Antifreeze (coolant): Definition and tips for its use in winter
Whether on colder days, when the outside temperature drops to 6 below zero, your car's engine works fast, or on hot days when the temperature reaches 40 degrees, your car travels on the highway without the risk of overheating, what factor helps with this?
Antifreeze and coolant
Antifreeze, also known as coolant, is a yellow or green liquid that is mixed with water in cars, trucks, and other vehicles to keep radiators from the risk of freezing or overheating.
Antifreeze and coolant are made from either ethylene glycol or propylene glycol to enable the fluid to alter the freezing and boiling points of water. For example, when mixed with an equal volume of antifreeze and coolant in a car's radiator, the water doesn't freeze at 0°C, but at temperatures below -2°C. While water on its own typically boils at 100°C, its boiling point rises to 106°C when mixed with an equal volume of antifreeze.
Check the antifreeze and coolant levels in your car.
You can consult your vehicle's manual to determine how often you should check the antifreeze and coolant levels. If you have your engine oil changed by a qualified mechanic, they can also check and adjust the antifreeze and coolant levels, or top them up if necessary.
- Park the car on level ground and open the hood, making sure that the car has not been running for a long time or that its temperature is high.
- Locate the cooling tank - it is usually in the form of a clear plastic basin containing a colored liquid (explanation later) with a warning sign "Danger - Hot" or something similar.
- The coolant reservoir has "Min" and "Max" markings, just like the brake fluid reservoir. The coolant level must be within these tolerances.