Everything you need to know about coolant

Maintaining coolant is an important part of car ownership. The coolant ensures that the car's engine does not overheat and the cooling system does not freeze in winter. But what is coolant and how do you make sure your car always has enough?

In this post, you can read everything you need to know about coolant. Learn how to add coolant, which coolant to choose, and what to do if your car is using more coolant than it should.

What is coolant and how does it work?

The coolant is often water mixed with glycol to lower the freezing point. This ensures that the car's cooling system does not freeze in winter. The fluid also contains a dye and various additives that lubricate engine parts and reduce the risk of rust and corrosion in the radiator.

Coolant is used by the car's radiator to cool the engine so it doesn't overheat. The cooler is a radiator with a thermostatic valve that fixes the temperature of the car. When the engine reaches a certain temperature, the radiator sends coolant to the engine to cool it down.

The coolant then returns to the radiator, which cools the liquid. Cooling is achieved, among other things, due to the air flow that occurs when the vehicle is moving at speed.

Red or blue coolant - what's the difference?

Dyes added to the coolant indicate whether the engine is for cast iron or aluminium. The two types of engines need different additives.

As a rule, blue coolant is used for cast iron engines, and red for aluminum engines. A good rule of thumb is that if your car was made before 2000, you should choose blue coolant. If your car is after 2000, choose red coolant.

How to add coolant to a car

When filling your car with coolant, first make sure you mix the coolant and water (preferably demineralised). It's a good idea to mix the liquid in the container before filling.

Make sure the vehicle is cool before adding coolant. If the car is hot, the cooling system is pressurized, which means the coolant reservoir can expand. This means that you won't be able to see how much liquid needs to be poured into the tank.

If you open the reservoir while the engine is still hot, you also run the risk of getting burned when the pressure is released. This is why you should always let your car cool down before adding coolant.

Once the vehicle has cooled down, follow these steps to add coolant:

• Locate the cover with the thermometer icon in the car's engine compartment. If you are not sure which cap fits, please refer to your vehicle owner's manual.
• Carefully unscrew cap to release pressure slowly.
• Find the mark on the reservoir indicating the maximum filling, and add coolant to the mark. Do not add more than the mark, as there should be room for pressure in the reservoir when the car warms up again.

What does it mean if a car uses more coolant than usual?

If your car is using more coolant than it should, it could be due to a leaking head gasket. If you suspect there is a problem with your car's cylinder head gasket, you should fix it as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may end up with a very expensive repair. Here you will find repair prices.

Remember to change the coolant once a year

The additives in the coolant degrade over time. This means that although they prevent rust and corrosion in the radiator, over time they can corrode the radiator as the additives degrade.

That's why it's a good idea to change your car's coolant once a year to make sure the additives in the fluid are working properly.

You can replace the coolant yourself. However, we recommend that you leave it in your garage. This reduces the risk of contamination: under no circumstances should the coolant be poured down the drain or onto the ground.

Replace coolant during service

During the car service, consumables are checked, and the mechanic also checks the coolant. If the coolant needs to be replaced, it's time to do it in the service.

With Autobutler you can compare service prices in the country's leading car services. So you can save money on your next car service and have it done at the garage that suits you best. Follow the recommendations of our other satisfied customers and use Autobutler to compare prices for services.