Coolant is a specially-formulated chemical liquid, commonly known as antifreeze, that circulates through a car’s engine. It removes excess heat from a car’s engine by passing it through the car’s radiator. Furthermore, the solution contains inhibitors that protect the metal, plastic and rubber in the cooling system from corrosion. And, as the name antifreeze suggests, it also doesn’t freeze up in bitterly cold conditions, so it plays an important role in a car all year long.
You should book a coolant change frequently, at least every 2 years. Low coolant can cause overheating, which would have serious implications for other components on the car. Even though coolant can leak and evaporate over time, in many cars it often looks as though the coolant never needs changing because its level seems to stay the same. However, draining and flushing the coolant system, including the radiator, at least once a year is important. Flushing pushes out all the old coolant, debris from corrosion and scale. If left in the engine, it may become clogged up, potentially causing extensive damage.
Before a mechanic drains the cooling system, he might add coolant cleaner to the coolant and then start the engine, depending on what the manufacturer specifies. After the car has run for a while, he would turn it off and drain it. He would then add water to flush it and drain it again, twice, before finally putting in the fresh coolant.
How can you save money (and the environment) while you drive?
As every garage owner will tell you, there are some tried and tested ways to cut down on your petrol costs (and consumption) while you’re out and about in Grangemouth or beyond. One is to shut your windows. If you can hear that wind noise in your car it’s costing you more to drive. This is because the car becomes less aerodynamic and has to work harder to motor along. Removing a roof rack will improve your fuel efficiency for the same reason. Another useful tip is to combine short trips into one; each time you drive after your car has been parked for a while the engine will be cold and need to use a lot more fuel for the first 5 miles or so. If you do one trip from school drop-off to supermarket to office you’ll use far less fuel than if you do all those trips individually.