How to determine which antifreeze is filled in the car
Content
To understand when buying a new car, which antifreeze is filled in, the manufacturer's regulations will help. The instruction manual contains the characteristics of consumables, brands of suitable technical fluids.
The stability of the engine depends on the type of cooler, so the owner needs to find out what kind of antifreeze is filled in the car before he hits the road. More than 20% of car problems are related to problems in the cooling system, which is why it is so important to choose the right refrigerant.
Main differences
Coolants that are poured to remove excess heat from the power unit are called "antifreeze". TOSOL is an abbreviation for Coolant (TOS - Organic Synthesis Technology) developed during the Soviet period. The name became a household name, since there was no healthy competition in the USSR.
The main difference is the composition:
- antifreeze contains water and ethylene glycol, salts of inorganic acids;
- antifreeze consists of a distillate, C2H6O2, but does not contain phosphates, nitrates and silicates. It includes glycerin and industrial alcohol, organic salts;
- the Soviet product has to be changed every 40-50 thousand km, modern compositions - after 200 thousand.
Antifreeze often has a higher boiling point (105°C) than other refrigerants (about 115°C), but lacks lubricating properties and anti-corrosion additives that protect against rust and increase engine life. They also have different freezing points.
Filling fluid in a car
It is important to determine which antifreeze is filled in the car, because experts do not recommend mixing different products. The interaction of the constituent substances is unpredictable, in some cases it can adversely affect the state of the vehicle's cooling system.
Products from different manufacturers may differ in formula, composition and amount of additives used. The refrigerant developed in the USSR is recommended to be filled only in domestic cars.
Antifreeze or antifreeze: how to determine what is poured into the car's cooling system
There is a myth that the type of consumable liquid can be checked by tasting its taste. It is dangerous to use this method: chemicals in technical products are poisonous to the human body. To understand what is poured into the expansion tank - antifreeze or antifreeze - will turn out by color. Manufacturers produce green, yellow, blue or red liquids that differ in purpose and composition.
There are other ways to find out which antifreeze is filled in the car:
- antifreeze is inferior in quality to modern products of foreign manufacturers. Freezing resistance clearly shows this. A small amount of liquid, poured into a bottle, can be left in the freezer, if the refrigerant has turned into ice, it is easy to conclude what kind of substance it is;
- to find out what is poured into the expansion tank - antifreeze or antifreeze - the sense of smell and touch will help. The traditional composition does not smell, but feels oily to the touch. Domestic liquid does not leave such a feeling on the fingers;
- if you pump out a little coolant from the expansion tank with a syringe, you can find out what color the antifreeze is filled in, its type and how compatible it is with tap water. The refrigerant is first placed in the container, and then tap water in a ratio of 1: 1. The mixture should be left for an hour. If there is a precipitate, turbidity, a brownish tint or delamination, you have Russian antifreeze in front of you. Foreign products usually do not change;
- the density of the composition also allows you to find out which antifreeze is filled in the car. A hydrometer helps to clarify this point. A high-quality consumable corresponds to 1.073-1.079 g/cm3.
Antifreeze forms a recognizable oily film on any elements, and high-quality antifreezes protect only automotive parts that are subject to corrosion, because the rubber piece will remain without a protective layer.
Which is better to use
To choose the composition of the refrigerant, you should pay attention to the cooling system of the car. Factories that produce vehicles can use different materials: brass, copper, aluminum, alloys. Having managed to determine which antifreeze is filled in the car, the owner should fill in one type of substance in the future. The product must match the radiator and the material from which it is made:
- green coolant is poured into those made of aluminum or its alloys;
- red compounds are used in systems made of brass and copper;
- antifreeze is recommended to be used in cast-iron engines of the old domestic automobile industry - VAZ, Niva.
To understand when buying a new car, which antifreeze is filled in, the manufacturer's regulations will help. The instruction manual contains the characteristics of consumables, brands of suitable technical fluids.
Is it possible to mix different coolers
It is not enough to find out what kind of antifreeze is filled in the car, you need to use the information received wisely. In order for the car to work properly, the refrigerant cannot contain mechanical impurities. In appearance, the liquid should be homogeneous and transparent.
Mineral and synthetic coolants, when mixed, form turbidity (due to a chemical reaction), which will eventually ruin the radiator, and can also lead to the power unit boiling and pump failure. When pouring products from different manufacturers, even those of the same type, the additives contained in the composition may interact, causing a precipitate to appear.
Can antifreeze be mixed
It is also important to determine whether antifreeze or antifreeze is flooded, because if technical fluids are accidentally mixed, the temperature at which boiling begins will change, which is why chemical reactions go faster. Such a mixture will not be able to effectively cool, which will lead to malfunctions.
When you can’t figure out on your own what type of refrigerant should be added to a BMW, Kia Rio or Sid, Kalina, Nissan Classic, Chevrolet, Hyundai Solaris or Getz, Mazda , Renault Logan, you can watch videos on auto forums or Youtube for free, read owner reviews. So it will turn out to choose a specific composition for your car.
