Last week, we took a look at four simple checks that could save you the hassle, cost, and red face of breaking down on a road trip. When planning a long journey, it is a good idea to check your coolant. This week, we will go into a little bit more detail about why coolant is so important, and how you can check it.
What is engine coolant?
Engine coolant plays a vital role in stopping your engine from overheating. Having the engine running takes a lot of energy and this, in turn, produces heat. A lot of that heat comes out via the car’s exhaust, but the engine inevitably holds on to some of it. Coolant is a water-based liquid that flows through pipes around the engine to absorb the heat and cool down the engine parts. Once the coolant has passed through the engine, it flows into the radiator, which uses airflow from the moving car to cool it down again. If you are stuck in traffic with the engine running and there is no airflow to cool the liquid in the radiator, your vehicle’s fan will kick in.
Checking your coolant
You should check your coolant twice a year. If you are unsure of the location of your coolant filler cap, check your handbook. Before checking your coolant, make sure your engine is completely cold. Coolant flows through an expansion tank, which will have a minimum and maximum marker on it. If the coolant level is below the minimum line, you need to add coolant to prevent your engine from overheating.
Coolant is normally made up of half propylene glycol or ethylene and half water; good coolant will also have antifreeze in it, too, to stop it from freezing in low temperatures. Your vehicle handbook will give you the details, but if in doubt, pop to your local garage and ask for help.
If your engine is overheating
If your coolant is running low, it is best that you top it up with a mix approved by the manufacturer. However, in case of emergencies, you can top your coolant up with water; this should enable you to get safely to your nearest garage before breaking down. However, water should only be used in emergencies; the absence of alcohol lowers the boiling point and makes the coolant less efficient.
If you notice that your coolant levels seem to drop a lot, don’t wait to get it fixed; call your local garage and get it checked out before a more significant issue arises.
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