One of the easiest and most important tasks to prepare your
vehicle for winter driving is to inspect the level and freshness of your
vehicle's antifreeze.
The Car Care Council recommends that motorists check
their antifreeze every 12 months or 12,000 miles to help protect the engine
from freezing and overheating as well as from rust and corrosion damage.
The most common formulation of antifreeze is green in color
and uses ethylene glycol as a base with anti-corrosion additives mixed in.
Ethylene glycol lowers the freezing point and raises the boiling point of the
radiator fluid to keep the water from freezing on cold days and from boiling
over on hot days.
Over time, these additives wear out, lessening their ability
to protect vital engine and cooling system metals against rust and corrosion.
Your vehicle owner's manual will provide antifreeze usage specifications.
"Inspecting and maintaining your vehicle's cooling
system takes just a few minutes of your time, but it is well worth it when you
consider what could happen," said Rich White, executive director of the Car
Care Council. "Cooling system failure is the leading cause of engine
related breakdowns, which can cost thousands of dollars and leave you and your
family stranded at the worst possible time."
To check the level of antifreeze, you will need a few basic
service tools and an antifreeze ball tester, which is available at auto parts
stores.
Always make sure the engine and coolant system are cool
before you begin. Opening a hot radiator or coolant reservoir can cause severe
burns. If the antifreeze is low, add a 50/50 mix of approved antifreeze and
distilled water. If you changed your antifreeze recently, but your level is
low, use the antifreeze ball tester to make sure the antifreeze-to-water ratio is
correct.
This is also a good time to inspect and replace any bad
cooling system hoses. Check for leaking, brittle, spongy, cracked or rotted
hoses and make sure that the radiator hose clamps are tight to prevent leaks at
the connections.
If you're unsure about any aspect of cooling system service,
have your car inspected by a professional service technician. Checking your
vehicle's cooling system today will ensure that it's ready for the long winter
ahead.
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