Yes, You Need Antifreeze All Year Round
September 9, 2019
As the name suggests, antifreeze is a liquid manufactured to stop water from freezing and damaging your engine. Interestingly enough, antifreeze also raises the boiling temperature of water so that the car doesn’t overheat. That’s why it’s one of the essential fluids to check during a regular car service. It regulates the engine’s temperature, especially during extreme weather, to keep your car in good shape.
Why is Antifreeze Important?
Antifreeze is made up of ethylene glycol, a chemical compound that has a freezing point of -40° when mixed with water. Most engine coolants are a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water, but this percentage can be changed depending on the environment your car operates in. Concentrated antifreeze needs to be diluted with water before being poured into the coolant tank. In addition to keeping temperatures from extreme fluctuation, antifreeze is also used to prevent rust and corrosion buildup in the cooling system. Today’s vehicles operate at much higher temperatures for fuel economy, but is much harder on the engine components, coolant and engine oil.
All good auto technicians know to check the essential car fluids during a routine maintenance service. If you’re sticking your head under the hood, you should know too. In most vehicles, the coolant tank is the clear, plastic container right next to the radiator. To check if you have enough engine coolant in the tank, you want to make sure you can clearly view the min and max lines. If you’re running low on antifreeze, it’s a good idea to stop by your local Rob’s Automotive & Collision so that one of our automotive technicians can check your coolant levels as today’s world there are several different coolants utilized in newer vehicles.
How Often Should I Replace It?
Like with other fluids, coolants need to be refilled or completely changed by a certain time. If you notice that your vehicle is low on antifreeze, you can just refill it to meet the max line. However, we do recommend completely replacing your coolant every 30,000 miles or every 2 years.
It is very important to know what antifreeze your vehicle requires, let our experts help you take the guess work out and schedule your complimentary 50-point inspection that includes checking all fluids. Check out our current promotions!
To schedule your preventative maintenance that includes checking or changing your fluids, call us today at 215-826-9200. Rob’s Automotive & Collision also offers emergency roadside assistance in Philadelphia, PA, and throughout New Jersey.