replacement window is wide with 3 and 5 years been the typical average replacement rate for lower and higher quality antifreeze respectively. Having a mixture which isn’t the recommended and ideal 50:50 ratio means that the freezing temperature could be higher than what is actually needed to survive the winter months should we experience extreme cold fronts. There are however ways to check your coolant and ensure that it is at its optimal.
1. Conduct a visual inspection of your antifreeze: If your coolant does not look bright and colourful instead it looks dull, brown with a muddy tinge then that is an indication that your coolant needs to be changed. The change in colour suggests that the additives have started to wear out and is reaching the end of its lifespan.
2. Ensure that your cooling system isn’t running low: Any cooling performs at its best when it is topped up. You can add your own premixed or self-mixed antifreeze mixture to the overflow tank. Be sure to match the new antifreeze to the existing antifreeze already in the vehicle as mixing two different types may lead to problems.
3. Check the freezing point of your antifreeze: By using a hydrometer which can be purchased from any auto part store, you can assess the freeze point temperature. The hydrometer sucks up a small amount of antifreeze and the float will settle at the value which indicates the freezing point of the liquid.
The above mentioned steps must be carried when the car engine is cold in order to prevent injury and of course maintain accurate readings. If you are not comfortable with conducting your own inspections and replacements, we at Silverton Radiators will be glad to do so for you. Our services include the flushing of your vehicle cooling system and replacement of antifreeze should your vehicle require it. Give us a call or stop by today to receive impeccable service.