Keep it Cool Under the Hood! Engine Coolant (or Antifreeze) and Why it’s Important.
Why engine coolant is important in preventing your car from overheating
Ever seen a car on the side of the road with smoke coming out the bonnet? It makes you thankful that its not your car. To make sure that this doesn’t happen to you we are highlighting the importance of taking good car of your engines cooling system. The two most common reasons for engine overheating are low water and coolant levels or a leak in the cooling system. So, it is critical to regularly check your engine coolant level.
Many people only have water in their cooling system and that’s why their engines overheat. Engine coolant (or antifreeze) is a liquid that is added to the water in your engine cooling system. Coolant and antifreeze play an important role by change the boiling and freezing temperatures of your cooling system, ensuring that your car doesn’t overheat in extreme conditions. There are different types of coolant, each one is specifically formulated to keep your engine running in extreme weather conditions. It is also a corrosion inhibitor, protecting the radiator and engine from rusting.
We are more concerned about overheating than freezing in South Africa. Temperatures can be extreme, and we have a hilly terrain so make sure that your car has coolant in it! The coolant reservoir is under your bonnet and should be easy to find. You could have a coolant leak if it’s low or empty and should have it checked out by a mechanic.
Avoid overheating by regularly checking your coolant level, and make sure that you have fresh coolant and not just water.