WATER COOLANT FOR CAR MANUAL

>photograph by Joe Wiesenfelder, Cars.Most people assume that using pure distilled water in their radiator when their car is overheating will solve the problem. Propylene glycol is sold under the brand names Sierra, Prestone Low Tox and Texaco PG. There's no substance that you can add to antifreeze to make it less appealing to animals, but antifreeze made with propylene glycol instead of the usual ethylene glycol is about a third as toxic. As little as a half teaspoon of the stuff can kill an average-size cat, and eight ounces will do in a 75-pound dog. For the first 100,000 miles, it is necessary to check the coolant level simply to be sure you're not leaking or burning coolant.Ĭar Talk Tip: Antifreeze has a sweet aroma and taste, which pets find particularly appealing.

WATER COOLANT FOR CAR MANUAL

Coolant that's diluted or weak can freeze when the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.Ĭheck your owner's manual to see if your car uses 'long-life' coolant. If you live where the temperature dips below freezing, we suggest that you ask your mechanic to check the concentration of the coolant. I've built a working nuclear reactor out of wood. I've fixed things on my car that involve removing more than five bolts. I've successfully hung pictures around the house. It depends on where you rank on the Car Talk do-it-yourself scale: Either one should be addressed quickly, since running low or out of coolant can lead to catastrophic engine failure and many boat payments to your mechanic. If you check your coolant level when the engine is hot, the coolant should be at or just below the 'max' line.ĭisappearance of coolant could be caused by either an external or internal leak, the latter being more expensive. If you check your coolant level when the engine is cold, the coolant should be at or above the 'minimum' or 'fill' line on the transparent refill container. Your owner's manual will have a recommended interval in which to check the coolant level. Is there any maintenance required between intervals?Ĭheck your coolant level periodically.

When an engine overheats, the result is a bonus yacht payment to your mechanic that someone else should be making. In time, these bits of rust will also clog the tiny passages within the radiator and heater, causing your engine to overheat. The biggest source of rust in a car's cooling system is the engine block. If the rust inhibitors stop working, the cooling system will rust from the inside out. Even with these rust inhibitors, some corrosion will inevitably take place, contaminating the coolant with debris. Most importantly, the coolant's rust inhibitors get used up, leaving the small cooling passages in your engine and radiator vulnerable to corrosion. Draining out the coolant and refilling the system removes dirt and rust particles that can clog up the cooling system and cause problems in winter and summer.īecause it is operating in a hot, hostile environment, coolant will break down over time.

The coolant level should be at the tank's MAX or HOT line when the engine is hot, and lower when it's cold. Most cars have a plastic coolant recovery tank (top of photo) connected to the radiator by a hose, so there's no need to open the radiator cap itself (orange label at bottom).

Water coolant for car