Coolant
About Coolants
Most car users don’t think about the car coolant that keeps the engine from overheating. Even though it is the water in the radiator that is responsible for much of the heat exchange, it is the coolant that keeps the water from boiling and corroding the engine.
Car coolants have three important functions. First, they raise the boiling point of the water so that the water does not boil inside the radiator and cause pressure buildup. Second, coolants prevent the water from freezing. This is especially important for places that experience harsh winters. If the water were to freeze up in the cooling system, it would render the system almost irreparable. Third, because water is corrosive, you need coolant to ensure the long life of all the metal parts in the engine system. So, as the car coolant gets older inside your car, it starts to lose all these three properties. You should replace the coolant before it reaches that point.
Different coolant types and their properties
Car coolants are a cheap solution to prevent expensive damage to the car. You have to make sure that the coolant in your car is in good shape and is topped up to the required level. If you are a person who takes the car to the dealership for every scheduled maintenance, they will take care of it for you usually. But if you like to work on the minor maintenance of the car yourself, you can examine the coolant reservoir for signs of degradation and leakage. You will come across a few different types of car coolant in the market. It is imperative for a DIYer to know the difference between these coolants.
Inorganic additive technology (IAT coolants)
This used to be the most common coolant in the car all throughout the twentieth century. The green colour started to be associated with car coolant because that was the colour of IAT coolants. Even though coolants these days come in orange and yellow colours, that’s not what we think when we hear of coolants, isn’t it? But the downside of this type of coolant is that the additives in them deplete quickly. IF you are using them, you will have to completely replace the coolant every two years or 24 thousand miles, whichever is less.
Organic acid technology (OAT coolants)
All modern cars use OAT as their default coolant. These coolants come in a wide variety of colours too. You will find them in bright red, orange, blue, and even green. The Advantage of OAT is that it can last for a really long time in your car. As mostly they come factory filled in the newer cars, you won’t have to think about changing them for about ten years or 200,000 kilometres. Although they do not have silicates or phosphate additives, they do provide decent protection against corrosion and rust. But if you want to fill OAT in older cars, you should double-check if it is safe to do so. They might not be safe for aluminium car parts.
Hybrid organic acid technology (HOAT coolants)
This type of coolant combines the benefit of both the IAT and OAT coolants. They do contain silicate and phosphate additives to protect against corrosion of aluminium car parts. Most of the HOAT car coolants require replacement every five years or 80,000 kilometres. But some high-end coolants of this type can last as long as the OAT coolants. The advantage HOAT coolants offer above OAT is excellent corrosion protection. You can find them in distinctive reddish yellow and orange colours.
Electric vehicle cooling technology
Unlike conventional cars, it is the battery pack that requires cooling in electric vehicles. You will find two types of cooling systems in electric vehicles. The indirect liquid cooling is similar to the cooling technology in conventional cars. They also use similar types of car coolants and radiators. But the operating temperature of the internal combustion engine is much higher than that of a battery pack. Apart from indirect liquid cooling, some electric vehicles use direct liquid cooling as well. The coolant used for direct liquid cooling is entirely different from the IC engine coolants. These coolants have to be electrically insulating, as well, apart from being non-corrosive.
Tips on how to buy Coolants Online
Choosing the right kind of coolant can feel like rocket science if you are a newbie. But it is not that complicated, in fact. If you know what to look for, you will find the right one in no time. Following these tips will help you get the right car coolant that you need for your car.
- Check the type of coolant in your car – If you do not plan on using a different type of coolant, you should always use exactly the same type and same brand of coolant that is already in your car. You can open the coolant reservoir cap and examine or refer to the vehicle owner’s manual to find it out.
- Don’t choose by the colour – Different types of coolant do come in similar colours. So, using only colours to identify the type of coolant can be a big mistake. Rather you should confirm the type of the coolant from its label.
- Cost of the coolant – You shouldn’t mind investing more in a good quality car coolant. If you spend once, you don’t have to think about them for years to come. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend an arm and a leg for them. You can find the best car coolants at affordable prices in Shops.ae.
- Coolant and antifreeze – Although some people use both these terms interchangeably, both of them are not the same. Antifreeze is an additive used in car coolants to prevent them from freezing inside the cooling system during extreme weather. Antifreeze should not be poured into the cooling system without mixing it with the coolant.
You don’t always have to stick with the same type of coolant the car manufacturer used in the car. It is possible to change the coolant type. But you should make sure to completely flush the old coolant type before you fill the new one. The great news is you will find a wide selection of cheap car coolants on Shops.ae, a leading retail search engine in the UAE. There are more than 500 shops and brands here offering car care products and car supplies from brands like Prestone, Acdelco, Valvoline, Shell, Aisin, Havoline, and Motul.
Question & Answer
How to add coolant to a car?
By doing simple tasks like adding the coolant yourself, you can save a lot of money on car maintenance. Adding coolant to your car is an easy task. First, you have to make sure that the engine has cooled down. Then you have to find the coolant reservoir cap. The coolant cap can be still under pressure, so use a thick cloth when you open it with your hands. Check the coolant level in the reservoir. If it’s low, add an equal mixture of coolant and water or pure coolant to the reservoir until the level rises to the cold fill line. Make sure to tighten the reservoir cap after that.
Can you use water as a coolant?
There are a few problems with using water instead of coolant in your radiator. The boiling point and freezing point of the water are not ideal for a coolant. In cold countries, the water can freeze up and block the radiator and the engine. This can cause damage to the expansion plugs and other small parts. Also, the boiling point of the water is much less than the operating temperature of the engine. This will cause the water to boil inside the radiator and causes pressure buildup. Finally, water is corrosive. A good quality coolant solves all these problems. So, you seriously do not want to use water instead of coolant in your car.
What is the ideal temperature range for car coolants?
As a general rule, the temperature of the coolant in a car should be less than its boiling point. Because different types of car engines operate at different temperatures, the ideal coolant temperature also varies. In normal running conditions, the thermostat will control the cooling fan to keep the coolant temperature within the safe range. But the temperature can rise above that if the thermostat or the fan is not functioning properly. The heat output can also go above what the radiator can manage if you rev too much.
Do car coolants expire?
If you keep the coolant concentrate in the original container, it can last indefinitely. As long as the container is not exposed to heat and sunlight, it’ll be safe. But if what you have is a premixed coolant, it can last between one and five years in its original container. You should not risk using an expired coolant in your car. As the coolant gets old, it loses the ability to regulate the boiling point of the water and inhibit its corrosive nature. And to make matters even worse, expired coolants themselves turn acidic and corrode the engine and related parts.