How to avoid corrosion of the engine cooling system?
Machine operation

How to avoid corrosion of the engine cooling system?

How to avoid corrosion of the engine cooling system? At the beginning of autumn, it is worth preparing our car for new weather conditions. The engine, of course, is the most important. Finally, the moment has come when the temperature reaches the zero barrier. How to protect the engine from the first frost? First of all, provide it with a sufficient level of cooling. But not only that, protection against corrosive attack is equally important.

At the beginning of autumn, it is worth preparing our car for new weather conditions. The engine, of course, is the most important. Finally, the moment has come when the temperature reaches the zero barrier. How to protect the engine from the first frost? First of all, provide it with a sufficient level of cooling. But not only that, it is also important to protect against corrosive effects.

Regular topping up of coolant in the radiator is mandatory, How to avoid corrosion of the engine cooling system? especially after the increased work of the cooling system in the summer. Lack of fluid can be extremely dangerous for the engine. An overheated drive will fail very quickly. The head gasket that protects the cylinders is particularly susceptible to failure. Replacing the gasket itself costs up to PLN 400. However, it can quickly increase if the cooling system is not brought to the optimum level in time.

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The most common reaction of drivers to the loss of radiator fluid is the addition of a regular “faucet” to the system. Modern liquid concentrates allow you to dilute them with tap water. However, this comes with risks. If the water is too soft and contains excessive amounts of harmful chlorides and sulfates, it can pose a significant threat to the power package. Insufficient amount of fluid in the radiator leads to scale deposits and, as a result, to overheating of the engine.

Therefore, when deciding on the easiest step, we must remember that the water added to the "old" liquid must have a low level of foreign ions. Therefore, it is recommended to use demineralized (distilled) water, which reduces scale formation to some extent. However, although this solution may work in the summer, such dilution of the liquid flowing in the cooling system is not always the right solution during the first cold days.

– When preparing the engine for the first frost, take into account the fact that the freezing point of the individual components of the fluid is different. Water solidifies at 0 degrees Celsius, and ethylene glycol, which is the main component of the liquid in the cooler, at -13 degrees. Adequate protection is achieved by mixing glycol with water in a certain ratio. In autumn and winter, the glycol content in the fluid should be around 50 percent – ​​otherwise, there is a risk that the fluid will freeze and damage drive parts, says Waldemar Mlotkowski, COO of Platinum Oil Wielkopolskie Centrum Dystrybucji sp. oo, owner of the MaxMaster brand.

The procedure that will allow us to adjust the operation of the engine to changing weather conditions is the measurement of the properties of the liquid currently in the cooler. It is best to do this in a car repair shop equipped with a so-called. refractometer. You can also do it yourself using a hydrometer, but in this case, you must remember that the measurement will be much less accurate. With the correct measurement of the crystallization temperature, we can dilute the right amount of concentrate. You should strive to ensure that the liquid in the system reaches a crystallization temperature of -37 degrees Celsius - this is the optimal level to protect the engine from the coming winter.

Maintaining the correct proportions of the concentrate, especially during the first frosts, is an absolute must. However, few people realize that making sure that the liquid in the radiator does not freeze is not all that needs to be paid attention to when preparing the engine for autumn-winter tests. This period contributes to the formation of corrosion, which is dangerous for engine operation and, even worse, has irreversible consequences in the form of mechanical damage to the cooling system. Therefore, a coolant exposed to high temperatures, not very resistant to contamination, must be additionally supported by a rich set of anti-corrosion ingredients. Otherwise, even the correct fluid content may not be effective.

High-quality radiator fluid concentrates do not contain harmful nitrates, amines and phosphates. However, they must have special add-on packages. – Concentrates using OAT (organic acid technology) and silicate stabilization technology effectively protect the engine from corrosion. OAT technology allows you to react with corrosion foci. The liquid based on it forms a layer, which, in other words, repairs the cooling system. The silicate technology, on the other hand, prevents the formation of silica gel, which is formed when using lower quality liquids and threatens the physical elements of the cooler, says the owner of the MaxMaster brand.

Predicting weather conditions worsening day by day, it is worth taking care of the entire power plant now. The basic step is to adjust the cooling system to the current temperature, but this procedure should be only part of the entire pre-winter preparation. Let's not forget that in order for our activities to be fully effective, we must also remember, among other things, to check the condition of the battery and check the condition of the spark plugs.

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