Things to Know About Radiator Coolant

Without its cooling system, your car is essentially a chunk of metal that wouldn't go very far before overheating and experiencing serious engine problems. This is why your radiator and the coolant in contains are so important. Here are three valuable questions and answers about radiator coolant:

What is it?

Coolant actually serves several different purposes for a car, although the two most important functions are to prevent overheating and, interestingly enough, prevent freezing. Coolant is also called “antifreeze” at times, but it really proves its mettle as a fluid that draws heat away from the engine and brings it to the radiator to be dissipated into the surrounding air.

How much do you need?

When you buy a coolant that still needs to be mixed with water, the typical ratio is 50:50. Some motorists raise the amount of water to around sixty percent, but this is mostly for high performance cars that need the better heat dissipation properties of the water. Some coolants come pre-mixed and ready to just be poured into the radiator filler.

When should it be replaced?

A simple maintenance task called a “radiator flush” involves draining off the old coolant and refilling the radiator with new coolant. There is no set rule on when a flush should be performed, but it is good to follow the every other year rule or every 40,000-60,000 miles.

Coolant is important to a water-cooled car as blood is to a human. Without it, your car would be not function properly.