Antifreeze Helps Keep Your Engine Running

One of the things that most car owners don’t pay enough attention to is the antifreeze in their car, unless there is a problem.  This special liquid is added to the cooling system of your car to keep your car running at a constant temperature and not overheating. This engine coolant is also unique because it doesn’t allow the water in it to freeze when the temperature outside is freezing.  The purpose of this article is to inform readers about the possible side effects of not having the proper amounts of coolants in their radiators. 

Too Much Coolant 

People always worry about not having enough coolant in the radiator.  If you have too much then that can cause problems as well. The extra antifreeze will flood the overflow reservoir when the coolant heats up. This could lead to a full out radiator spill into the environment. This is a bad thing because it is bad for the direct environment. It is also well known to be extremely toxic to animals, so any creature in the area will be at risk.  The coolant tastes very good and sweet to dogs and cats. When it is carelessly spilled on the ground it can cause some unnecessary damage to a family pet. 

Not Enough Coolant 

As you operate your vehicle you are most likely going to be losing a small amount of coolant from your radiator no matter what you do. Evaporation will cost you some, and then as you vehicle gets a little older the hoses and their corresponding attachments to the radiator will weaken, loosen or develop holes. These leaks will be minor at first but eventually will cost you a bit of antifreeze on a consistent level. You should check your coolant level on a consistent basis as you do a routine fluids check.  If you forget for a long time you are putting your engine at risk. 

One of the first problems you will face is your engine overheating. You will know this is happening when the light on the dashboard comes on. Most people would check the levels of their coolant before it gets to this point. If your engine overheats, pull over, turn off the car and wait for the engine to cool down.  You should always carry some extra antifreeze with you in the trunk of your car.  Do not try to remove the radiator cap because it is highly pressurized. You will risk being sprayed with burning hot antifreeze if the pressure is on there. Add coolant to the overflow and be patient, the rest should take care of itself.

Worst Case Scenario

If you don’t have enough antifreeze in your car radiator and it overheats, and you don’t notice it right away and pull over then the outlook can be severe for your vehicle. Once significant damage is done to the engine block there is no way to repair it other than to replace it. This is a costly operation and will take a bit of time as well. It is much less expensive to keep your radiator fluid at an appropriate level.