With recent temperatures starting to increase this summer, it is critical to ensure that the fluid levels in your vehicle are topped up and contain the proper antifreeze dilution. Let us take look at how antifreeze works and why it is critical to keep your car running not only in the winter but also during the hotter summer months.
What is the significance of antifreeze?
Antifreeze
and engine coolant are the same thing and serve a dual purpose in your vehicle,
helping to regulate the temperature of your engine. Antifreeze is so named
because it protects your engine from extreme cold temperatures during the
winter months.
If
the fluids in your engine freeze, it could result in serious damage and
cracking of the engine block. Simultaneously, when the engine is running, it
becomes extremely hot. As a result of its high boiling point, antifreeze's
coolant properties prevent overheating by removing excess heat from the engine.
If
your engine is not properly cooled, the lubricant that keeps the moving parts
moving smoothly will break down, resulting in premature engine failure or
increased exhaust emissions. It is recommended that you have your coolant
serviced along with your car service in Reading once a year.
How does antifreeze work?
Ethylene
glycol has a freezing point of about -12 degrees Celsius on its own, which
isn't exceptionally low. When it is mixed with water to make antifreeze,
however, the chemical structures of the two liquids interfere with one another,
causing the freezing point to drop considerably. Using a high concentration of
antifreeze can reduce the mixture's freezing point to as low as -64 degrees
Celsius. Antifreeze is also found in de-icer sprays and screen wash, which help
to clear an icy windscreen and keep your windscreen washer feeds from freezing.
Selecting the Best Antifreeze
The
engine coolant that helps regulate engine temperature has become more advanced
as cars have become more advanced. Antifreeze contains corrosion inhibitors
that extend the life of your coolant; however, different inhibitors are used by
vehicle manufacturers, and selecting the incorrect one could result in engine
component damage and seal deterioration.
Vehicles
manufactured prior to 1998 require a silicate-based antifreeze, whereas those
manufactured after 1998 require organic acid technology (OAT) based
antifreezes, though there are exceptions, and some modern vehicles use a
combination of inhibitors.
Always
consult your vehicle's owner's manual before topping off your coolant levels,
and if in doubt, contact your local car garage, who can advise you on
the proper antifreeze for your vehicle as well as test the strength of your
existing antifreeze.
The Origins of Antifreeze
French
chemist Charles-Adolphe Wurtz discovered antifreeze long before it was used in
automobiles. Wurtz invented ethylene glycol, the primary chemical of
antifreeze, in 1856, when it had no commercial application. Indeed, early
applications of ethylene glycol included the manufacture of dynamite, as it was
discovered that the chemical's cooling properties could lower the freezing
point of nitro-glycerine, allowing dynamite to be used in colder climates. When
the first commercial cars rolled off the assembly line at the turn of the
twentieth century, many of them used water as a coolant to keep the engine from
overheating. However, it was quickly discovered that when the temperature
dropped below zero, the water would freeze and expand, causing damage to the
engine. Following several failed attempts to find an alternative coolant that
would not cause corrosion to engine components, ethylene glycol was first used
in automobiles in 1926 and has since been widely used in antifreeze.
4 Advantages of Antifreeze/Coolant
The
advantages of antifreeze/coolant are numerous, which is why they have gradually
become a requirement for vehicles. Here we will go over some of the advantages
that these coolants provide:
1. Maintains Optimal Fuel Economy
Antifreeze/coolant is in charge of extending the life of your car's
engine. These fluids run at the proper temperatures in your car's body,
extending the life, protecting, and lubricating all of its components.
2. Lowers maintenance costs and downtime
Several bench tests, lab tests, and fleet tests were conducted
to ensure that these antifreezes protect the various components of a vehicle.
Radiators, water pumps, wet sleeves and all of the polymers and metals
found inside your vehicle's engine are examples of these parts.
3. Protects the Engine
These antifreezes/coolants contain concentrated blends of high-quality,
long-lasting inhibitors that have been shown to provide up to 12,000 miles of
guaranteed protection against very high temperatures, corrosion, rust, scale,
and premature water pump failure.
4. Prevents Car Breakdowns
A problem in the vehicle's cooling system causes approximately 40% of all
over-the-road breakdowns. However, if used properly, these antifreeze/coolant
options can protect the vehicle for at least a year.
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